Raw Deal - Raw recap for February 17, 2025

Sami Zayn heads to the ring. Sami talks about how his and Kevin Owens' names have been inexorably tied together throughout the entire careers from the indies to WWE, and in that time, there has been a lot of betrayals and forgiveness, forgiving and forgetting. He says there is no forgiving and forgetting this time, as even Owens knows he was trying to end his career, and says that the problem is that Owens did not get the job done and he is still standing. Sami tells Owens he will be around for Elimination Chamber and that he wants this fight, as does the fans. Suddenly, General Manager Adam Pearce shows up, and says that while even he wants the match, Sami is not medically cleared. Pearce says that the match cannot happen, then heads to the back before Sami stops him, saying they have known each other for a long time and that even he knows he will not take "no" for an answer. Sami says he will not leave the ring until he approves the match, but Pearce says he would have to make it an unsanctioned match - which he has never done before - and WWE would have to wash their hands of this, as Owens could not be stopped. Pearce says this could be Sami's last match if this were to happen, and Sami walks up to Pearce says that if Owens cannot be stopped, then neither can he, and demands the match. Pearce makes it not just official, but unsanctioned.

Backstage, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio meets with Liv Morgan regarding with Bianca Belair and Naomi. Liv thanks Dominik for stepping up recently and says she knows Dominik will win tonight. When Finn Balor's refusal to add a new member is mentioned, Finn steps in and says everyone will take care of business tonight, including Raquel Rodriguez, then shoots down the possibility of a new member again.

We see livestream footage of iShowSpeed talking about taking a Spear from Bron Breakker. iShowSpeed says he could not move and had one of the worst headaches afterwards, and says he thought he was going to die after taking the move.

Daytona 500 winner William Byron is seen in the front row.

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles beats "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio after taking Carlito out for his constant interference. After the match, Bron Breakker gets in the ring to spear Styles, but Styles dodges, and Breakker hits Dominik instead. Styles then hits Breakker with an enzuigiri and tosses him out, and when Breakker throws his shirt at him, Styles effortlessly catches it.

Julius Creed has joined Team Cormier as coach for The Ultimate Fighter.

Backstage, The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) are talking about their match with The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) with Ivy Nile. Ivy Nile says she will take care of Dakota Kai and get some gold around her waist, then Dakota shows up. Ivy tells Dakota her Cinderella story is over, but Dakota says she has faced tougher opponents and she will earn her rematch.

Lyra Valkyria watches from ringside for the next match.

Rugby League legend Aaron Woods is in the front row.

Dakota Kai beats Ivy Nile to become #1 contender for the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship. After the match, Lyra Valkyria and Dakota Kai have a friendly staredown.

We hear from Gunther, who is backstage with "Yeet"-ing fans before making his way to the ring the crowd, much like "Main Event" Jey Uso, in order to feel what Jey Uso feels. He then proceeds to make fun of both Jey Uso and the fans. He says that "Yeet" is a simple gesture for simple folks and that Jey Uso is at home in the crowd because he is also simple, then says performing for the fans is like reading Shakespeare to a dog. Gunther states that as the best wrestler in WWE, he is tired of stepping into the ring with people who cannot lace his boots, and while he was hopeful he could talk sense into Jey, the fans egged Jey on into digging his own grave. He says that at WrestleMania, the match will happen in the ring, not in the crowd, and after the bell rings, he will outclass Jey in every aspect of wrestling. Gunther then says that after WrestleMania, Jey Uso's blood will be on the fans' hands, then asks the fans if they think Jey stands a chance against him. As the fans chant they want Jey, Gunther says nobody in the crowd has a clue, then stands on the announce table and asks Michael Cole and Pat McAfee for their thoughts. He then tosses the microphone to Pat McAfee, as he always runs his mouth, and Pat McAfee says that anything can happen and that Jey could beat him. Soon after, Jey Uso shows up. Security and officials are there with Jey, but they cannot stop him from rushing up to Gunther and getting a few shots in. Jey fights off a few security guards, and Gunther has to be pulled away from the sleeper hold he puts Jey in. Gunther is removed from the ring while Jey is held back inside the ring.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Liv says they have elevated the level of the women's division, and that it continue when Raquel squashes Roxanne Perez like the little bug that she is. She and Raquel neither confirm or deny attacking Jade Cargill, with Liv saying that they would not feel about it if they did and Raquel saying they will attack anyone who gets in their way.

Retired Army special mission unit operator Brad Thomas, and Love is Blind alums Laura and Brittany are seen in the crowd.

Penta beats Pete Dunne. Ludwig Kaiser shows up during the match to watch from ringside, and distracts Pentagon at one point, much to Dunne's chagrin. When Dunne tells Kaiser to stay out of his match, Penta sends Dunne into Kaiser, then hits him with the Penta Driver for the win. After the match, Kaiser attacks Penta, then Dunne grabs Kaiser out of the ring and attacks him only for Penta to hit both of them with a tope con hilo.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews "Main Event" Jey Uso, who says he is being underestimated and doubted and that he will shock the world again when he beats Gunther to become World Heavyweight Champion.

We see footage of Bayley at the NBA All-Star Celebrity game.

We see a vignette for Roxanne Perez, who says that she only sees a prodigy when she looks in the mirror and that nobody is on her level.

We hear from The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik). Erik says American Made (Julius and Brutus Creed) took them to their limit, and Ivar says that while they are as advertised, they still missed and still hit them with their titles. He says this is not the first time they have been knocked down only to get back up, and Erik warns that their next match will be war.

Roxanne Perez beats Raquel Rodriguez to qualify for the women's Elimination Chamber match after Bianca Belair and Naomi show up and attack Liv. After the match, Raquel has to save Liv for a further beating.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Seth "Freakin'" Rollins, who says that he must win tonight in order to get through the Elimination Chamber and main event WrestleMania. He says this is as big as it gets, and that it is time for a fight. Rollins leaves, then Karrion Kross and Scarlett show up. Kross says he knows Sami Zayn will see this, and says that "Main Event" Jey Uso are Seth Rollins only think they stand a chance and that there is always more time for Sami to turn things around.

We hear from Iyo Sky. She says that a year ago, she was champion and on top of the world and main eventing WrestleMania, but now her path is not so clear. She says there was a good chance she would not have a moment this year, but her match with Rhea Ripley might get her there. Iyo says she respect Ripley as an opponent, and that when she beats her in two weeks, she will punch her ticket to WrestleMania. She says the WWE Women's Championship is hers, and she wants it back.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) is in the ring. Xavier Woods wishes Rey Mysterio to get well soon, then he and Kofi Kingston are booed out of the building. Woods gets mad at the fans for getting mad at Big E and Rey Mysterio, the former they wanted to stay home and the latter he describes as a Hall of Famer who sucks the life out of every luchador who comes into the company. Kofi says everyone puts Rey on a pedestal, then says he has more title wins and seniority in WWE than Rey Mysterio, and says that unlike Rey, he never left, and that he should be the locker room leader. Kofi calls being removed from the locker room "heinous," and Woods says that this caused them to force their hand and injure Rey and make him cry. Kofi says the fans should thank them for showing Rey mercy, and Woods says they should be thankful they did not give Rey "the Ol' Yeller treatment" and instead gave him extra vacation days to spend with his wife. The two of them say they should be thanking them and thanking God for them, then The Latino World Order (Dragon Lee, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro) show up. Dragon Lee says what happened to Rey is unforgivable, then tells The New Day that they suck. The three of them rush into the ring and give The New Day a beatdown, and The New Day are forced to run away.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Bianca Belair and Naomi. Naomi says they were counting down the days until the truth came out about Jade Cargill, and now, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez will be counting their days. The two of them proclaim that Liv will have to treat the Elimination Chamber like a handicap match, and agree that they are ready to fight until it is down to one of them.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins beats Finn Balor in a men's Elimination Chamber qualifier.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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