Raw Deal - Raw recap for February 22, 2021

John Morrison is in the ring to start tonight's show, where he introduces The Miz. Miz welcomes everyone to a "Champion's Edition" of Miz TV, and talks about how started out with everyone saying he would be fired within three months only to stand here sixteen years later as WWE Champion on Monday Night Raw. He says that the top Superstars of his generation have come and gone while he is still standing, and says none of them measure up to his longevity, star power and tenacious attitude. He then calls the WWE Championship his royal flush in Edge's high-stakes poker game, and states that he did exactly what he said he was going to do. He also says that he is the only two-time Grand Slam Champion in the history of the business. He then says he stands with the WWE Championship because he deserves it, and that he demanded respect and not asked for it. Suddenly, MVP and Bobby Lashley show up. MVP congratulates Miz on behalf of The Hurt Business (MVP, Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander), then mentions that Miz omitted Bobby Lashley wrecking and destroying Drew McIntyre, allowing him to cash in the Money in the Bank Briefcase. Miz says he was going to that, then thanks him before saying that he and Morrison will be on their way to more partying, but MVP says that Miz made a deal with Hurt Business where Miz owes Lashley a title shot. Miz says that he promised that, but did not mention a time, and says that he is a very busy man in the weeks leading to WrestleMania. MVP mentions that Miz did not mention Lashley's name in the list of names Miz ran down. Lashley grabs Miz by the suit and tells him that he has one hour to come to his senses and give him a title shot, or else he will send him to the emergency room.

Backstage, The Lucha House Party (Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik) congratulate Matt Riddle on winning the WWE United States Championship. Riddle thinks about naming the eagle on the championship belt "Travis," then reveals that he has a scooter when told the ring is on the other side of the arena.

Matt Riddle beats John Morrison after grabbing Morrison out of the Starship Pain and hitting the Bro Derek for the win.

Rhea Ripley is coming soon to Raw!

It is announced that Bad Bunny will be in Damian Priest's corner when Priest faces Angel Garza later tonight. Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Damian Priest and Bad Bunny. Bad Bunny says this is just the beginning and that the 24/7 Championship will be on his shoulder while Priest is with him. R-Truth is soon seen with a referee, and Damian Priest notices this. Priest also has to remind R-Truth that Bad Bunny is not Bugs Bunny, and R-Truth runs away after saying "You got me this time, D.P.!"

Backstage, The Miz speaks with Adam Pearce. The Miz says there was nothing in writing between him and Lashley, and Pearce tells The Miz that he should step up to all challengers and take on Lashley as Miz says he wants to delay the match until the time is right. Pearce also says he will respect whatever decision The Miz makes, but reminds The Miz that he has to make that decision quickly.

The new Punky Brewster series on Peacock is advertised. Soleil Moon Frye, Cherie Johnson, Quinn Copeland and Freddie Prinze Jr. are seen on the Thunderdome screens.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) beat Retribution (T-Bar and Mace) when Retribution take too long finishing The New Day off. After the match, Mustafa Ali chews Retribution for failing, humiliating and embarassing him, and asks "How much longer do I have to deal with this crap?"

Adam Pearce is in the ring. He says that Miz's hour is up and that the time for Miz's ultimatum is here. Pearce introduces Bobby Lashley first, then introduces The Miz. The Miz says that he has made his decision, then says he needs more time. Lashley tells Miz he is wasting his time, which is like wasting his money, but Miz says that he is worried about the honor and respect the WWE Championship deserves. As Miz says John Morrision is chomping at the bit for an opportunity, MVP tells Miz he does not have deals with other Superstars, but Miz insists he needs more time and says that he wants to give his best effort as that is what the WWE Championship deserves. As Miz and Morrison says that he needs a week, Braun Strowman suddenly shows up and says that if anyone is getting a title shot around here, it is him, and says that Pearce and Shane McMahon have a vendetta against him. Strowman says that he is more deserving of a title shot than Lashley is, and as Miz asks Lashley if he will stand there and take that, Shane McMahon shows up. Shane asks for cooler heads to prevail, and Shane has to remind Braun that he was never WWE Champion. Braun says the whole idea sucks, and demands a WWE Championship opportunity tonight. Shane says that idea sucks and says no. Braun then says that if he can't get a match against the champion, then he should be given a match with the challenger. Shane makes a match between Braun and Lashley, and if Braun wins, Braun will face Lashley and Miz for the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat Match next week. As Braun tells Shane that this is the smartest decision he has ever made, Lashley hits Braun with a chop block at the behest of MVP.

The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander) beat The Lucha House Party (Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik) in a tag team tornado match.

Damian Priest beats Angel Garza after Garza is too pre-occupied with talking trash to Bad Bunny. After the match, Humberto Carrillo, Akira Tozawa and Drew Gulak runs into the ring to take the WWE 24/7 Championship from Bad Bunny, but Bad Bunny and Damian Priest successfully fend them off.

We hear from Randy Orton. He says that failure is not a word that he is all too familiar with, but lately, he finds himself surrounded by failure. He says he should have won last week's Gauntlet Match, but instead, he was the first man eliminated last night. He says that whenever he has a problem or distraction, he does whatever it takes to get rid of that problem or distraction, and proved that with The Fiend by setting him on fire. Orton says that The Fiend is not coming back, but in the meantime, he finds himself in limbo and cannot focus on what matters because he is still distracted, not by The Fiend, but by Alexa Bliss. Orton coughs as he says this, then suddenly pukes out a black fluid and leaves.

WrestleMania 37 is 47 days away!

Miz and Mrs. returns April 12th after Raw on USA Network!

Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beat Charlotte Flair and Asuka after Charlotte Flair inadvertently hits Asuka with a big boot meant for Baszler. After the match, Asuka refuses to let Charlotte Flair help her up.

Sheamus beats Jeff Hardy.

Backstage, Charlotte Flair tells "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair she cannot focus anymore due to his and Lacey Evans' recent actions, saying that nothing Ric is doing is funny and that she is trying to protect their legacy. After Charlotte tells him to go home, Ric says he never said that Lacey Evan's baby was his and that he truly saw potential in her and felt she could motivate her like he did Charlotte. He says that he was just trying to expand the brand and make the women "the biggest part of the market," but Charlotte says she does not see it that way and that Ric is trying to take the spotlight from her and still be "The Nature Boy" even on her time. After telling Ric to go home once again, he tells Ric that she is thankful for everything he has done for her and all the doors he has opened for her, but she has to be herself on her own.

Naomi and Lana beat Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke.

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles beats Ricochet. After the match, Omos picks up Ricochet and throws him down with both hands.

Backstage, The Miz and John Morrison talk about what to do when Braun Strowman shows up. Miz and Morrison walk away almost immediately.

The Miz guests on commentary for the next match.

Bobby Lashley beats Braun Strowman. (Had Braun Strowman won, he would have been in next week's WWE Championship match.) After the match, Lashley hits Strowman with a chop block before putting him in the Hurt Lock. The Miz then gets in the ring to attack Lashley with the WWE Championship, but Lashley hits him with a spinebuster followed by a Spear.

Raw Talk: Omos nearly destroys R-Truth.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!