Monday Night RAW 23/02/2026 Recap

RAW started with Michael Cole and Corey Graves in the middle of the ring to briefly talk about the career of AJ Styles. They couldn’t get far though as Gunther came to interrupt.

He said that its disgraceful to celebrate the career of a loser. Gunther instead suggested celebrating his career. But Adam Pearce came down the aisle to tell him to leave the ring as this show is about celebrating the career of AJ Styles. Gunther only obliged as he said he was disgraced by what is happening during the show.

on his way out, Dragon Lee attacked Gunther trying to ridicule and disrespect his former tag team partner. The brawl would spill backstage where Gunther came face to face with Cody Rhodes, who came down the ring.

Cody Rhodes Promo

Instead of starting by asking ‘what do you wanna talk about?’ he instead said he already knew what we wanna talk about and that’s the career of “wrestling royalty” AJ Styles. But again, he couldn’t even get to the meat of his promo without The Vision interrupting.

Logan Paul questioned Rhodes to why he is one the show, asking if he is insane. He said that once Bronson Reed wins the Elimination Chamber and becomes champion at Wrestlemania, The Vision will take over Smackdown too.

After Paul boasted about how Reed was going to win the qualifying match, which was up next, Rhodes said that there was someone who would disagree with that. Down came Jey Uso.

Bronson Reed vs Jey Uso vs Original El Grande Americano (Elimination Chamber qualifying match)

Americano would take control of the start of the match, but Reed would restore order eventually. Americano would deliver an extraordinary German suplex to Reed, but it seemed like Reed hurt his bicep as he was noticeably touching and looking at it and rolled out the ring. The referee would also give the ‘X’ tot eh timekeeping area. El Grande and Jey would keep on wrestling in the meantime. Uso would have the splash countered and Americano would put him in the ankle lock. Uso would get out of it, deliver the Uso splash and cash his ticket to the Elimination Chamber.

Turns out Bronson Reed is badly injured.

Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio announce who she will face at Wrestlemania

Liv Morgan would still look quite shaken after Stephanie Vaquer’s threats last week. Dominik Mysterio would request the Women’s champions come down to the ring.

Morgan was not herself as she was very humble and quiet. She said to Vaquer that she didn’t know about her story and that she’s sorry that she judged Stephanie. She said she needed to focus on her story and would look like she was going to address Jade Cargill, but instead knocked out Vaquer and put a beating on her. She would then stand tall over Vaquer, championship in hand.

Je’ Von Evans interview

Offset came into frame with Evans, as did The New Day with Grayson Waller. They were upset that Offset never accepted their invitation but they accepted Evans’s. Offset said it was because New Day sucks. Evans challenged them to a match and Kofi accepted.

Maxxine Dupri vs Nattie

The match started off less of a respectable ‘wrestling match’ and just turned into a brawl. It would end almost instantly as Nattie would send Dupri into the ring post, knocking her unconscious and led to the referee calling the match off.

The Judgement Day backstage

JD wanted to clear the air with Finn and just wanted to let him know that he wants what’s best for him. Finn said not to worry, it’s water under the bridge. But he repeated that he wants to wrestle CM Punk alone.

Dom complained that they left him hanging last week and that’s why he lost. He acknowledged that Finn wants to do things alone, but he doesn’t, and wants their help next week against Penta.

JD said no worries. But not Finn. Finn Balor said that he’s been focusing on the most important match of his life and that when JD and Dom were injured, he didn’t blame them for why he lost. He told Dom that he should take some responsibility and “grow up”.

Adam Pearce with the crate

Pearce was still confused as to what was in the crate and told a staff member to send it to Chicago and him and Aldis will open it together. Rusev would then ask to talk business with Adam but Pearce said he had a meeting. In came Oba Femi and things got very tenses as they both wanted to throw down. Pearce told them this isn’t the time or the place and that tonight is about AJ Styles. They both decided to be civil “For AJ”

Brock Lesnar returns (With Paul Heyman)

Paul Heyman introduced himself as the advocate for Brock Lesnar. He spoke about how Wrestlemania had two main events. The title match and The Undertaker’s streak which was ended by Brock Lesnar. Now that means Lesnar has taken that spot as one of the main events and now the only Deadman is the one that’s comes down the aisle to face Brock Lesnar. Heyman said that there is not one man who would be willing to take and a** whooping from Brock Lesnar. But he said that he doesn’t think anyone will answer the open challenge. Paul said that the only main event match at Wrestlemania, is whoever faces Brock Lesnar.

Je’Von Evans vs Kofi Kingston

Kofi would roll out the way of a moonsault and it looked like Evans hurt his knee. Kofi would take his opportunity and gain some control. After diving to the outside on Kofi, Waller would punch Evans and almost gift Kofi the win. Waller would talk trash to Offset ringside but would get send crashing over the announce table. Je’Von would hit the OG Cutter and get the win.

CM Punk promo

Punk would say that tonight is not about him but about AJ Styles. He said he’s doing the best he can by trying to be a fighting champion. He said that Roman Reigns will be here next week and what if he punches him in his “stupid face”. He said he doesn’t deal in ‘ifs’ and he only cares about reality. He says he IS the main event of Wrestlemania and that he is the Best in the World.

Iyo Sky vs Kairi Sane vs Raquel Rodriguez (Elimination Chamber qualifying match)

Sane and Sky worked very well together to start off the match and after they disposed of Rodriguez, it was a one vs one. It was a pattern as whenever Rodriguez would be in the mix, Sky and Sane would work amazingly together to get rid of her and then they’d get back to fighting each other. Sky would land her Over the moonsault but Rodriguez would pull Sane out of the ring. After a scuffle on the top rope between Sane and Sky, Raquel Rodriguez would land the Tejana Bomb for the win and to go the Elimination Chamber.

AJ Styles Tribute

AJ received an absolutely amazing reaction from the live crowd as his music hit and he walked down to the ring. He would tell his story about wrestling in Gainesville and how he started. He then told us about the great people he competed against in TNA and about his time in Japan and his best mates Gallows and Anderson and how they showed him how to have fun in the wrestling business. Despite everything he’s achieved in the business, he said his biggest flex is having the greatest wife ever. Not a single dry eye. He praised Wendy about how she let him pursue his dreams and how she held the family together. He gave his love to his children and was starting to finish off what was a wonderful and emotional speech. He said how the final match with Gunther was poetic, despite it not being 100% how he would’ve expected to go, as it marked 10 years since his historic and shocking debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble. To finish off, he said the one thing he has is his word and that the reason he didn’t put his gloves down at the Rumble as he wanted to leave them at “home”. He did just that. Full circle.

Right when you though it was over, the credits were rolling and all, all the locker room came out to show their respects.

The bell tolls and the lights go out.

The crowd becomes chaotic. Not a seat in use.

In the ring The Undertaker looks confused as Styles. He asks him if “that’s it”. You’re going to put your gear down and just walk out. He said that the two of them have unfinished business as when you see The Undertaker coming, you’re already going. He said that it is his esteemed honour to announce AJ Styles as the newest inductee of the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame. Styles couldn’t believe it as him and The Undertaker embraced.

What followed was a beautiful and perfect picture for the Styles family. AJ Styles, his wife and kids all in the ring embracing each other, proud of what their husband and father had achieved as he walked off into the sunset.

Phenomenal.

Thank you, Allen “AJ Styles” Jones