Aj Styles honored in Atlanta as Gunther spoilers loom
Monday’s Raw in Atlanta was headlined by a tribute to the recently retired aj styles, with the farewell framed by interruptions, threats and high-stakes matches on the road to the Elimination Chamber. The show at State Farm Arena on February 23 combined the formal tribute with teased disruptions and qualifying bouts for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber.
Gunther threatens to spoil farewell
Gunther told listeners on Atlanta’s 92. 9 The Game that he may skip the advertised farewell segment for the Gainesville, Georgia native or, alternatively, “ruin it, ” underscoring uncertainty around the tribute. The Ring General, who ended Styles’ WWE career at the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, interrupted Corey Graves and Michael Cole at the top of the show, took exception to the tribute and left under protest after Raw general manager Adam Pearce ordered him out.
Aj Styles tribute in Atlanta
The tribute itself was the stated headline for the February 23 show at State Farm Arena. The segment followed news that CM Punk and AJ Styles had battled in a surprise championship match on the Raw go-home show before the 2026 Royal Rumble, and came after Gunther’s role in ending Styles’ in-ring run at the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Dragon Lee attack and backstage chaos
After Gunther left under protest, Dragon Lee attacked him for the second time in as many weeks. The two were separated backstage before former undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring for a scheduled opening segment. That appearance was interrupted by The Vision, led by Paul Heyman, who cut a generic heel promo that set up the night’s first match.
Jey Uso wins Triple Threat, Reed injury concern
Jey Uso, Original El Grande Americano and “Big” Bronson Reed faced off in a Triple Threat match that served as the final Men’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match. The reigning world tag team champion with his brother Jimmy defeated Original El Grande Americano and Bronson Reed, overcoming the masked man’s technical skill and the raw power and fury of Reed. At one point Reed appeared to suffer a wrist or forearm injury that would take him out of the contest and require medical attention at ringside. With the battle down to Uso and Americano, Uso uncorked a spear and delivered an Uso Splash to pick up the win and cash his ticket to Chicago. The show noted that Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso and LA Knight had lost to Bronson Reed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory on Raw on February 16, and that El Grande Americano and Je'Von Evans had defeated Los Americanos on Raw on February 9.
Liv Morgan sets up WrestleMania decision
Women’s Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan, flanked by beau Dominik Mysterio, took to the ring to reveal which champion she will challenge at WrestleMania 42. After Mysterio called out women’s world champion Stephanie Vaquer and WWE women’s champion Jade Cargill, Morgan apologized to La Primera and said that at WrestleMania 42 it is about telling her story. She blasted Vaquer with the microphone, beat her down and left her lying following an ObLIVion. Earlier notes from Royal Rumble weekend were also part of the show’s context: Reigns entered at No. 26 and eliminated five superstars before winning his second career Royal Rumble and booking a championship match at WrestleMania 42, and Liv Morgan entered at No. 14 and eliminated three superstars before ultimately winning and booking a championship match at WrestleMania 42.
Card and broadcast details
This week’s Raw was also slated to feature Brock Lesnar and CM Punk, and the Triple Threat between Jey Uso, Original El Grande Americano and Bronson Reed was listed as the final Men’s Elimination Chamber qualifier. Viewers were reminded that WWE Royal Rumble 2026 officially kicked off the road to WrestleMania 42 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a weekend that clarified some futures and muddied many more; one line in the coverage described Saturday’s Royal Rumble as representing a massive escalation of WWE's long-polarizing partnership with the autocratic Middle Eastern state. Fans were also prompted with the broadcast note to tune in to WWE Royal Rumble 2026 exclusively on Unlimited.
Other moments on Raw included the reintroduction of rivalries and last-time-in-action references: Nattie attacked Maxxine Dupri from the opening bell after the two had previously fought to a double count-out on Raw on February 9. A separate quote on Royal Rumble mindset was carried from another interview: “I don't know if I'm ready to be the serious Rhea again, ” the WWE star told Uncrowned. “Am I going to have to shift that drastically if I were to win the Royal Rumble?”
Monday’s show combined the formal farewell for the Gainesville, Georgia native with continuing storyline heat: Gunther’s threat to spoil or skip the tribute, Dragon Lee’s repeated attacks, and qualifying matches that sent Jey Uso to the Elimination Chamber and left Bronson Reed needing ringside medical attention for an apparent wrist or forearm issue.
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