Raw Deal - Raw recap for February 26, 2024

"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio is in the ring, where he introduces Rhea Ripley as the greatest Women's World Champion of all time in a chorus of boos. Rhea Ripley then makes her way to the ring. Rhea talks about how she walked both in and out of her home country as Women's World Champion, and says that while Nia Jax may have been the biggest threat to her reign, being from "down under" does not stop her from being on top. Suddenly, Becky Lynch heads to the ring. She declares that she has come around to fight Rhea, but not without congratulating her on retaining against Nia Jax and observing that they both had a great night on Saturday. Dominik refuses to allow Becky to show disrespect Rhea, and Becky tells him to shut up before calling him "a dirty kumquat" and threatening to put him in his place, then notes that Rhea has sat back as champion while she has been the backbone of WWE while writing a book. Rhea tells Becky not to disrespect Dominik ever again, then congratulates Becky on winning the women's Elimination Chamber match before telling her to stop disappointing her and to finally get on her level. She says that Becky thinks she is the backbone of everything, but behind every great man is a greater woman, and she is not behind her, because she is always on top. As Rhea and Dominik leave, Becky is attacked from behind by Nia Jax. Officials show up to stop Nia Jax from hitting Becky with the A-Nia-Lator.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Nia Jax, who says she should be the one who should be going to WrestleMania even after she beat Becky Lynch, and that Liv Morgan will get what Becky just got, except ten times worse.

Sami Zayn beats Shinsuke Nakamura with a Helluva Kick to the back of the head followed by another one to the face.

We see a video package of the events leading up to The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) in a Street Fight tonight.

Before the next match, Chelsea Green declares that tonight, after filing a formal complaint with WWE management, she will be competing in protest. She says that last week, she could have won the Last Chance Battle Royal and been in the Elimination Chamber had it not been for Raquel Rodriguez, and says that she should have won the match, not Raquel. She then says Raquel won the battle royal to lose in the Elimination Chamber like the San Jose Sharks, then says she will prove Raquel is a loser by kicking her ass.

Raquel Rodriguez quickly beats Chelsea Green.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Sami Zayn. Sami says that he has been trying to keep his cool, but tonight's match was in his head all week and that a loss would have disproven everything about himself. He says that he is a contender and will become a champion, even if that opportunity has to find him. Suddenly, Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) shows up, and Ludwig Kaiser glances at Sami before he and Vinci walk past. Gunther then shows up and looks at Sami, then laughs at him.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody says The Rock slapped him in the face and he challenged him to a match, and he awaits his rebuttal at SmackDown. As for tonight, he has been watching Grayson Waller, and now Grayson will get his first Monday night main event against him.

Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) heads to the ring. Gunther declares that after beating Jey Uso last week, he stands in the ring as the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. Gunther admits that it was a close match and that Jey almost had him beat, and that he felt the Intercontinental title slip away from him for the first time in his reign. He says that he got lucky and that nobody is perfect, but he is "very, very close," and before Kaiser and Vinci outclass The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) later tonight, he must address his future. Gunther says he has put his heard and soul into making the Intercontinental title the most prestigious in WWE and has defeated countless opponents to do it, then asks who his WrestleMania opponent will be. He says that people have brought up potential opponents, including R-Truth, then The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) shows up. Damian Priest tells Gunther that The Judgment Day does not sweat him, but admits that Gunther has had a very good run. He says The Judgment Day ran the table on Saturday and plan to do the same thing at WrestleMania. He also says that they plan on adding more gold then, and that includes the Intercontinental Championship. Gunther says that Damian Priest will not be cashing in his Money In The Bank contract on him, then asks who will face him. Dominik steps up and says that when The Judgment Day says they will do something, they mean it, and that Gunther's title belongs to them. Gunther shoves Dominik, and the rest of The Judgment Day have to hold Damian Priest back.

Backstage, Rhea Ripley runs into the rest of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) and questions Dominik Mysterio wanting to challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship, and tells him that he had better take care of it. After Finn tells Dominik that he will need to smooth things over with Rhea, Dominik runs into Andrade, who says that he has a meeting with General Manager Adam Pearce tonight regarding his first opponent.

Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) beat The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) in a Street Fight.

We see a vignette for Grayson Waller.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce is met by Chad Gable. Pearce congratulates Gable on his victory last week, and says he is here not as a competitor, but as a father, and that he wants Gunther again after he reduced his daughter to tears and called him a terrible father. He says his reasons for wanting Gunther are honest, and while he wants to face him for a championship, for him, it means more.

The Wells Family are the recipients of tonight's Cricket Fan Seat Upgrade.

"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark beat Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell with a Kirifuda Clutch from Baszler to Hartwell.

Backstage, R-Truth is met by The Miz and #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) in The Judgment Day's (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) clubhouse. #DIY and The Miz want to get revenge on The Judgment Day, and R-Truth is interested. R-Truth also gets his CRT TV - with no cord in it - back.

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. McIntyre thanks the fans for praying harder than they have ever prayed in their entire lives, for one does not achieve success alone, and now he faces Seth "Freakin'" Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. He admits that he feels like hell after the Elimination Chamber match, and when a backstage doctor told him he was hurt, he says he is not CM Punk and that nothing will stop him from getting to WrestleMania. Drew then sits cross-legged in the middle of the ring and says he thought of CM Punk after the match, and drank twice as much as he usually did to celebrate his victory. McIntyre then calls out Seth "Freakin'" Rollins, and Rollins shows up. Rollins says congratulations are in order for McIntyre, who now has the opportunity to win a world title at WrestleMania in front of a crowd. McIntyre asks Rollins why he is making things hard on himself and fighting other people's battles on SmackDown when he wants Rollins on Raw at 100%, and tells him to back off The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa) so they do not taint his victory. Rollins says he respect everything McIntyre has said, but some risks are worth taking. He says he has thought about everything and that McIntyre might be right when he says he may not be ready and that The Bloodline may strike again. He then considers the possibility that McIntyre might be wrong, and says that he has been selfish in his life and his career, and every time he accomplished a goal to fill a void, he felt empty inside. Rollins says it was not until he had his daughter that he realized not everything is about him, and says that taking down The Bloodline is bigger than him and McIntyre, for if they do not take them down, they will come for the World title for more power. Rollins asks what could happen if they could tear The Bloodline apart together and save the industry, and says that it could mean just the two of them for the World Heavyweight Championship. He then says "May the best man win." He then says once again that some risks are worth taking, then leaves the ring.

WrestleMania 40 is in 40 days!

Nia Jax beats Liv Morgan by disqualification after she is suddenly attacked on the outside by Becky Lynch.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. He says he is not surprised he got the biggest scoop on Saturday, but "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes still disrespected him in his home, and now he will do the same to Cody in his to make sure he never finishes his story. (During the interview, Paul Heyman can be seen walking by in the background.)

It is announced that Ole Anderson passed away earlier today at the age of 81. In memory of Ole Anderson, 1942 - 2024.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce meets with Becky Lynch, who says that she wants Nia Jax if she wants to move on with her WrestleMania match. Pearce gives her a match with Nia for next week, then leaves. Liv Morgan shows up and tells Becky that not everything has to be about her.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews "Main Event" Jey Uso. Jey Uso says he will keep being him and showing up on Monday. He says he came close to winning the Intercontinental Championship, but every time he tries to complete the mission, he falls short. Drew McIntyre shows up and says he can relate to what Jey is going through and that he deserves this. Jey punches McIntyre, and this starts a brawl officials have to break up.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Grayson Waller. During the match, it is announced that Paul Heyman has been spotted backstage. After the match, Paul Heyman shows up with three men in suits. Cody Rhodes grabs a metal folding chair and a microphone and dares The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa) to come and get him. Heyman says this is not a set-up and that he is the only member of The Bloodline who is here, and says the three men are police officers. He says nobody is asking for an apology, then tells Cody to take The Rock's name out of his mouth. He says that he may forgive Cody, but The Rock will not, and that he has been authorized by Roman Reigns to tell Cody to withdraw his challenge towards The Rock or else. Cody tells Heyman that the only reason why he hasn't trashed The Rock in the media yet is because he and the fans were all fans of The Rock, but now he is fed up with being nice, and he dares The Bloodline to come and get him. Heyman and the three police officers get on the ring apron, but Cody tells Heyman not to get in the ring. The three officers, on the other hand, do, and Cody says if any of them take another step, he will drop them all. Heyman says that threat does not apply to him before trying to step in the ring, and Cody says it does before dropping all three officers. Heyman calls Roman Reigns and The Rock on two different phones before Cody tells him to call them, as he is now hunting them, not the other way around. The officers get in the ring again, and this time, Cody attacks them all with the metal folding chair before tossing them all out of the ring.

This week on Raw Talk: Liv Morgan! "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark! Drew McIntyre!

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