Here are my Raw Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
It's finally done, here's my Weekly Records:
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/2k24wk/ looking at the last 4 weeks of Raw, NXT, Main Event, Smackdown, & Level Up, including Royal Rumble & Vengeance Day. Because of that, I didn't do my Elimination Chamber Preview, which will be up by Smackdown.
I love the big fight feel of everyone coming into the arena for their matches.
Cody Rhodes VS Drew McIntyre was incredible. I figured it wouldn't have ended cleanly but not like that with The Bloodline. FACTS: This was Cody Rhodes' 1st Raw since February 5 & 1st Raw opener of 2024, the 1st time he wrestling someone other than Shinsuke Nakamura since he defeated Damian Priest at Crown Jewel on November 4, 2023 & 1st on Raw since he defeated Dominik Mysterio on September 18, 2023. This was the 1st time he wrestled a Scottish wrestler in his Career & the 1st time he wrestled 2 foreign wrestlers back-to-back since he lost to Chris Jericho on Main Event on June 26, 2013 & Cesaro on Raw on July 1, 2013. This was Drew McIntyre's 1st Raw since January 29, 1st Raw opener of 2024, & the 1st time he wrestled a 2nd Generation Wrestler since he defeated Jey Uso on Raw on Decmeber 11, 2023. This was the 1st 1-on-1 Match between them in their WWE Career. This was Rhodes' 1st singles loss since he lost to Brock Lesnar at Night of Champions on May 27, 2023, 1st by pinfall since he lost to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 on April 2, 2023, & 1st 1-on-1 loss on Raw since he lost to Apollo Crews on April 25, 2016.
Good video on Andrade.
Interesting segment with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins.
The Elimination Chamber Qualifying Battle Royal was fun. It was a perfect way for Raquel Rodriguez to return. For the record, besides Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, Liv Morgan, & Rhea Ripley, the only women on the Raw Roster that were not in the Battle Royal were Kayden Carter, Nikki Cross, & Piper Niven. FACTS: This was the 2nd Battle Royal of 2024, 1st since NXT on January 16, & 1st on the main roster, 1st Women's Battle Royal, & 1st on Raw since a #1 Contender's Battle Royal on November 6, 2023, which was won by Zoey Stark. This was Shayna Baszler's 1st Raw since February 5 & her 5th Battle Royal in her Career & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on Raw on November 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-5-0. This was B-Fab's Raw debut, her 1st match overall since the 2023 Royal Rumble, & her 1st Battle Royal in her Career. This was Katana Chance's 1st Raw since February 5, her 5th Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on Raw on November 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-5-0. This was Isla Dawn's Raw debut, her 2nd Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender's Battle Royal to Alba Fyre in NXT UK on June 19, 2019, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-2-0. This was Maxxine Dupri’s 1st Raw since February 5, her 2nd Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on Raw on November 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-2-0. This will be Alba Fyre's 1st Raw of 2024, her 1st Raw in her Career & her 4th Battle Royal in her Career & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender's Battle Royal to Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne on NXT on January 10, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 1-4-0. This was Chelsea Green's 1st Raw since January 29, her 2nd Battle Royal in her Career & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender's Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on 11/6/23, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-2-0. This was Indi Hartwell's 1st Raw since January 22, her 6th Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on Raw on November 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-6-0. This was Xia Li's 1st Raw of 2024, her 1st Raw since she lost to Becky Lynch on November 20, 2023, her 4th Battle Royal in her Career & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender's Battle Royal to Candice LeRae in NXT on September 23, 2020, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-4-0. This was Candice LeRae's 1st Raw since January 22, her 6th Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she won a #1 Contender's Battle Royal on NXT on September 23, 2020, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 1-4-1. This was Elektra Lopez's Raw debut, her 4th Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender's Battle Royal to Thea Hail in NXT on June 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-4-0. This was Michin's 1st Raw of 2024, her 1st Raw since she & Candice LeRae lost to Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green on April 17, 2023, her 3rd Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender's Battle Royal to Bianca Belair in NXT on January 15, 2020, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-3-0. This was Natalya's 1st Raw since January 29, her 17th Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on Raw on November 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 1-16-0. This was Ivy Nile's 1st Raw since January 22, her 5th Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on Raw on November 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-5-0. This was Tegan Nox's 1st Raw since 1/29, her 4th Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on Raw on November 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-3-0. This was Raquel Rodriguez's 1st Raw of 2024, her 1st match overall since she lost to Nia Jax on 11/20/23, & her 6th Battle Royal in her Career & 1st since she lost a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Zoey Stark on Raw on 11/6/23, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-4-1. This was Zoey Stark's 2nd week in a row on Raw & her 4th Battle Royal in her Career & 1st since she won a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal on Raw on November 6, 2023, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 2-2-0. This was Valhalla's 1st Raw since January 22, her 4th Battle Royal in her Career, & 1st since she lost the Women's Battle Royal to Carmella at WrestleMania 35 on April 7, 2019, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-4-0. This will be Zelina Vega's 1st Raw match of 2024, her 1st Raw since The LWO lost to The Judgment Day on May 1, 2023, her 4th Battle Royal in her Career & 1st since she lost the WrestleMania Battle Royal to Carmella at WrestleMania 35 on April 7, 2019, giving her a Battle Royal Record of 0-4-0.
Good promo by Jey Uso.
OK segment with Rhea Ripley & Nia Jax. Saturday won't just be Rhea's homecoming. Nia was born in Australia too.
Fun segment with R-Truth.
I don't care about the UFC guy, but good promos by Chad Gable & Ivar.
#DIY & The Awesome Truth VS The Judgment Day was a fun 8-Man Tag. FACTS: This was the 1st 8-Person Tag Team Match of 2024, the 1st since Bianca Belair, Michin, Shotzi, & Zelina Vega VS Damage CTRL on Smackdown on December 22, 2023, & 1st Men's 8-Man Tag Team Match overall, on the main roster, & on Raw since Ricochet, Braun Strowman & The Street Profits VS The Alpha Academy & The Viking Raiders on March 27, 2023. This was Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano's 1st Raw since February 5 & their 1st 8-Man Tag Team Match in their Career. This was The Miz's 1st Raw since February 5 & 1st 8-Man Tag Team Match since he, Cesaro, John Morrison, & Shinsuke Nakamura lost to The Lucha House Party & The New Day on Smackdown on June 26, 2020 & 1st on Raw since he & The League of Nations lost to Cesaro & The New Day on April 18, 2016. This was R-Truth's 2nd week in a row on Raw & his 1st 8-Person Tag Team Match since he, Goldust, & The Shining Stars lost to Enzo Amore, Big Cass, Karl Anderson, & Luke Gallows on Raw on November 14, 2016. This was Finn Balor & Damian Priest's 1st Raw since January 29 & their 1st 8-Man Tag Team Match in their Careers. This was JD McDonagh's 3rd week in a row on Raw & his 1st 8-Man Tag Team Match in his Career. This was Dominik Mysterio's 1st Raw since January 22 & his 1st 8-Man Tag Team Match since he, Rey Mysterio, & The Street Profits defeated Commander Azeez, Apollo Crews & The Dirty Dawgs on Raw on January 17, 2022.
BTW, I like Pat McAfee's Telestrator.
Good recap of Smackdown.
They're still promoting Lyra Valkyria VS Shotzi for NXT tomorrow. So I guess the match will still be shown tomorrow with Shotzi's injury. So, I guess I have to do my facts accordingly.
I thought that Shinsuke Nakamura & Sami Zayn would get involved in Rhodes VS McIntyre earlier leading to a tag match. But good promo by Sami Zayn.
The segment started out good with Becky Lynch's promo & Liv Morgan, but then it became the revolving door with all of the Chamber Participants. Now, it sucks & went on for way too long. Then Nia Jax & her Hole made it worse.
Good promo by GUNTHER.
Good promo by Shinsuke Nakamura.
Chad Gable VS Ivar was a fun match. FACTS: This was Chad Gable's 1st Raw match & 1st 1-on-1 match since he lost to Ivar on January 22. This was Ivar's 3rd week in a row on Raw. This was the 2nd 1-on-1 Match between them after Raw on January 22, which was won by Ivar, making Gable the 4th wrestler that Ivar wrestled twice after Kofi Kingston (September 18, 2023 & October 9, 2023 Raw), Bronson Reed (November 27, 2023 & December 11, 2023 Raw), & Akira Tozawa (December 18, 2023 & January 15, 2024 Raw). This was Gable's 1st Singles win on Raw since he defeated Ludwig Kaiser by DQ on August 28, 2023, & 1st by Pinfall or Submission since he defeated Giovanni Vinci on August 14, 2023.
Elimination Chamber will be awesome Saturday, but it's not worth missing sleep over. Saturday will be 1st day off all week. I'm not getting up before 9.
Great promo by Drew McIntyre. LOL. He's flying tonight to Australia. He already taped his match with LA Knight for Smackdown last week.
Good promo by The New Day. New Day VS Imperium in a Street Fight will be great as will be Zayn VS Nakamura next week.
Jey Uso VS GUNTHER was a tremendous match. I knew that it was going to end like this after Adam Pearce said that Jimmy & Solo Sikoa left the building. Jey VS Jimmy doesn't need a title. GUNTHER deserves to defend the IC Title at WrestleMania. FACTS: This was the 2nd Intercontinental Championship Match of 2024 & 1st since Raw on January 29. This was Jey Uso's 2nd week in a row on Raw, 1st Raw main event of 2024, & 1st 1-on-1 Match since he defeated Bronson Reed on January 29, making it GUNTHER the 4th foreign wrestler in a row (lost to Drew McIntyre (Scotland, December 11, 2023 Raw), defeated Ludwig Kasier (Germany, December 18, 2023 Raw), & defeated Bronson Reed (Australia, January 29, 2024 Raw), which is the most in his Career. If Jey Uso would have won, he would have been the 3rd 1st-time Champion in a row, the 1st 2-named wrestler to be Champion since Sami Zayn in 2022, the 13th to be a former Smackdown Tag Team Champion & 1st since Shinsuke Nakamura in 2021, the 34th to be a former Raw Team Champion & the 1st since Big E in 2021, & he will join Rikishi (6/22/00-7/6/00) as the 2nd father & son to both be Intercontinental Champion after Mr. Perfect & Curtis Axel. This was GUNTHER's 2nd week in a row on Raw, 1st Raw main event of 2024, & 1st 1-on-1 Match since he defeated Kofi Kingston on January 29. This was GUNTHER’s 21st Intercontinental Championship Defense, so if he would have lost, he would have been the 1st to lose in 21 Defenses, which is the 6th Most Defenses of All-Time after Randy Savage (45), Honky Tonk Man (35), Pedro Morales' 2nd Reign (34), Don Muraco's 2nd Reign & Greg Valentine (27), & Tito Santana's 1st Reign (22). As of Raw, GUNTHER’s Intercontinental Championship Reign has lasted 618 Days, which is the Longest Reign of All-Time. Jey Uso & GUNTHER are the 1st wrestlers of 2024 to go from the Raw opener to the following week's main event. The Intercontinental Championship has never changed hands in 2024, with the last title change taking place on June 10, 2022 on Smackdown when GUNTHER defeated Ricochet. It has changed hands 185 times in History.
Here are my RAW Match Rankings:
1) Cody Rhodes VS Drew McIntyre
2) Jey Uso VS GUNTHER
3) #DIY & The Awesome Truth VS The Judgment Day
4) Chad Gable VS Ivar
5) The Women's Battle Royal
EXIT 7 on the Road to WrestleMania: Raw in Anaheim, CA was fun. All of the matches were great. There was only 2 things that I didn't like & they all involved the same person.
NEXT STOP: EXIT 8 Smackdown in Salt Lake City, UT (as it made a U-Turn).
Ends Raw Thoughts, Facts, & Stats. For W/L Records, Facts, & Stats, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com, which will be updated this weekend.
For the Complete History of the Elimination Chamber PPV, which will be updated this weekend, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/chamber For the Complete History of the Elimination Chamber Match, which will also be updated this weekend, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/elimchamber/And for the Complete History of WrestleMania, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wm