WWE continued its road to Elimination Chamber on March 1 Monday night on Raw with the latest qualifying matches for the men's and women's matches.

Rey Mysterio and Logan Paul squared off in one contest, while women's intercontinental champion Lyra Valkyria battled Bayley in another.

CM Punk and AJ Styles appeared, and Damage CTRL sought revenge against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez one week after Iyo Sky seemingly saw her WrestleMania hopes dashed, courtesy of the conniving Morgan.

Who cashed their tickets to Toronto, did Morgan get the best of Sky for the second week in a row and what did Styles and Punk have to say as they jockey for position entering the most important time on the WWE calendar?

Find out with this recap of the February 10 Netflix broadcast.

Match Card

Announced in advance for Monday's show:

• Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky) vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez
• An appearance from CM Punk
• Elimination Chamber Qualifying match: Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul
• Elimination Chamber Qualifying match: Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria
• The Raw return of AJ Styles

Jey Uso Kicks Off Raw

Jey Uso made another electrifying entrance to a thunderous ovation from the fans at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

World heavyweight champion Gunther then came from out of nowhere, sweeping Uso's legs out from underneath him and sending him crashing back-first into the announce table.

A brawl ensued, with The Ring General getting the best of Uso. Undeterred, the men's Rumble winner grabbed a mic and made it official, challenging Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41.

Gunther returned to the ring, but Uso met him there. He dove over the top rope and wiped him and security out before standing tall, with his path to The Showcase of the Immortals clear.

This was a red-hot way to start the show with the momentous announcement of Uso vs. Gunther for WrestleMania. The first match made official for the biggest show of the year, it will have considerable time to tell its story and ensure Uso vs. Gunther is as anticipated as any other on the show.

That bodes well for the world title match, which often takes a backseat to the Undisputed WWE Championship from the SmackDown brand.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• The Gunther attack was perfectly executed. The timing was fantastic, and Michael Cole's panicked call made it even better. 
• "Don't do it, Jey," Gunther warned his prospective WrestleMania opponent.
• "You and me...WrestleMania!" Uso declared, officially announcing the first match for The Granddaddy of Them All.

Damage CTRL vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez

A week after Liv Morgan advanced to the Elimination Chamber over Iyo Sky under controversial conditions that involved women's world champion Rhea Ripley, she teamed with Raquel Rodriguez to battle The Genius of the Sky and Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL.

The heels isolated Kai for most of the match, working her over in their corner while fans chanted "Iyo! Iyo!" anticipating the hot tag to the high-flying former women's champion.

Sky exploded into the match, wiped both opponents out at ringside with a tope suicida and added the Bullet Train Attack to Morgan for a two-count.

The heels delivered a double-team codebreaker to Sky, halting her momentum, but they could not keep her down. Morgan delivered ObLIVion to Kai moments later, and Sky broke that pinfall up with a running knee that busted the heel open above her right eye.

After a back-and-forth exchange, Sky downed Morgan with a kick and added the Over the Moonsault for the pinfall victory.

This was a good, long tag team match that broke down a bit at points late, but still highlighted two quality tandems. Morgan's growth as a worker is undeniable, but this was as much about highlighting Sky as she embarks on what is expected to be another WrestleMania championship match.

Arguably the best wrestler in the women's division, Sky has momentum on her side. Not challenging Ripley on the grand stage would be a significant creative misstep.

Result

Damage CTRL defeated Morgan and Rodriguez

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Before the match, a still-frustrated Sky confronted Ripley, reminded her that she cost her a shot at WrestleMania and warned that she was coming for Mami.
• Sky obliterated Morgan with a knee strike to the side of the head, busting her open.
• Things broke down slightly in the closing moments, with a mistimed spot or two, but this was still a strong offering out of the women's tag team division. 

Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

Women's intercontinental champion Lyra Valkyria battled Bayley for a chance to advance to Elimination Chamber and compete for the right to go to WrestleMania 41.

Late in the match, Bayley delivered a sunset flip bomb to her opponent and attempted the top-rope elbow drop. Valkyria got her knees up and answered with a tornado DDT. The Role Model responded with a Bayley-to-Belly, but her opponent kicked out at two.

The combatants battled up to the top rope, where Valkyria headbutted her opponent down to the apron and then added a top-rope leg drop. She looked for the Nightwing but settled for a roll-up for two.

Bayley sent Valkyria head and neck first into the ropes, then countered an Oklahoma Roll attempt into a pinfall of her own for the win.

This was a good match with the potential to be great, but it just missed that level. Still, both women had strong outings, which reaffirmed how great Bayley is and highlighted Valkyria as one of the women who led the division into the next generation.

Bayley going over was the right call, but the creative team desperately needs to do something to boost this IC title reign for Valkyria because it has been lacking to this point, through no fault of her own.

Result

Bayley defeated Valkyria

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Roxanne Perez sat ringside for the match, further spotlighting her ongoing rivalry with Bayley.
• The Role Model rocked Valkryia with a forearm to halt her early momentum, dropping her to the mat with a single shot.
• Backstage, Ludwig Kaiser approached Pete Dunne, who warned him to stay out of his way, before AJ Styles brushed by the Imperium member, potentially hinting at a future program between The Phenomenal One.

AJ Styles Promo

AJ Styles hit the ring and cut a promo, addressing the fans in Nashville and recalling the potentially career-ending injury he suffered four months ago on SmackDown against Carmelo Hayes.

The Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio and Carlito interrupted, with the former verbally sparring with The Phenomenal One.

After reminding Mysterio that he is still just Rey Mysterio's punk kid, Styles cleared the heels out of the ring and set in motion a feud between the two competitors that should carry them through the next few weeks.

This worked. Styles told the story of a grizzled veteran with plenty left to offer professional wrestling. Mysterio talked a big game but caught a beatdown, which he is not likely to let go unanswered.

For now, though, Styles has a chance to work with and further evolve Mysterio as a worker while combating one of the most over heels on the roster and thus enjoying the overwhelming crowd support sure to come along with it.

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Styles told the fans "I've got a long to-do list" while assuring them he isn't going anywhere yet.
• The heat was nuclear for Dominik, proving once again that he is as perpetually over as any other Superstar on the WWE roster.
• "I know what you're capable of. I've got the battle scars," Styles told Mysterio, referencing previous battles with The Judgment Day, including one in Hershey, Pennsylvania in December 2022 that left him with a torn Achilles tendon.
• After the match, Jackie Redmond interviewed Seth Rollins, who was interrupted by Finn Bálor. A verbal exchange included hype for their Elimination Chamber qualifying match and a warning from Rollins that Bálor will not be standing at all after next week's showdown.

World Tag Team Title Match: The War Raiders vs. American Made

World tag team champions The War Raiders defended against American Made's Julius and Brutus Creed in a match that was not advertised ahead of Monday's show.

The heels took advantage of a momentary distraction and isolated Erik, cutting him off from his larger partner and keeping him grounded. A hot tag to Ivar turned the tide back in the champions' favor as they took turns bumping the heels around.

Chants of "this is awesome" spilled from the stands as fans expressed their gratitude for the work of all four competitors.

As the champions set up for War Machine, Julius Creed blasted Ivar with a belt and joined his brother in standing tall, the championship in their hands.

This was a solid match that had fans buying into the near-falls late. The finish may not have been ideal for fans who wanted to see how it would play out, but it keeps the story moving and adds heat to it.

Good action, great physicality and an ending that protects everyone made this one a worthwhile watch.

Result

War Raiders defeated American Made via disqualification

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Backstage, Styles and intercontinental champion Bron Breakker enjoyed a tense staredown before the latter said, "See you around," hinting at a championship program between them shortly.
• Ivar delivered an underhook powerbomb that would have made Ahmed Johnson and his Pearl River Plunge proud.
• Backstage, Ripley informed Sky that she will defend the women's title against The Genius of the Sky on the Raw after Elimination Chamber.

CM Punk Promo and Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul

With his ticket to Elimination Chamber cashed, CM Punk took to the ring in Nashville to address the WWE Universe.

He reiterated his vow to stab Cody Rhodes in the front, then aimed at longtime rival John Cena, vowing to beat the legendary star inside Elimination Chamber in Toronto.

Logan Paul, the man who eliminated him from the Royal Rumble, interrupted amid a chorus of boos. A brief back-and-forth between the two led to Punk promising to put the social media superstar to sleep if he somehow managed to get past Rey Mysterio.

Paul and Mysterio rekindled their rivalry with the former United States champion surprisingly dominating the Hall of Famer for a large portion of Monday's main event.

Paul dominated the match for the most part, with the story being his power advantage over the greatest luchador of all time. Late, Mysterio mounted a comeback but failed to put his opponent away.

Paul hung around long enough to blast his opponent with the Paulverizer, named as such by McAfee on commentary, to score the win and advance to Elimination Chamber.

The match featured perfectly acceptable pro wrestling that highlighted Paul's continued growth as an in-ring wrestler and served as a reminder of Mysterio as one of the most giving pro wrestlers of his era.

Some will hate the idea of Paul competing inside Elimination Chamber with the main event talent he will share the ring with, but it at least sets up the possibility of Punk shutting him up with a crowd-pleasing Go To Sleep.

Result

Paul defeated Mysterio

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "The way they're booing you, you'd think you're Dominik Mysterio or something," Punk told Paul.
• "Did we know Logan Paul had this kind of strength?" McAfee asked on commentary, putting over the power advantage the heel demonstrated throughout the match.
• Cole shouted out "Iron Demon" Shane Mercer when Paul utilized his Moonsault and Battery finisher. Nice.

Overall Grade

This was not quite the blow-away show that some Netflix broadcasts have been, thanks in large part to some questionable booking decisions, but it continued to set the stage for a high-stakes Elimination Chamber premium live event.

We got the first official WrestleMania announcement in the form of Jey Uso vs. Gunther, a great women's tag team match, Bayley outlasting Lyra Valkyria, and the first chapter in a rivalry between The War Raiders and American Made.

Still, there are almost too many moving pieces without any clear indication that their stories will pay off with a spot on the WrestleMania 41 card.

Last year at this time, the card for the year's biggest show was coming into focus. The same cannot be said this year, though there is still plenty of time to change that.

Grade: B-