Raw Recap (Feb. 23, 2026): AJ Styles Honored, Lesnar Returns, Chamber Field Set

Monday’s Raw in Atlanta was an emotional night from the opening bell, as WWE celebrated the legendary career of AJ Styles. The tribute segment, which honored “The Phenomenal One” in his home state of Georgia, struck a nostalgic chord with fans — complete with heartfelt reflections on his journey from TNA and Japan to the world stage of WWE. The emotional peak came when The Undertaker made a surprise appearance to officially announce that Styles would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026, giving the night a truly memorable send-off for one of wrestling’s most respected performers.

Beyond the tribute, the show efficiently advanced WWE’s Road to WrestleMania. In the first Elimination Chamber qualifying match, Jey Uso survived a triple threat against Bronson Reed and “The Original” El Grande Americano to secure his spot, though Reed appeared to suffer a significant arm injury in the process, adding an unexpected twist to the night’s action. On the women’s side, Raquel Rodriguez impressed by outlasting IYO SKY and Kairi Sane to claim the final Chamber berth. These results helped lock in major pieces of the build toward next weekend’s Premium Live Event.

In a key storyline development, Liv Morgan finally revealed her WrestleMania 42 target after her Royal Rumble victory. Morgan chose to challenge Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship, punctuating her announcement with an aggressive attack that underscored the intensity of her decision. Elsewhere on the card, Nattie earned a referee stoppage win over Maxxine Dupri in a gritty matchup, and Je’Von Evans pulled out a surprise victory against Kofi Kingston with a big finishing move.

The episode also featured a dramatic return from Brock Lesnar, who, accompanied by Paul Heyman, issued an open challenge for WrestleMania 42, hinting at major matches ahead and giving Raw a hype-filled finish. With the Chamber lineup solidified and WrestleMania plans beginning to take shape, Monday’s show balanced heartfelt farewells with rising anticipation for WWE’s biggest events of the year

 Raw Match Results

• Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Triple Threat: Jey Uso defeated Original El Grande Americano and Bronson Reed (Uso Splash) to qualify for the Elimination Chamber. Bronson Reed suffered an injury during the match and was forced out. 

• Singles Match: Nattie defeated Maxxine Dupri via referee stoppage after Dupri was knocked out against the ring post.

• Singles Match: Je’Von Evans defeated Kofi Kingston (pinfall, OG Cutter) with help from Offset at ringside.

• Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Triple Threat: Raquel Rodriguez defeated IYO SKY and Kairi Sane (Tejana Bomb pinfall) to secure her spot.

📌 Other Key Moments

• Liv Morgan announced she will challenge Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 42.

• Brock Lesnar returned with Paul Heyman and issued an open challenge for WrestleMania 42.

• CM Punk addressed the crowd, vowing to remain World Heavyweight Champion until Roman Reigns returns.

• The night closed with AJ Styles leaving his gloves in the ring and being announced by The Undertaker as an inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026.