Minutes to Bell Time

                    Raw Preview and Live Results

                    Summary

                    • Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy never happened, but we had an extended segment where Randy Orton hit Matt Hardy with a bunch more con-chair-tos. Nobody saved Matt Hardy.
                    • The Erick Rowan winning streak is over.
                    • AJ Styles returned, but did not wrestle.
                    • The women’s elimination chamber is taking form.
                    • The main event was a variation of the same main event we keep seeing, but this time the story advanced when the Street Profits joined the resistance.

                    Live Results

                    Announced Drew McIntyre vs. MVP for Later in the Show

                    Randy Orton and Matt Hardy Segment

                    After Randy Orton came to the ring, the WWE showed us a recap of last week’s con-chair-to to Matt Hardy. Orton says that he is supposed to face Matt Hardy, but Matt won’t get cleared. Matt came out on the ramp with a neck brace on and asked Randy Orton to address what he did to Edge: “What in the hell is wrong with you?”

                    Matt says the WWE officials won’t clear him, but Matt says he has grit. Matt doesn’t know what is in store for Matt Hardy, but it won’t be determined by Randy Orton. Randy says he respects Matt and Edge, and in fact, he loves Edge like a brother. Orton says sorry and gets out of the ring and walks up the ramp. When he gets to the top of the ramp, Orton took off his vest and started walking back toward the ring. Matt Hardy grabbed a chair.

                    Orton ducked a swing of the chair, yanked Matt’s neck down over the top rope, got in the ring, and hit an RKO. He then hit Matt with a chair several times. Referees came tot he ringside area as Orton took the neck brace off Matt Hardy and set up for another con-chair-to. Randy began to walk away, but he circled back and used the stairs to hit the con-chair-to instead. After beginning to walk away again, Orton came back and hit Matt with a second con-chair-to on the stairs.

                    In summary, no Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy match tonight and nobody came to Matt’s defense. I understand what WWE attempted here, but they didn’t have to advertise a match they didn’t plan on delivering.

                    Aleister Black defeated Erick Rowan

                    The match immediately went to the outside, Black attempted a moonsault off the turnbuckle, and Rowan evaded hitting his running crossbody on the floor. Raw went to commercial.

                    Black had a short advantage when the show returned from break, but Rowan came right back using the outside barricade as a weapon. Rowan went for a powerbomb on the floor, but Black countered with a hurricanrana sending Rowan straight into the post. Black then hit his moonsault from the second turnbuckle to the floor.

                    Back in the ring, Black hit a high knee strike, but Rowan caught Black attempting Black Mass. After Rowan attempted the Iron Claw slam, Rowan did hit a release powerbomb. When Black came to his feet, he evaded another Iron Claw attempt and hit two black Mass kicks for the pinfall victory.

                    At 7 Minutes 46 seconds, this match lasted longer then any two other Black and Rowan matches together.

                    Charlotte Flair Interview Segment in the Ring

                    Charlotte asked for the recap from NXT TakeOver to play on the screen. In the recap, Charlotte attacked Ripley and accepted her challenge.

                    Charlotte says her class put NXT on the map and that she plans to humble Rhea at WrestleMania. She continues to say that “everyone is the next big thing. . .until they’re not.”

                    Riddick Moss defeated Mojo Rawley and R-Truth to Retain the 24/7 Championship

                    Mojo tossed Moss into the barricade and headed back into the ring to face Truth. After hitting the Five Knuckle Shuffle, Truth went for the FU, but Mojo broke things up. Moss rolled up Rawley for the pinfall victory. Less than two minutes.

                    Drew McIntyre Interview

                    Drew had the crowd do the 3-2-1 countdown and point to the sign. Drew says Suplex City is in Claymore Country and that at WrestleMania he is invading. This brought out Paul Heyman who introduced Brock Lesnar, but Lesnar is not in attendance. McIntyre says he can keep saying Brock Lesnar’s name even when Drew McIntyre kicks his head off and takes the WWE Championship. Paul Heyman then introduced MVP who came out with a mircrophone.

                    MVP says he has an issue with Drew McIntyre and the cheap shot McIntyre took at him last week. He continues to say that he will whoop Drew this week and it won’t be a cheap shot. In fact, Drew will see it coming. He then hit Drew with a couple of cheap shots and demanded for the referee to ring the bell.

                    McIntyre defeated MVP

                    Once the bell rang, McIntyre kicked MVP in the head and punched him down in the corner. After a DDT, McIntyre hit the claymore for the pinfall victory.

                    Recap of Lynch’s Victory Over Asuka, Baszler’s Bite, and the Rest of Lynch’s Night

                    Becky Lynch Interview

                    Becky spilled a bunch of money on the ground and said this is to pay for the fine that she will get when she sees Shayna next. She says only animals go for the neck. Baszler comes on the screen to say she will chew through all the competitors in the Elimination Chamber as she is a former cage fighter. Baszler says she didn’t plan on biting her last week. . .she just did it . . .and she continues to say imagine what I do have planned.

                    Charly Caruso Interview with Lashley, Garza, Lana, and Vega

                    Lana said she thought about it on Valentine’s Day, and it would be a good double date. Vega and Garza clarify their relationship status.

                    Bobby Lashley and Angel Garza defeated Rusev and Humberto Carillo

                    The match starts with Lashley and Carillo. After Lashley hits Carillo with a couple of moves, he tags Garza into the match. When Garza sent Carillo into the turnbuckle, Carillo hopped up the ropes and hit a cross body on Garza. To create some separation, Garza ducked to the outside and grabbed a kiss from a fan, but when he turned around Carillo nailed him with a suicide dive.

                    Back from the break, Garza and Lashley had Carillo isolated. Carillo went for a springboard crossbody, but Lashley caught him. Eventually Carillo made it to Rusev who went crazy hitting Garza with a pair of overhead belly to belly suplexes. When Lashley attempted to break up a pinfall, Rusev moved and went to town on Lashley.

                    Carillo hit a Sasuke Special, but turned right into a spear by Lashley. Not to be outdone, Rusev hit a massive shoulder tackle on Lashley. Rusev hit a diving headbutt on Garza for a two count. Lashley climbed up on the ring apron, Rusev gave him a Matchka Kick, and Garza rolled up Rusev to get a pinfall victory with a hand full of tights.

                    Kairi Sane defeated Natalya

                    Kairi Sane and Asuka cut a promo on the way to the ring. Asuka says she’ll beat Natalya inside Elimination Chamber “Easy Peasy.”

                    Natalya hit a big vertical suplex and then attempted to put Kairi in the sharpshooter. As the official worked with Natalya, Sane hit a spinning back fist. When Kairi ran at Natalya in the corner, Natalya hit a discus clothesline for a near fall. As Natalya went to put on the sharp shooter, Asuka jumped up on the apron. When Natalya ran to the outside to chase, Asuka hit Natalya with a high kick to the face.

                    The referee counted Natalya out.

                    Seth Rollins Sermon

                    Murphy and AOP introduce Seth Rollins. Seth Rollins came to the ring blessing people as he walked down the ramp.

                    Rollins said he didn’t come up with the word sermon, but he said it seems appropriate since what he has to say is “divine.” He goes on to say that phase one is complete as the vanquished Owens, Joe, and the Viking Raiders and now the work begins. They are going to seek out the weak and eliminate them. If there are any WWE superstars that remain compliant, then they will suffer the same fate as the weak.

                    This brought out the Viking Raiders who went after AOP. Owens stunned Rollins on the ramp.

                    Caruso with Rollins, AOP, and Murphy

                    “The ones that surround me are the only ones that give me the respect I deserve.” Rollins says Owens and the Viking Raiders can face AOP and Murphy tonight. . . .seems like that will be the main event again.

                    The O.C. Interview Segment

                    “The Phenomenal A.J. Styles is back on Monday Night Raw. What would WrestleMania season be without me?” Gallows and Anderson declare that AJ is the new Mr. WrestleMania. Once he wins the trophy in Saudi Arabia, he declares that he’ll be saying “Who’s Next?”

                    Ricochet came out to say he plans on beating Brock Lesnar and challenges AJ to a match right now. Anderson says he’ll take the match

                    Ricochet defeated Karl Anderson

                    Ricochet knocked Anderson to the outside and hit a Tope Con Hilo sending Raw to a commercial break. Back from the break, Anderson had the advantage.

                    Ricochet came back with a shotgun drop kick out of the corner. After a springboard crossbody and a shooting star press, Ricochet got a two count.

                    As Ricochet hit the ropes, Anderson caught him with a spine buster. Ricochet ended up winning when he swung Anderson out of a fireman’s carry and kicked him in the head.

                    Announcers Provide a Recap of the Randy Orton Segment

                    They say Matt Hardy was rushed to the hospital and stay tuned to WWE.com for more information.

                    Liv Morgan Interview with Charly Caruso

                    Liv was excited and surprised to see Ruby Riot. Liv says Ruby threw away both her’s and Sarah’s trust. Liv says Ruby didn’t break her and she will eliminate Ruby from the Elimination Chamber.

                    Kevin Owens and the Viking Raiders defeat Murphy and the AOP by disqualification

                    The two teams took turns isolating Murphy, Akam, and Erik until Owens and Murphy were tagged into the match just prior to the commercial break.

                    When the show returned, AOP and Murphy had Owens isolated. Owens used an open hand slap and two super kicks on Murphy, but he couldn’t make the tag. When he did eventually make the tag, Ivar went to town on all members of the opposition hitting all the classic Ivar moves.

                    Owens hit a top rope senton on Rezar for a two count. When Owens went for a stunner, Rezar evaded and hit a big clothesline and tagged Murphy into the ring. The Viking Raiders hit a double suicide dive on AOP and Owens hit a stunner on Murphy.

                    Rollins ran in to cause the disqualification. After the match, Rollins, Murphy, and AOP beat down Owens.

                    The Street Profits came out to make a save. Rollins retreated while the Viking Raiders, Owens, and the Street Profits beat up the Disciples. Montez Ford and Ivar hit tandem frog splashes to take the show off the air.

                    Preview

                    Monday Night takes place at the Angels of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington tonight. The show begins at 8:00 PM Eastern on the USA Network. Announced for the show:

                    Rusev and Humberto Carillo vs. Bobby Lashley and Angel Garza

                    For some reason, these men are all being thrown together to combine two feuds into one match.

                    Matt Hardy vs. Randy Orton in a No Holds Barred Match

                    Matt Hardy’s big promo from last week and the con-chair-to from Randy Orton lead to this week’s No Holds Barred match.

                    Sermon from the Monday Night Messiah (Seth Rollins)

                    Whether the sermon ends up radically different than a promo is something we’ll have to tune in to find out.

                    Aleister Black vs. Rowan

                    Black has wanted a challenge. Both wrestlers have only had short and decisive squash matches in 2020. Interesting that they’re being put against each other.

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