WWE Raw featuring Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope match.
WWE Raw, with fallout The Rock’s return—and ensuing backlash—featured conquering hero Cody Rhodes competing against Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope match. Raw also featured GUNTHER celebrating 600 days as Intercontinental champion, and The Miz facing off against JD McDonagh.
Last week’s broadcast of WWE Raw garnered 1.909 million viewers.
WWE Raw Results on February 5, 2024
- DIY Wins Tag Team Fatal 4-Way | No. 1 Contender Tournament
- Becky Lynch Def. Shayna Baszler | Elimination Chamber Qualifier
- Ivar and Valhalla def. Alpha Academy
- Kabuki Warriors def. Katana and Chance | WWE Women’s Tag Titles
- Cody Rhodes def. Shinsuke Nakamura | Bull Rope Match
WWE Raw Ratings
- January 29, 2024 | 1.909 million
- January 22, 2024 | 1.686 million
- January 15, 2024 | 1.419 million
- January 8, 2024 | 1.464 million
- January 1, 2024 | 1.751 million
- WWE Raw Venue: Enterprise Center (St. Louis, Mo.)
- WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 9,342
- WWE Raw Tickets Available: 570
WWE Raw Winners And Grades
Seth Rollins Kicks Off WWE Raw
The second WWE Raw came on the air, Enterprise Stadium was booing the opening package—featuring The Rock and Roman Reigns—until Seth Rollins’ music played.
Rollins opened the show by saying “that sounds like a pretty big pop to me.” Rollins referenced SmackDown, eliciting even more boo’s and chants of “Cody!”
Chants of “Rocky Sucks!” quickly broke out. Rollins let them continue as Michael Cole asked “is it 1996 again?”
Rollins asked Cody Rhodes to accept his challenge, prompting fans to chant “no!” This brought out Drew McIntyre. Fans seemed to like the idea of Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
As McIntyre taunted Rhodes by bringing up Dusty Rhodes, Rollins told Drew “not to be a pr—k.” McIntyre went on to say “everybody knows the finish” of Reigns’ matches. Per Michael Cole, more on this story as the night continues.
WWE Raw opening segment grade: B
DIY Wins Tag Team Fatal 4-Way
The New Day were the clear favorites to win this match.
Despite the New Day’s popularity, the Creed Brothers quickly got over with their brand of all-or-nothing high spots.
This match spanned two commercial breaks, and DIY came out on top. The Tag Team Tournament Finals will see DIY vs. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
Tag Team Fatal 4-Way Grade: B+
Becky Lynch Def. Shayna Baszler
I was shocked to learn that Becky Lynch had never competed in the Elimination Chamber.
Michael Cole continued to call Shayna Baszler the most dangerous woman in Elimination Chamber history, as if we were supposed to believe Baszler had a chance in this match.
Lynch won this qualifier with a weak-looking Manhandle Slam to cap off an entertaining match.
Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler Grade: B-
Rhea Ripley Vs. Nia Jax Announced For Elimination Chamber
A furious Rhea Ripley called out Nia Jax, which brought out Adam Pearce. Pearce said, that because Jax attacked Ripley last week, she would get a championship match against Ripley at Elimination Chamber.
Jax blew past Pearce, which led to a pull-apart brawl, ultimately dominated by Jax. There’s no way in Paul Hogan’s earth that Rhea Ripley is losing to Nia Jax in her home country.
Rhea Ripley-Nia Jax Segment Grade: B
Ivar And Valhalla Def. Tozawa And Maxxine Dupri
Michael Cole was outraged that Valhalla did not wear her antlers to the ring, describing her brief Royal Rumble appearance as “pretty decent.”
Unlike last week, this was a massacre as Ivar and Valhalla ran through Alpha Academy.
Ivar and Valhalla vs. Alpha Academy Grade: C
The Miz Def. JD McDonagh
R-Truth continues to believe he is in the Judgment Day and has been initiated following last week’s beating. Priest told Truth to make himself at home, prompting a big pop.
R-Truth caused a distraction by giving JD McDonagh his cut of the merch sales, and The Miz capitalized with a win. Light “Rocky Sucks!” chants broke out during this match.
The Miz vs. JD McDonagh Grade: C+
GUNTHER Celebrates 600 Days As IC Champion
Gunther received a lot of fanfare and pyro for his 600-day celebration. Prior to this segment Bron Breakker was introduced as Raw’s newest signee.
There have been so many celebrations for GUNTHER’s reign, GUNTHER says he doesn’t want any more celebrations.
When GUNTHER asked for a challenger, it wasn’t Bron Breakker, but another generational star in Jey Uso. From this point on, every one of GUNTHER and Jey’s sentences were punctuated by “yeet!” from the crowd…until GUNTHER told Uso he only had to put in 50% of the work his whole career.
GUNTHER and Jey Uso segment grade: A
Kabuki Warriors def. Katana And Chance
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance are in danger of blending into the rest of the division if they don’t regain their Women’s Tag Team Championships.
I thought there might be a chance that the Kabuki Warriors drop the titles now that Damage CTRL is in the midst of turmoil. But this is not the case as the Kabuki Warriors retained.
Kabuki Warriors vs. Katana and Chance Grade: B-
Cody Rhodes Def. Shinsuke Nakamura
Pat McAfee continues to do the Shinsuke Nakamura dance, even though Nakamura is a heel.
The bullrope Rhodes used against Nakamura was the same bullrope Dusty Rhodes used nearly 50 years ago. The bullrope was passed down to Dustin Rhodes, then Cody.
Even though Cody Rhodes was in the ring, fans chanted “we want Cody!”
As good as this bullrope match was, no bullrope match can truly be considered a classic without at least one of the combatants bleeding. As a consolation, Nakamura blew mist in Rhodes’ eyes.
The only thing this match was missing was a Rock Bottom.
Rhodes responded to the midst with a low-blow with a bullrope for the victory. If there’s a hotter babyface in this business, he’s in another promotion.
Drew McIntyre attacked Cody Rhodes after his win, and whiffed on a Claymore Kick. Fans booed him vociferously.
Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura Grade: B+
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