WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from February 4

As The Road to WrestleMania begins, WWE gets focused, setting up a series of excellent shows. Raw looked to be just that for this February 4 edition with so many promises made ahead of the night.

Ronda Rousey's WrestleMania opponent, Becky Lynch, was invited on to Raw by commissioner Stephanie McMahon. The Man has always delivered in her appearances, but this had the potential to be a game-changing encounter.

Kurt Angle also had announced he would be addressing his WWE future, with the Hall of Famer clearly showing his age in recent losses to Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin. This would be the moment that he charted the course for the rest of his final run with the company.

Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman were expected to make their own statements, with the Royal Rumble winner explaining why he chose Brock Lesnar as his opponent at WrestleMania 35 and The Monster Among Men looking for revenge against McIntyre and Corbin, who laid him out last week.

The match lineup had serious potential as well, with Sasha Banks and Bayley fighting Alicia Fox and Nikki Cross for the final Raw spot in the women's tag team Elimination Chamber match. Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley and Elias vs. Jeff Jarrett were also promised as grudge matches.

This episode of the red brand had all the potential to get people talking with limited time left to set up Elimination Chamber on February 17.

Stephanie McMahon Suspends Becky Lynch for Refusing Medical Attention

Stephanie McMahon tried to start off the show, but Becky Lynch quickly interrupted, opening the show much as she has done in recent weeks of SmackDown Live.

The Billionaire Princess showed her respect for The Irish Lass Kicker before making clear she was worried about Lynch's knee.

She refused to let the Royal Rumble winner fight without getting checked out by WWE officials. The Man refused, and McMahon suspended her, causing a limping Lynch to assault the Raw commissioner until she was forced off by officials with her knee clearly limiting her movement.

Grade

A

Analysis

This was exactly what it needed to be. Lynch's injury is going to be the defining story of the next few months, building on the foundation of the first match that never was between The Baddest Woman on the Planet and The Man.

Lynch is lashing out at everyone in her way, feeling like WWE is again trying to take away her shot at Rousey. She's so paranoid that we may not know for weeks just how bad her knee is supposed to be.

Obviously, this is WWE's way of setting up Charlotte Flair to sneak into the title match, but it is also just strong storytelling. While it would be better to keep it to just Rousey vs. Lynch, at least WWE is being clever with the booking.

Ronda Rousey vs. Liv Morgan; Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Logan

An angry Ronda Rousey took out Liv Morgan quickly with an armbar and then challenged Sarah Logan.

While Logan made it more competitive, she also got caught with the armbar and tapped out.

Ruby Riott teased fighting The Baddest Woman on the Planet as well but then backed off.

She was questioned backstage why she backed down, and The Riott Squad leader said she needed to take care of her friends.

Result

Rousey def. Morgan by submission; Rousey def. Logan by submission

Grade

B-

Analysis

As a direct follow-up to the Lynch segment, this worked well. Rousey did not admit it specifically, but she was frustrated that The Man got suspended, potentially putting their match in jeopardy. She took out that aggravation on The Riott Squad.

Rousey dislikes Lynch so much that she can't imagine fighting anyone else at WrestleMania on April 7. It will be interesting to see how her frustration affects the coming weeks on Raw.

Revival vs. Lucha House Party vs. B-Team vs. Heavy Machinery (No. 1 Contender)

In a follow-up to SmackDown's Fatal 4-Way elimination match, Raw had a Four Corners No. 1 Contender contest with Bobby Roode and Chad Gable watching backstage. Once again, Otis Dozovic got a great reaction for a surprisingly dominant display.

Lince Dorado also stood out throughout, but ultimately The Revival once more proved it is the best tag team in the division.

After wiping out Curtis Axel, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder hit Bo Dallas with the Shatter Machine for the win.

Result

The Revival def. The B-Team, Lucha House Party and Heavy Machinery by pinfall to become the new No. 1 contenders to the Raw Tag Team Championships

Grade

B-

Analysis

This was a fine match, though it should have been an elimination just like on the blue brand. Heavy Machinery looked great for the second WWE show in a row and has clearly found its niche on the main roster despite rarely standing out in NXT.

Dawson and Wilder earned another title opportunity. While they should be getting opportunities like this often, how they are being booked is becoming redundant. If they lose again, none of this even mattered.

Kurt Angle's Speech Interrupted by Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin

Kurt Angle began to talk to the crowd with clear sadness in his voice. He seemed ready to give up until Baron Corbin came out to taunt the Olympic gold medalist.

This fired up the former Raw general manager, but Drew McIntyre then joined The Lone Wolf in taunting the Hall of Famer.

As they marched to the ring to end Angle's career for good, Braun Strowman arrived to send both men running, and the two faces stood tall against the duo.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was perfectly fine and made complete sense, but there's not enough here to care about. Angle lost decisively to both heels to a point that he was sold as no longer being able to compete in a WWE ring. Strowman can only carry him so far.

The Monster Among Men and The Scottish Psychopath deserve better than this. Perhaps they will get it, but right now they are stuck in a dead-end angle waiting for a legitimate WrestleMania story.

Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Alicia Fox and Nikki Cross (Chamber Qualifier)

After showing solidarity backstage, Nikki Cross and Alicia Fox ambushed and laid out Bayley and Sasha Banks on the ramp. This emphatically established the newly aligned heels as legitimate threats, with The Hugger fighting two-on-one here after the bell rang.

The Boss barely even played a role but managed to help Bayley to avoid a running splash into the steel post before The Huggable One rolled up The Foxy One for three.

Result

The Boss 'n' Hug Connection def. Fox and Cross to earn the final spot in the Women's Tag Team Championships Elimination Chamber match

Grade

B

Analysis

This wasn't an involved match, but the storytelling on display was top-notch. Bayley basically had to fight on her own, and she did it. It was like she was finally able to tap into what made her so successful in NXT, and the crowd responded as it should have.

Banks and Bayley are going into the Chamber as the clear favorites, but if they keep doing work like this, it won't matter if their win is obvious. It will just be the right move.

Cross turning heel was disappointing this early in her time on the main roster, but she has a nice connection with Fox that should be explored further.

Elias vs. Jeff Jarrett

Credit: WWE.com

Road Dogg introduced Jeff Jarrett for a karaoke-level performance together until Elias interrupted the rambling.

After a few quick insults, the two got to brawling, with Elias taking over quickly.

Despite his roadie trying to help out, the veteran was completely outmatched by the musician, who hit Drift Away to win.

Afterward, the two old men got their revenge, with Road Dogg setting up Double J to hit Elias with a guitar in the back.

Result

Elias def. Jarrett

Grade

D+

Analysis

This was just meant to be a fun diversion, and it worked for the most part, even though it's hard to say what the end goal is to any of this. Elias was unnecessarily turned heel so he could make a 51-year-old Jarrett look good.

The nostalgia act works well enough for a short run, but this really should be it. Elias got his win, and the veterans got their revenge. Neither Road Dogg nor Double J needs to be seen again.

Finn Balor vs. Lio Rush

Credit: WWE.com

Finn Balor was interviewed before his expected match with Bobby Lashley and stated he was injured but not going to back down.

The All Mighty refused to fight The Extraordinary Man, instead wanting Balor to fight men his own size.

After a cheap-shot assault of the already-bandaged Irishman by Lashley, Lio Rush managed to take over this contest early, even staying on top after the referee ejected The Dominator from ringside. Every move left Balor out of sorts.

However, Rush could not put it away before The Extraordinary Man caught him with a corner dropkick and Coup de Grace.

Result

Balor def. Rush by pinfall

Grade

B-

Analysis

This wasn't quite as entertaining as Balor vs. Rush should be, as the Irishman had to sell his ribs throughout. Still, it was cool to see The Man of the Hour looking good in the ring on the main roster as more than just a stuntman manager.

Balor vs. Lashley has never been all that exciting a rivalry, but if it leads to the Irishman winning the Intercontinental Championship, it will have all been worth it.

'A Moment of Bliss' with EC3 Gets Sidetracked; Dean Ambrose vs. EC3

Credit: WWE.com

This week's "A Moment of Bliss" featured EC3, who didn't get in one word before Nia Jax and Tamina interrupted.

The Facebreaker insulted Bliss and said everyone should be talking about her. Things then got even more bizarre with the arrival of Dean Ambrose.

He called out Jax for having a crush on him before turning to The Top One Percent. He made fun of him before getting decked by a right hand from the NXT star.

The two fought in a match, with EC3 catching the former world champion with a jackknife pin for three.

Result

EC3 def. Ambrose by pinfall

Grade

D

Analysis

I cannot tell what WWE is doing with EC3, but it feels all wrong. He spent the opening segment doing nothing but getting laughed at, and he then sneaked away with a win in a sloppy match against a guy who is on his way out of the company.

Those who have no knowledge of The Top One Percent outside of the main roster would be shocked to know the guy is a talented mic worker. It's easily his strongest attribute, yet it is the one aspect of his character not being explored.

Hopefully, this victory will lead somewhere better for him than just playing the silent goof.

Kurt Angle and Braun Strowman vs. Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin

Credit: WWE.com

The redemption of Kurt Angle started here, as he survived an onslaught of strikes and big moves from the heels, even making it out of Drew McIntyre's ankle lock to finally get Braun Strowman into the match.

Using their surroundings, though, Baron Corbin and The Scottish Psychopath wore down Strowman, forcing The Olympic Gold Medalist to get back into it. In the end, The Monster Among Men was disqualified in his frustration to save Angle, attacking the legal man Corbin.

Afterward, the heels looked poised to obliterate Angle, but Strowman made the save and chokeslammed both Corbin and McIntyre onto the steel steps to stand tall with Angle.

Result

McIntyre and Corbin def. Angle and Strowman by disqualification

Grade

C

Analysis

While hardly a powerful ending to Raw, this was a stronger segment for this whole story than the earlier faux retirement by Angle. It was believable for a moment that the former Raw general manager had something left in the tank.

The disqualification was a weak ending which built on a tag team rule that is rarely followed. It all just felt like a WWE delaying tactic so this same match can happen again at Elimination Chamber.