Sami Zayn lost to Roman Reigns at the WWE Elimination Chamber.
WWE Raw has announced Kevin Owns and Sami Zayn in their home country of Canada. WWE also announced Seth Rollins vs. The Miz, Mustafa vs. Dolph Ziggler, and Edge vs. Austin Theory for the United States Championship.
Last week’s broadcast of WWE Raw drew 1.812 million viewers.
WWE Raw Results February 20, 2023
- Sami Zayn defeats. Baron Corbin
- Mustafa Ali defeats. Dolph Ziggler
- Asuka defeats Nikki Cross
- Bronson Reed beats. Chad Gable
- Austin theory defeated. Edge | WWE United States Championship
WWE Raw Rankings
- February 13, 2023 | 1.812 million
- February 6, 2023 | 1.866 million
- January 30, 2023 | 2.114 million
- January 23, 2023 | 2.344 million
- January 16, 2023 | 1.489 million
- WWE Raw Venue: Ottawa, Canada (Ottawa Tire Centre)
- WWE Raw tickets distributed: 7,836
- WWE Raw tickets available: 335
WWE Raw Winners and Ratings
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens Open WWE Raw
Similar to its Montreal segment on Friday on SmackDown, WWE Raw kicked off with Sami Zayn to cheers in Canada. Fans chanted “Sami!” “you deserve it!” and “we still love you!” They would have been chanting all night if he had let them.
WWE is treating Zayn’s ongoing journey as if it continues, but the next chapter will likely be against The Usos. Bright.
It was a terrific segment that validated WWE for beating Sami Zayn. He feels like an even bigger star in defeat. Zayn seamlessly went from world title contender to tag team title contender and it felt like a sideways move.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens Opening Segment Rating: A+
Sami Zayn defeats. Baron Corbin
While Baron Corbin certainly felt like he was buried, most midcard heels in the WWE locker room would die for the opportunity to work with top stars for several weeks and cut heel promotions at the looking for heat. I don’t think Corbin is buried and everything, I think it’s the start of another repackaging.
For the second week in a row, Baron Corbin lost to a babyface top wearing street clothes. Next week, I expect him to lose to Brock Lesnar in cargo shorts.
Between the open segment and Zayn’s heroic victory over Baron Corbin, not only is Zayn doing great after losing to Reigns (like he should have), but he’s somehow hotter.
There was a backstage segment with Rhea Ripley and Dominik (who got loud boos every time he spoke). Just as Charlotte Flair’s “put you in your shoes” promo skewed the heel, Ripley’s response was a babyface promo.
Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin Rating: A
Mustafa Ali defeats. Dolph Ziggler
The backstage promo between Mustafa Ali and Dolph Ziggler was actually very believable as a conversation between a frustrated midcarder and a hardened veteran. Even as a frustrated midcarder, Ali wasn’t scripted to sound like a whiner, he received some amusing sarcastic feedback over Ziggler’s generic but feisty pep talk.
Mustafa Ali actually beat Dolph Ziggler in a storyline that suddenly interests me. If Triple H is messing around and bringing in Mustafa Ali, now he’s just showing up.
Mustafa Ali vs. Dolph Ziggler Grade: B
Cody Rhodes takes on Paul Heyman
Fans chanting “Cody” in unison feels like the nail in the coffin for anyone Sami Zayn WrestleMania Checkersand you like to see it.
This segment was very good and would have been so much better with Heyman in the ring. Heyman cut a really long backstage promo, and you could hear the crowd starting to get excited. Nonetheless, even a partisan Canadian crowd was all-in on Cody Rhodes chasing Roman Reigns for the undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Cody Rhodes once again reiterated a recurring theme on this show: Finishing the story. Those same words were spoken by Sami Zayn to open WWE Raw. WWE is all about storytelling and that’s leading to their biggest business in years. Imagine that.
Cody Rhodes and Paul Heyman Grade: B-
Asuka defeats Nikki Cross
Corey Graves was all over Kevin Patrick’s case, most notably when Patrick didn’t engage with him while discussing Bianca Belair’s lateness. “I love arguing with myself, it’s great,” Graves said.
Asuka seems to be the de facto heel in this story. After her victory, she started coughing up blue blood. Between the creepy Alexa Bliss and Asuka, Belair could have stepped into the supernatural without knowing it.
Asuka vs. Nikki Cross Grade: C+
Seth Rollins beats. The Miz
WWE used this match as an excuse to take veiled photos against AEW for their complaints about “unbiased journalism”.
The straw that broke the camel’s back came when Seth Rollins said the words “Logan Paul” to The Miz.
It was one of the few TKO finishes to a WWE match as Seth Rollins won via referee stoppage. Miz was able to survive a curb kick from Seth Rollins’ giant boots, but he was TKO’d by a kickpad curb kick. Interesting.
Seth Rollins vs. The Miz Rating: B-
“Ding Dong, hello! » With Becky Lynch and Lita
Lita received another huge fan reaction this week in Canada. There’s no way she’s not participating in WrestleMania.
Bayley hilariously demanded that Becky Lynch and Lita use the door before coming to her set.
Lita and Becky Lynch challenged Damage CTRL for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, and suddenly all of the major tag team titles on the WWE roster went up overnight.
Ding Dong, hello! Category B
Bronson Reed beats. Chad Gable
Bronson Reed working with Alpha Academy is great for several reasons. Gable makes Reed look bigger, and Gable can have as good a game with Bronson as anyone on the roster.
Otis was distracted by Maxine Dupri, resulting in the loss of Gable. Let’s hope Otis doesn’t ruin things with Maxine by saying “you remind me of my ex”.
Bronson Reed vs. Chad Gable Grade: A
Bobby Lashley destroys Elias
Interestingly, Omos challenged Brock Lesnar to a WrestleMania match. I don’t know which teaser match is less likely to happen at WrestleMania, Lashley vs. Wyatt or omos vs. Lesnar.
Elias invited Rick Boogs to walk with Elias. Between Elias and Boogs, I don’t know who is going up who is at the back of the pack.
Graves continued to go crazy over Kevin Patrick after Patrick asked about Elias with a seemingly obvious answer. After calling an all-time show alongside The Triple H era Michael ColeGraves has little patience for Patrick, who is still learning on the job.
Lashley didn’t utter the words “Bray Wyatt.” I will believe this quarrel when I see it.
Segment by Bobby Lashley-Elias: B+
Edge def. Austin theory
Edge’s pop was nice, but at the end of a three-hour Raw, it was nothing compared to Saturday night in Montreal.
Edge has confirmed that he has left The Bloodline and is currently transitioning this WrestleMania season. WrestleMania may be packed, but I’d be surprised if it was too packed to contain a quality storyline for Edge.
Despite his earlier comments, Edge appears to be continuing with The Judgment Day. WWE really had Austin Theory beat Edge to Canada on the same show where he called out John Cena. The theory has no choice but to rely on it.