CM Punk Dominates RAW with Verbal Assaults and Championship Declarations

Monday Night RAW on February 23, 2026, was a night of intense confrontations and championship declarations, headlined by CM Punk’s verbal attacks on Finn Bálor and Roman Reigns. The display also featured Brock Lesnar’s return, WrestleMania decisions, and qualifying matches for the Elimination Chamber.

Gunther Opens RAW with Disrespectful Tribute to AJ Styles

The show began with Michael Cole and Corey Graves paying tribute to AJ Styles, but Gunther quickly interrupted, expressing his disdain for celebrating “losers” like Bill Goldberg, John Cena, and Styles. His comments led to a confrontation with Adam Pearce and a subsequent attack by Dragon Lee, escalating into a backstage brawl. Cody Rhodes then entered the ring, setting the stage for further conflict.

The Vision and The Usos Clash

Rhodes’ attempt to address the tribute was interrupted by The Vision (Bronson Reed, Austin Theory & Logan Paul) and Paul Heyman. Heyman’s introduction was met with boos, and Theory and Paul exchanged verbal jabs with Rhodes. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) then emerged, adding another layer to the brewing tension.

Jey Uso Advances to Elimination Chamber

The first qualifying match for the Elimination Chamber saw Jey Uso defeat OG El Grande Americano and Bronson Reed in a triple-threat match. Uso initially teamed up with Americano against Reed, but the match devolved into a chaotic battle with multiple near falls. Uso secured the victory with The Uso Splash. Watch highlights of the match here.

CM Punk Arrives in Style and Issues a Challenge

CM Punk made a dramatic entrance, arriving in a race car with Tyler Reddick after performing donuts in the parking lot. He then verbally asserted his dominance, declaring he would remain champion even after Roman Reigns’ return next week. See Punk’s declaration here.

Liv Morgan Chooses Jade Cargill for WrestleMania Match

Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio engaged in a segment leading to Morgan’s WrestleMania opponent selection. After a period of contemplation and acknowledging Stephanie Vaquer’s criticisms, Morgan shockingly attacked Vaquer with a microphone, then decisively chose Jade Cargill as her WrestleMania challenger. Morgan then celebrated with Mysterio.

Brock Lesnar Issues Open Challenge

Brock Lesnar, accompanied by Paul Heyman, issued an open challenge for WrestleMania, inviting anyone on the roster to face him. Heyman emphasized Lesnar’s dominance and questioned whether anyone possessed the courage to accept the challenge. View Lesnar’s challenge here.

Je’Von Evans Defeats Kofi Kingston

Je’Von Evans defeated Kofi Kingston in a match that was interrupted by Offset and The New Day. Evans secured the win with the OG Cutter after a hard-fought battle.

Nattie Wins by Knockout Against Maxxine Dupri

Nattie defeated Maxxine Dupri by knockout after a quick and aggressive attack before the bell.

Raquel Rodriguez Qualifies for Elimination Chamber

Raquel Rodriguez won a qualifying match against Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane, earning her spot in the Elimination Chamber. The match was a physical contest with multiple near falls and dramatic moments, ultimately ending with Rodriguez hitting a Tejana Bomb for the victory.

AJ Styles Receives Hall of Fame Induction and Emotional Farewell

The show culminated in a heartfelt tribute to AJ Styles, featuring video messages from numerous wrestling legends and peers. Styles delivered an emotional speech, reflecting on his career and expressing gratitude to his family and fans. The Undertaker then appeared, announcing Styles’ induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Watch highlights of the tribute here.