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Most Exciting WrestleMania Match? 🔥

WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From Feb. 9

Erik BeastonFeb 9, 2026

After Roman Reigns chose CM Punk as his opponent for WrestleMania 42 last week, WWE Raw hit the Netflix airwaves with a packed show featuring Elimination Chamber qualifying round matches.

Who cashed their ticket to the next premium live event, with a chance to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship at The Showcase of the Immortals on April 18-19?

Find out in this recap of the February 9 broadcast, including grades and analysis of the night's action.

Lineup

1 of 10
SmackDown

Announced in advance for Monday's show:

  • World Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) vs. Alpha Academy
  • Maxxine Dupri vs. Natalya
  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Rhea Ripley vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Ivy Nile
  • Elimination Chamber qualifying match: LA Knight vs. Penta vs. Austin Theory
  • AJ Lee Interrupted Becky Lynch

    2 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Last Time in Action: AJ Lee, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky defeated Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Asuka, and Kairi Sane (Survivor Series, November 30); Lynch lost the Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble, January 31)

    AJ Lee kicked off Monday's Raw but could barely address the WWE Universe before women's intercontinental champion Becky Lynch interrupted.

    A back and forth ensued, with Lynch clearly breaking down and insisting on a one-on-one match.

    Lee used The Man's emotions against her, goading her into putting the Women's Intercontinental Championship on the line against her at Elimination Chamber in her hometown of Chicago.

    Lynch warned Lee that if she thought The Man held her down before, she hadn't seen anything yet. She then stomped off to close out the opening promo.

    Grade

    A

    Top Moments and Takeaways

  • How does one get what they want from someone with an enormous ego? Play to it and Lee did just that, manipulating Lynch and forcing her to defend her label as "the greatest of all time" by convincing her to put the IC title on the line in Chicago. The crowd ate it up and the character work from both made this a big success.
  • It is a shame the match will take place at the Elimination Chamber PLE because this is a legitimate main event-worthy contest.
  • World Tag Team Championship: The Usos vs. Alpha Academy

    3 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Last Time in Action: Alpha Academy defeated The Creed Brothers (Main Event, February 5); The Usos defeated AJ Styles and Dragon Lee (Raw, December 29)

    Otis and Akira Tozawa outlasted The New Day and The Creed Brothers to earn this shot at The Usos and the World Tag Team Championship.

    The challengers started hot, but the champions gained the upper hand through the commercial break.

    Back from the timeout, Tozawa created separation and tagged Otis into the contest. The juggernaut tore through his opponents, but a blind tag from Jimmy to Jey led to the latter cutting off the caterpillar with a big kick.

    A double superkick looked to stun Otis, but he rebounded off the ropes with a double clothesline to take the twins down.

    Tozawa tagged in and replicated his performance from two weeks ago, tearing through the competition and looking set to pull off a massive upset.

    Jimmy survived long enough to stay in the match before teaming with Jey to deliver a 1-D to Otis for the win and successful title defense.

    Result

    The Usos defeated Alpha Academy to retain the titles

    Grade

    B+

    Top Moments and Takeaways

  • There was a concerted effort to put over Tozawa on commentary, which begs two questions: Who woke up and realized he is a great professional wrestler and why did it take so long?
  • This was better than it had any right to be. Babyface vs. babyface is traditionally a tough match to have without splitting the crowd or taking them out of it. Instead, the fans were red-hot for both teams, making the dramatic back stretch that much better.
  • The right team went over, but it will be imperative for Triple H and the creative team to keep Alpha Academy at the forefront because the audience is ready to root for them.
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    SmackDown
    Monday Night RAW

    Liv Morgan Promo

    4 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Last Time in Action: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez lost to Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace (SmackDown, February 6)

    2026 Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan, flanked by intercontinental champion Dominik Mysterio, made her way to the ring to address the WWE Universe.

    After being presented with flowers by her beau, Morgan proclaimed herself the greatest Royal Rumble winner of all time and began to discuss her WrestleMania 42 choice when Stephanie Vaquer's pyro cut her off and the women's world champion made her way to the ring.

    The champion and potential challenger exchanged insults before Vaquer told Morgan she hopes she chooses her so she can kick her ass. One last insult from the heel ended with a slap to the face of Mysterio.

    Grade

    C+

    Top Moments and Takeaways

    • This was a pro wrestling segment that could have been an email. At the very least, a backstage vignette.
    • Nothing happened here. There were a few insults in Spanish and a slap to Mysterio, but nothing that sold the audience on a potential showdown between Vaquer and Morgan except for low-hanging fruit. Everyone involved has earned better.

    Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Rhea Ripley vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Ivy Nile

    5 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Last Time in Action: Ripley, Valkyria, and Nile lost the Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble, January 31)

    Rhea Ripley, Lyra Valkyria, and Ivy Nile may not have achieved the success they hoped for in the women's Rumble match in Saudi Arabia, but they had a shot at redemption by vying for a championship opportunity inside the Elimination Chamber on February 28.

    They battled in an action-packed Triple Threat match that saw Nile showcase her strength with a German Suplex/Tower of Doom spot that brought both of her opponents off the top rope and crashing to the mat below.

    Ripley recovered and, after several hard-hitting spots, caught Valkyria with a running knee to the face. The Riptide followed, and The Eradicator cashed her ticket to Chicago with a hard-fought victory.

    Result

    Ripley defeated Valkyria and Nile

    Grade

    B

    Top Moments and Takeaways

  • Perhaps they were rushed by strict time restraints, but this was sloppy at times. Even when spots did not go according to plan, they recovered nicely and the crowd was into it.
  • Ripley is one of the best wrestlers in the world, not just WWE.
  • Valkyria was one of the breakout names in 2025 and a star of WWE: Unreal, and to see her fading as WrestleMania 42 approaches is disappointing.
  • Finn Balor Wants Title Match, and CM Punk's Words for Roman Reigns

    6 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Last Time in Action: Finn Balor lost to CM Punk (Raw, January 19); CM Punk defeated AJ Styles via disqualification (Raw, January 26)

    Before Michael Cole could conduct his in-ring interview with world heavyweight champion CM Punk, Finn Balor interrupted and demanded a rematch with The Best in the World for the top prize on Raw, this time in Punk's hometown.

    The Straight Edge Superstar made his way to the ring and demanded Raw general manager Adam Pearce make the match. After hesitancy on the part of the authority figure, he relented and made the match official for Elimination Chamber in Chicago.

    With that business out of the way, Cole asked Punk why he would jeopardize one of the biggest main events in WWE history, against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42. The crowd favorite said he shows up to fight anyone, any time, any place because the fans deserve it.

    Punk warned Reigns that he cannot do a damn thing to stop him from building what he is building and promised that at WrestleMania, the ring announcer will proclaim "and still world heavyweight champion...CM Punk!"

    Grade

    B+

    Top Moments and Takeaways

  • Punk promised to be a fighting champion for the fans and the result is a veteran competitor potentially spreading himself too thin, with Balor and Reigns targeting him and his title. It could, and likely will, prove costly but he is going to go down according to his beliefs. That will endear him to fans, even as he prepares to fight The OTC on the grand stage.
  • This story thread featuring Balor is going to make him a monster babyface before all is said and done. He is rediscovering his confidence, which means it is only a matter of time before he tells The Judgment Day he does not need them, sparking a rivalry that could have 'Mania implications.
  • Maxxine Dupri vs. Nattie

    7 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Last Time in Action: Nattie and Maxxine Dupri lost the Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble, January 31)

    Following a shocking betrayal that saw Nattie cost Maxxine Dupri the Women's Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch, the mentor squared off with the protege Monday night.

    Before the bell, though, Nattie attacked Dupri. Despite momentary bursts from the babyface, Nattie brutalized her, sending her into the ring steps and the ring post, before applying the Sharpshooter on the commentary table.

    AJ Lee made the save, coming to the aid of the woman she helped capture the IC title. As she helped Dupri out of the arena, Becky Lynch attacked Lee, sending her into the ring post.

    Result

    No-Contest

    Grade

    B+

    Top Moments and Takeaways

  • Nattie showed great aggression here. This incarnation of her character could be exactly what she needs to jump back into title contention and prominence in a loaded women's division.
  • Lee coming to the aid of Dupri made sense considering their history. That small link between the two paid dividends here and is something the creative team got away from for a while. Going back to that would immediately improve the product.
  • Lynch vs. Lee seemed like the WrestleMania direction, but considering that match is now on for Elimination Chamber, could a Four-Way for the title be in store at The Show of Shows?
  • Je'Von Evans and Original El Grande Americano vs. Rayo and Bravo

    8 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Last Time in Action: Je'Von Evans defeated El Grande Americano (Raw, February 2); Original El Grande Americano lost the Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble, January 31); Los Americanos lost a Triple Threat No. 1 Contender's Match to The War Raiders and Money Machine (AAA on FOX, February 7)

    The return of the Original El Grande Americano at the Royal Rumble has made life miserable for El Grande Americano, Bravo, and Rayo. Monday, the original luchador partnered with Je'Von Evans to battle Los Americanos in tag team action.

    The heels isolated and beat down Evans throughout the commercial break, but a hot tag to the original Americano sparked a comeback for the babyfaces.

    Utilizing a series of suplexes and throws reminiscent of Chad Gable, the masked man dominated the action momentarily.

    When the new Americano shoved his predecessor off the top rope, it looked like Bravo might pick up the win. Instead, he dived head-first into an OG Cutter from Evans.

    The original Americano added a diving headbutt for the win.

    Result

    Evans and the Original El Grande Americano defeated Bravo and Rayo

    Grade

    C+

    Top Moments and Takeaways

  • The action was plentiful and the match was fun, even if the majority of the attention at this point is being paid to the war between the Americanos.
  • Evans is such a star that it is almost unfathomable NXT did not manage to do even more with him than it did. How he never held that brand's title is mindboggling.
  • Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Penta vs. LA Knight vs. Austin Theory

    9 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Last Time in Action: Penta defeated Bronson Reed via count-out (Raw, February 2); LA Knight and Austin Theory lost the Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble, January 31)

    LA Knight and Penta have had their issues with The Vision, and they had the chance to prevent the faction from having a presence in the Elimination Chamber match on February 28 by knocking off Austin Theory.

    An action-packed contest culminated in late interference from Logan Paul and Bronson Reed, both of whom were warned not to get involved.

    Reed delivered a Tsunami to Knight before Raw general manager Adam Pearce ordered them away from the ring. On the outside, Theory sent Penta over the commentary table before the unknown assailant laid out the former U.S. champion.

    With Paul and Reed focused on chasing the mystery man, Knight delivered the BFT to Theory to cash his ticket to Elimination Chamber.

    Result

    Knight defeated Theory and Penta

    Grade

    B

    Top Moments and Takeaways

  • On tap for next week's show: Bayley vs. Asuka vs. Nattie in a Women's Elimination Chamber qualifier, Je'Von Evans vs. Gunther vs. Dominik Mysterio in a men's Elimination Chamber qualifier, and AJ Lee appears live.
  • Theory's 2023 Elimination Chamber win feels like another lifetime given where his character has gone since then.
  • This was overbooked and messy, but it continued the story involving The Vision and the mystery assailant while giving Knight a signature win to add to his resume.
  • Based on body movement, the man in black is clearly intended to be Seth Rollins, even if that is not who is currently under the mask. When that reveal comes, The Visionary will come face-to-face with his Vision, presumably in time for WrestleMania 42.
  • Overall Grade

    10 of 10
    Monday Night RAW

    Monday's Raw continued the trend of the flagship show being WWE's best.

    From AJ Lee's return and her subsequent showdown with Becky Lynch, to the two Elimination Chamber qualifiers, to another breakout performance from Akira Tozawa, there was plenty to like about this week's episode.

    The main event was a bit overbooked, and the mystery-man gimmick is wearing thin given how many times it has been utilized over the last year, but the positives outweighed the negatives.

    This week's show earned a solid thumbs-up as a result.

    Grade: B

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