Raw Deal - Raw recap for February 20, 2023

Sami Zayn heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Sami says he is feeling a lot of feelings and that the one at the forefront is gratitude thanks to the ovation that everyone has given him in the last few days. The crowd chants "You deserve it!", then Sami says that after coming so close to putting a bow on a storybook ending in front of his hometown, he feels a lot of guilt and feels he let a lot of people down. He says that everyone told him to finish the story, and he realizes now that the story is never over. Sami then says we are entering the final chapter and that it is not about just him, then asks Kevin Owens to come to the ring. Owens shows up, and Sami says that he has a lot of things to say to him, then thanks him and apologizes even though they are past the point of words that there may be no coming back. He knows that Kevin Owens cares about taking down The Bloodline, then says he has a mission and that he will not rest until he sees with his own eyes The Bloodline coming down. He then says neither of them could have done it alone, and the only way to get it done is together. Owens says he does not need Sami's apology or gratitude, as he did it for his family as well as their family so Sami's family didn't have to watch Sami get beaten down like his family did with him. He says he has fought The Bloodline alone and that this is how he plans to keep fighting them, and that he is still done with him. He then tells him to "call [his] buddy Jey [Uso]" if he needs help, then leaves. Just before the commercial break, Sami Zan is attacked from behind by Baron Corbin. Just before the commercial break, Sami Zayn is attacked from behind by Baron Corbin. Referees break up the brawl in picture-in-picture, but neither of them can be held back, and security and other officials have to get involved. Corbin then takes a microphone and gets in the ring, then asks Sami how it felt when he interrupted him last week to "cry about [his] insecurities" and that he didn't deserve to be in the same ring as Roman Reigns. He then says Sami did not, as he was the last person to beat Roman Reigns. Corbin then says he knew that Roman Reigns would destroy embarrass him, and calls it pathetic that he begged for help from Kevin Owens and says his story is over. Corbin says Sami embarrassed himself, his family, his hometown and all of hometown because he is a failure. WWE official Adam Pearce then tells Sami Zayn to go at it with Baron Corbin, and this starts a match.

Sami Zayn beats Baron Corbin.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio. Rhea says the last thing she will say about Beth Phoenix is that Beth admitted she was the real deal. She then says that she is focused on WrestleMania, and Dominik warns Byron Saxton not to press Elimination Chamber further. As for WrestleMania, Rhea says Charlotte Flair can keep living in 2020 and that Charlotte refuses to believe that she is the best woman in WWE. She also says she does not make the same mistake twice, and that her place is on top of her crumbled kingdom. She also says that everyone will have to watch on Friday to see what she has in store for Charlotte then, then Dominik mentions that Rey Mysterio also has a match on Friday as well and that they might as well wish him good luck.

We see footage from the Elimination Chamber post-show press conference where Edge accepts Austin Theory's open challenge for the WWE United States Championship.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Austin Theory. Theory says he is banged up, but he is here like he always is because he is the champion. He says he was in the Elimination Chamber with five of the best, and that he did everything he said he would do. He then mentions John Cena coming back in two weeks and says nobody cares, then asks if anyone cares about the work he puts in. As for his match with Edge, he gets to beat a Hall of Fame in his home country and continue his forever reign to WrestleMania.

Mustafa Ali beats Dolph Ziggler after standing on his hands to block the Zig-Zag and pinning Ziggler with a crucifix pin.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews The Miz. Maryse gives him a gold envelope for their anniversary, and when The Miz is asked about Seth "Freakin'" Rollins, he says Rollins has gotten too big for his red boots and that he is glad Logan Paul put him in his place. He then says that his outstanding tutelage took out Seth Rollins and that his gold envelope has just made his dreams come true.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. Paul Heyman - who is wearing a neck brace - appears on the TitanTron and interrupts Cody Rhodes. When Cody asks Heyman where he is, Heyman says he is backstage, and Cody asks him to come to the ring. Heyman says he was attacked by a "K-Odiak" and was subjected to the Canadian health care system, which made last night a tragedy for "the Wise Man." He then says that the true tragedy will befall upon Cody at WrestleMania. Heyman tells Cody that he cannot beat Roman Reigns, and asks Cody what his life would be like if the stars align and Cody Rhodes were to beat Roman to become champion. Heyman says that Roman has his wise counsel, and if Cody where to beat Roman for the undisputed championship, he would not have him. He then says that Cody will have 200 on the road defending the undisputed, 50 days of charity appearances, 30 days of promotional appearances, another 20 of promoting the big shows, and two months at home doing other things for the company. After refraining from making any personal attacks, he then asks Cody if he wants this kind of life. He then says that Roman may be a married man, but he is not, and that Cody will find out that his WrestleMania dreams will become his own personal nightmare. Cody says Roman may be great, but he has seen this play before and tells him not to say Heyman again, as they will meet again and he will say the same thing now that he would say then. He says Roman is the best Universal Champion in WWE history, but it does not change anything and he has to finish the story. He then says that he will beat Roman at WrestleMania.

Asuka beats Nikki Cross by submission. Bianca Belair shows up at the start of the match to watch from the commentary table. After the match, Bianca Belair and Asuka have a staredown in the ring, and Bianca points at the WrestleMania sign. A blue liquid then leaks from Asuka's mouth, then Asuka laughs.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Carmella, who says that all she has thought of in the last two days is Asuka, and that she plans to give her a receipt for what she did to her. Carmella leaves, then Cathy Kelley catches Seth Rollins backstage. Rollins says it is twice that Logan Paul has ruined his WrestleMania plans and has treated everything like a game, then says the joke is on Logan. He says that anyone who has gotten in his way knows a certain side of him all too well, and that he will find Logan Paul and hurt him. He then says The Miz will make a perfect surrogate for suffering since Logan is not here tonight.

Backstage, MVP calls Brock Lesnar a coward who could not escape Bobby Lashley's hurt lock and got himself disqualified. Omos then shows up, and MVP then says that Omos issues a challenge to Lesnar at WrestleMania. He tells Lesnar to show up next week to accept the challenge if he has the intestinal fortitude.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins beats The Miz by referee stoppage after hitting him with The Stomp twice.

Backstage, Carmella gets a match with Asuka next week from WWE official Adam Pearce. After Carmella leaves, he gets a call from Chelsea Green, who complains about being stuck in Ottawa, Illinois instead of Ottawa, Canada. Adam Pearce tells her they will soon be in Grand Rapids, Michigan, then pretends to have a bad connection and hangs up when Chelsea complains about being stuck in Ottawa.Afterwards, he sees Alpha Academy looking into a mirror only for Bronson Reed asking them if this is how he trains for a match. When Gable says he is preparing for a modeling career, Bronson tells Gable to prepare to wear a full body cast. Otis stares down Bronson and tells him that nobody speaks to Gable like that. Bronson chuckles, then leaves.

It's time for Ding Dong, Hello! Bayley says that today is Family Day and that she has brought Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky in as her guests. When asked what it feels like to be women's tag team champions, Dakota Kai says this would not be possible without Bayley's guidance and that she and Iyo have been dominant for over 100 days. As Dakota Kai lists off who she and Iyo Sky have beaten and proclaims that the two of them will stay dominant, Becky Lynch shows up. Becky Lynch says that Dakota and Iyo have not defend the women's tag team titles for some times and that they are getting dusty, the says that she is considering taking the women's tag team titles at WrestleMania. Bayley tells Becky she has no friends, then Becky says there was one person interested. Lita shows up, and she and Becky head to the ring. Becky and Lita enter through the door, and Bayley says Lita does not even work here and that Becky is desperate if she is bringing in Lita. Becky and Lita say they have made up, and Lita says that if she cannot beat Becky for a title, then she can entertain being a tag champ. Lita challenges Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky to a women's tag team title match, and Bayley says Lita and Becky have not even come close to earning a shot. Lita and Becky state that their accolades speak for themselves. Becky then says that Bayley claims to be the greatest, then says Bayley does not want this to happen because she is scared. Bayley recklessly accepts the challenge, then Becky and Lita take the women's tag titles and raise them up before tossing the titles back to Dakota and Iyo.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Candice LeRae. Candice says Johnny Gargano got banged up on Saturday, then sees Nikki Cross and intercepts her, wanting to know why Nikki is following her. She then says she has a match with Piper Niven next week and cannot focus on her and Nikki, then Nikki whispers something to Candice before running away. Byron asks Candice what Nikki said, and Candice says Nikki has stated that all of her friends are gone and that she is alone. She then says Johnny Gargano will be back, then awkwardly leaves.

WrestleMania 39 is 40 days away!

Bronson Reed beats Chad Gable after Gable is distracted by Otis being handed a business card by Maxxine Dupri at ringside.

Elias is in the ring. Elias says he hopes Rick Boogs is taking notes, as this is the time of the years when legends come out and stars are made, and that there is no bigger star or legend than him. He then wants to know who walks with him at WrestleMania, and Bobby Lashley shows up. Bobby Lashley soon starts slamming Elias around before ramming him into the ring post, then gets Elias back in the ring and hits him with a Spear before putting him in the Hurt Lock. Lashley then grabs a microphone and says everyone has a plan until he locks the Hurt Lock in, then says Brock Lesnar panicked and had to resort to a low blow. He then says nobody breaks the Hurt Lock, and that anyone who disrespects him will be put down.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Edge. Edge says that he is happy that The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio) is in the rear view mirror and that he is back to his goals from coming out of retirement. He says that Austin Theory can shape the next two decades, but wants to know if he can do it. He says that Austin Theory's reign will not last forever and that with age comes wisdom, then says that he has not held championship gold in a while and that nothing lasts forever.

Austin Theory retains the WWE United States Championship against Edge following the interference from Finn Balor. After the match, Finn Balor continues to attack Edge and hits him with the Coup de Grace. He then tells Edge that this is just the beginning before hitting the Coup de Grace again. Shortly after this, Finn Balor then hits Edge with a third Coup de Grace to end the show.

This week on Raw Talk: Bianca Belair! Mustafa Ali! Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky)!

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