Raw 12.02.2024

Whoo-hoo! The RadiantGame Team is now in our city - Lexington, Kentucky!  Today, we have an intense show with several qualifying matches, tag team action, and of course, we’ll see the people’s hero Cody Rhodes, possibly alongside Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. I believe Cody has some thoughts about last week when Drew assaulted him after their match. So, let’s dive in!

Imperium Collides with New Day and Jey Uso

Last week, Jey stepped out of line and put himself in a match against Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship. Gunther showed disrespect towards his new challenger, and Jey was attacked by Imperium. Fortunately, New Day came to his rescue, which is why we have this tag team match tonight. As expected, Imperium started strong, but New Day quickly took control. Jey Uso, a fan favorite, received massive support from the crowd. Gunther, the force behind Imperium, remained out of the ring most of the time, conserving his strength for the upcoming Elimination Chamber match. Vinci and Kaiser handled the bulk of the work with mixed results.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Jey shows his dominance on Vinci. 

When Gunther finally entered the ring, his dominance was undeniable, especially against New Day, whom he had already defeated in singles matches. But the game changed when Jey entered the ring. Since leaving the Bloodline, Jey has become a strong solo competitor. His clash with Gunther was electric, and I can’t wait to see them face off one-on-one.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Gunther show his power but knocking off Uso's head. 

Gunther’s antics—mocking Jey and taunting during the match—added flair, but in the end, Giovanni Vinci fell victim to the 1D from Jey and New Day, followed by a splash from Uso, securing the victory for the good guys. A mental victory for Jey Uso. I’m eager for Gunther’s response.

Cody Rhodes Changes His Mind Again

This week, we were treated to what felt like a WrestleMania kickoff show, with appearances by Seth Rollins, The Rock, and Roman Reigns. The Rock is excited about the chance to fight for the title, and with him and Roman on the same page as family, it seems likely the title will stay within the Bloodline.

But, Cody Rhodes crashed the party, changing his mind once again, which angered both The Rock and Roman. In the heat of the moment, Cody insulted the Samoan family, leading to The Rock slapping him across the face. Now, we’ll see Roman Reigns and The Rock team up against Seth Rollins and Cody. This rivalry is about to heat up!

Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed

Another exciting match tonight saw former champion Bobby Lashley on the hunt for gold once again. It was a clash of titans, with both men showcasing their physical prowess. Bobby’s agility and technical skill were matched by Bronson’s raw strength and power.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Massive Powerslam by Big Bronson.

The match was full of jaw-dropping moments, especially when Bobby lifted Reed with one hand—a true display of superhuman strength. However, Reed made a critical mistake when he was caught mid-Tsunami attempt, leading to a Spear from Lashley, ending the match. Bobby is heading to Australia for the Elimination Chamber! Tough break for Bronson, but he’s young and has plenty of time to rise again.

Raw 12.02.20204 - I can't imagine how strong All-Mighty really is.

Sami Zayn Interview

As he has in recent weeks, Sami Zayn shared his thoughts before the show. Despite losing his chance to qualify for the Elimination Chamber, Sami is determined to keep pushing forward, drawing inspiration from others who achieved their dreams after repeated failures.

Out of nowhere, Nakamura appeared on the titantron, speaking in his usual cryptic manner. For some reason, Shinsuke has targeted Sami, perhaps thinking he can beat Zayn after his recent failure to defeat Cody. The two will face off later tonight.

Biggest Shoe Change – Cody Rhodes

Once again, the crowd was ecstatic to see their hero, Cody Rhodes, who declared he is fully committed to finishing his story. After The Rock called him a "crying baby," the fans have turned on The Rock, chanting "Rocky sucks." While Cody didn’t say anything groundbreaking, the crowd still wants him to take the title from Roman Reigns.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Your white knight Cody Rhodes. 

But what happens after that? Will they continue to support him so fervently? Roman once said, "When my time is up and I disappear from WWE, everyone will acknowledge me and miss me." I believe he's right. After Cody finishes his story, what’s next for him? He’s an empty character with no direction beyond that.

Raw 12.02.2024 - The man who created Roman Reigns - Seth Freaking Rollins. 

Seth Rollins then appeared, offering his support to Cody, admitting that Rhodes must finish his story for the fans, his father, and the entire WWE Universe. Seth delivered a fiery speech, adding depth to an otherwise dull segment. He even took responsibility for shaping Roman into the powerhouse he is today, referencing their time in The Shield. Seth made this moment worthwhile—thank you, Seth.

Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Liv Morgan vs. Zoey Stark

Liv Morgan’s fresh return has everyone excited, and she still manages to captivate the audience. Tonight, she faces a tough opponent in Zoey Stark. I wasn’t too confident in Zoey’s chances, though, because Liv seems to be on a mission for revenge against Rhea Ripley.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Zoey will be a future super star for sure. 

Stark dominated most of the match, showcasing her athleticism and brutal offense, while Liv absorbed a lot of punishment. It seemed like Morgan wasn’t quite at her best physically, possibly still recovering from her time away. Stark’s big mistake came when she missed a moonsault, allowing Liv to hit her with the Oblivion and punch her ticket to Australia. Liv is officially heading to the Elimination Chamber!

Raw 12.02.2024 - Liv is going to Australia. 

R-Truth: No Judgment Day for Him

Backstage, we witnessed a heartbreaking moment as Judgment Day was preparing to head to the ring when R-Truth, full of enthusiasm, announced he had joined their faction. The reaction? Not what he expected. Damian Priest made it clear with brutal honesty: “You’re not in Judgment Day. Never were, and never will be. Every time we beat you, it wasn’t an initiation or reinitiation. We laughed, spent some time, but enough is enough. Tonight, you’ll be executed, and we’ll get rid of you for good.”

Those words stung. Let’s hope Ron survives the night.

The Execution of R-Truth

Judgment Day was in the ring, awaiting their "prey." It finally dawned on R-Truth that he was in for a serious beatdown. Right before his entrance, he hysterically called out for his only friend—The Miz. After some hesitation, Adam Pearce forced R-Truth to head to the ring.

Raw 12.02.2024 - R-Truth always use jon Cena moves in his arsenal. 

Truth handed his phone to the referee, asking him to check for any incoming calls, which brought some comic relief to an otherwise grim moment. Then the match began. Surprisingly, R-Truth dominated using John Cena’s moves—Attitude Adjustment, Shoulder Blocks, even a Five Knuckle Shuffle. J.D. McDonagh suffered through countless Truth moves but finally put an end to the chaos with the Devil Inside.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Judgment Day decimate R-Truth mercesly.

What surprised me more was that this was a clean victory. Wow! After the match, as Damian Priest had promised, Judgment Day mercilessly beat down R-Truth. But then, the equalizer arrived—DIY, with chairs in hand, saved the WWE's most comedic wrestler. Thank you, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa!

Raw 12.02.2024 - DIY saved R-Truth from career ending. 

Becky Lynch: Talk, Talk, Talk

We were promised an appearance from Becky Lynch, and the crowd was excited—but not me. Becky has lost some of her unique spark recently. She spoke about how she’s going to win the Elimination Chamber and then face Rhea Ripley for the championship. She even raised a glass to honor her upcoming meeting with "Mami."

Raw 12.02.2024 - Nia pays her respect to Becky. 

Just when it seemed like this segment was ending, Nia Jax made a surprising appearance. What she said? She almost broke down in tears, full of emotion, expressing her respect for Becky and saying she wants to be a great mother like Lynch. Nia even wished Becky victory and hoped she’d make it to WrestleMania.

Raw 12.02.2024 - If Jax pays respect, Mom pays debts.

Things got interesting when Rhea Ripley appeared, immediately targeting Nia. Becky tried to stay out of it, but Nia accidentally splashed both Becky and Rhea in the corner. This led to Becky and Rhea working together to send Nia packing. No animosity between "Mami" and The Man—for now.

Is Drew McIntyre the Real Hero?

Backstage, Drew McIntyre shared his thoughts. He claimed that he alone is responsible for showing Cody the right path—that Rhodes must face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, while Drew goes after Seth Rollins. He accused Cody of hypocrisy, but said that next week, when they finally meet in the ring, the whole world will see who the true hero of WWE is.

R-Truth Messes Up Again

Backstage, R-Truth was extremely thankful that DIY saved his life. He hilariously referred to Johnny Gargano as "HBK" and Tommaso Ciampa as "Triple H." Maybe they do have some similarities, but does Ron ever care about what anyone else thinks? Absolutely not! It’s great to see R-Truth in a good mood and healthy after what could have been a disaster for him.

Elimination Chamber Qualifier: LA Knight vs. Ivar

The mega-star LA Knight entered the building, ready to take another shot at championship glory. His opponent tonight? The Viking Ivar, a formidable competitor with an impressive winning streak. However, LA had two X-factors tonight: Valhalla and the possible presence of AJ Styles on Raw.

Raw 12.02.2024 - I think this is very painful.

Knight started strong with a high-energy attack outside the ring. Ivar briefly gained control, but LA quickly regained the upper hand with an impressive superplex from the top rope. LA’s move set continues to evolve, making each match more exciting.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Most impressive moemtn of tonight's show. 

In a close call, LA managed to dodge Ivar’s Doomsault and countered instantly with the BFT. And your winner is—LA Knight! YEAH!

Adam Pearce and Chelsea Green: Still Going Strong

WWE announced that the last spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match will be determined by a Battle Royal. Chelsea Green, ever persistent, couldn’t miss this last chance and began pestering Adam Pearce again. Unfortunately for her, there are several competitors eyeing that spot, including Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell.

Next week, Shayna promised to tear Chelsea limb from limb. Poor Chelsea!

Sami Zayn Screwed Again

Old rivals, Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura, faced off in a match that felt like a throwback to their NXT title feud from years ago. However, the reasoning behind this match wasn’t entirely clear—it seemed to exist purely to entertain us.

As expected, the match was a technical masterpiece with Nakamura looking sharp after his recent battles with Cody Rhodes. Zayn, on the other hand, has been on a losing streak, making this a must-win for him. Nakamura controlled most of the match, using his signature knees and kicks in deadly combinations. Zayn, as always, showed incredible resilience, kicking out time and again.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Perfectly executed Blue Thunder Bomb.

Near the end, Sami had Nakamura set up for the Helluva Kick, but Drew McIntyre’s interference cost him the match. Nakamura capitalized, targeting Zayn’s injured leg and delivering a devastating Kinshasa for the win. Sami’s losing streak continues, thanks to McIntyre.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Drew and Nakamura assaulting Zayn.

What followed was inevitable—a post-match beatdown by Nakamura and McIntyre. But here comes the white knight—Cody Rhodes—charging into the ring to save Zayn with a Cody Cutter on Drew and Crossroads to Nakamura. Sami was saved, once again.

Raw 12.02.2024 - Cody perfectly execute Cutter on Drew McIntyre.

Final Thoughts and Ranking

It was a pretty standard show tonight. We got a few solid matches, including the Elimination Chamber qualifiers and a surprisingly entertaining match between R-Truth and JD McDonagh. Storylines are slowly reaching their conclusion, and as always, Cody Rhodes has changed his mind yet again, leading to another Rhodes vs. Reigns match at WrestleMania.

We’ve still got several weeks to see how things unfold, but I’m particularly interested in Drew McIntyre’s storyline and what Judgment Day has in store with R-Truth.

I’d rank tonight’s show a 6.5/10. There were no OMG moments or shocking returns, but it was still entertaining. See you soon on SmackDown! Stay tuned and stay safe! 😊