Aj Styles Inducted: Undertaker Reveals Hall of Fame Honor as Raw Delivers Wild Night Before Elimination Chamber
On a chaotic Monday night at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, aj styles was the focus of a headline tribute that culminated in a Hall of Fame announcement from Undertaker — a moment interrupted by in-ring heat that reshaped the build to the Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania.
Aj Styles Hall of Fame Announcement
After aj styles officially retired, Undertaker arrived to announce that The Phenomenal One will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The announcement formed the centerpiece of a show that mixed celebration with confrontation, and it immediately became a storyline pivot for the road to Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania.
Gunther's Disruption and Dragon Lee Ambush
The tribute did not go off without a hitch. Gunther interrupted the opening of the tribute, taking exception to the segment while confronting announcers at the top of the show. Raw general manager Adam Pearce ordered him out of the arena and The Ring General left under protest. Shortly after, Dragon Lee ambushed Gunther for the second time in as many weeks; the two were later separated backstage. In an interview on a radio program, Gunther described his in-ring philosophy as aligned with his personal reality, calling himself an "old soul" who prioritizes fundamentals over contemporary production. He named Timothy Thatcher, Daisuke Sekimoto, Zack Sabre Jr., and Ludwig Kaiser as key influences from his time working in Europe and on the independent circuit. Gunther also criticized veteran announcer Michael Cole and expressed skepticism about the emotional nature of the tribute, saying he wishes people would be able to move on. When asked whether he would interrupt the tribute, he said it was tempting to try to ruin it and added, "we'll see. "
Elimination Chamber Qualifiers: Jey Uso and Raquel Rodriguez
Raw also produced qualifiers for the Elimination Chamber. Jey Uso won a Triple Threat match over Bronson Reed and "Original" El Grande Americano to qualify. Americano displayed immense strength by taking Reed out of the contest with a massive German suplex, but moments later Uso speared Americano and followed with an Uso Splash to secure the victory and cash his ticket to Chicago. At one point during the match, Bronson Reed appeared to suffer a wrist or forearm injury that required medical attention at ringside. The show also notes that Raquel Rodriguez qualified for the Elimination Chamber.
Liv Morgan Names Stephanie Vaquer for WrestleMania
Women’s Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan, flanked by her beau Dominik Mysterio, revealed her WrestleMania target on the same program. Morgan chose Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer as her opponent for WrestleMania 42. After Mysterio called out both Stephanie Vaquer and another women's champion, Morgan explained that WrestleMania is about telling her story, then attacked Vaquer: she blasted Vaquer with a microphone, beat her down, and left her lying following an ObLIVion.
Other Raw Highlights: Cody Rhodes, The Vision, and Nattie vs Maxxine Dupri
The night included additional skirmishes and storyline beats. Former undisputed champion Cody Rhodes appeared for the scheduled opening segment but was interrupted by The Vision, the heel faction led by Paul Heyman; The Vision delivered a generic promo that set up Jey Uso’s arrival and the opening match. Earlier, The Vision attempted to ambush Cody Rhodes, but retreated when Cody received backup from World Tag Team Champions The Usos, who backed him up in the ring.
In a featured singles bout, Nattie defeated Maxxine Dupri referee stoppage after knocking Dupri out at ringside. The match followed a recent meeting that had ended in a double count-out on an earlier show. The show also referenced recent match history: Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, and LA Knight had lost to Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Austin Theory on Raw (February 16), and El Grande Americano and Je'Von Evans had defeated Los Americanos on Raw (February 9). Nattie and Maxxine Dupri previously fought to a double count-out on Raw (February 9).
What This Means Going Forward
The night's mixture of celebration and disruption tightens several storylines heading into the weekend’s Elimination Chamber and the wider WrestleMania picture. The Hall of Fame announcement for aj styles provides a marquee moment that sits alongside competitive stakes earned by Jey Uso and Raquel Rodriguez. At the same time, Gunther's public disdain for the tribute and his admitted temptation to interfere leave the AJ Styles moment feeling unsettled and labeled by on-air tension. Details and ramifications may continue to develop through the upcoming premium events.
