WWE Raw Live Event Report 2/23: Roman Reigns vs. Elias, Asuka vs. Nia Jax

The WWE returned to the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia for a Raw branded live event, headlined by Roman Reigns taking on Elias. We have a live report from one of our readers that attended the show on Friday night.

Submitted by POST Wrestling reader Dylan:

Match 1: Matt Hardy def. Bray Wyatt

Before the match, Matt cuts a promo welcoming everyone to the deletion of Bray Wyatt, telling Bray that he will fade away and classify himself as obsolete. Lots of pandering to the crowd before the match started. Bray gets down on one knee, asking Matt to join him, Matt looks at the crowd for approval, but before Matt has a chance to decide, Bray attacks him. They both reverse a set of Irish whips, which turned into a dance routine. The crowd enjoyed it. Not a ton of action. Matt Hardy wins via Twist of Fate.

Match 2: Kalisto & Gran Metalik def. Drew Gulak and Mustafa Ali

Loud boos in my section when it was announced as a Cruiserweight match. Followed by confusion when the creator of Roots of Fight and his kids were announced as the special guest timekeepers. That all changed when the match started. Kalisto and Metalik won the crowd over with their Lucha stuff. Fun match. Kalisto gets the pin via Salida del Sol.

Match 3: Goldust def. Curt Hawkins

Not a lot to say about this match. The kid behind me told his friend that Goldust is “like 65 years old” and questions how he’s still walking. Goldust wins via roll up.

Match 4: Gallows & Anderson def. The Revival 

Gallows & Anderson win with the Magic Killer. Dawson cuts a promo after the match, calling themselves the Mercedes-Benz of the tag division. “We don’t lose. We aren’t the Canucks”. He makes a challenge to any team in the back. Braun Strowman comes out to a huge reaction and destroys them both.

*Andre The Giant HBO promo airs*

Match 5: The Bar def. Finn Balor and Seth Rollins

Both teams brawled before the match started. Sheamus, as a response to the crowd booing him, flipped up his kilt and mooned the crowd. Towards the end of the match, Rollins got pissed at The Bar’s antics, so he went under the ring for a chair until the referee told him off. The ref then got physical with Cesaro and Sheamus, pushing them around. Rollins with the hot tag. Crotch chop and a suicide dive. The Bar has seen enough. They’re leaving with their titles. Balor and Rollins chase them back into the ring and go on the offensive until Sheamus hits Balor with a chair when the ref isn’t looking. Cesaro gets the pin. Balor and Rollins leave with their themes playing after hitting their finishers on Cesaro and Sheamus.

*Intermission*

Match 6: Slater and Rhyno def. The Miztourage

Match 7: Asuka def. Nia JaxNia had her way with Asuka for most of the match, showcasing her size and strength. Nia lost the match via countdown when she charged at Asuka outside the ring and went flying into the crowd. Sorry, she went into the “WWE Universe”

Elias is out. Cuts a short promo on the Elimination Chamber before he treats Vancouver to his latest hit single. Elias gets the crowd to repeat everything until he drops the bomb. “Vancouver sucks”. The crowd is pissed. He teases leaving, turns around and tells us he has another song to perform and he wants us to shut up. “I’m back in Vancouver. I wish they would have improved her. It’s 20 degrees outside. I wish some of you would have frozen out there”. The crowd is back on his side, laughing and cheering as he called the kids illiterate. Here comes Roman to spoil the fun.

Match 8: Roman Reigns def. Elias 

The crowd was pretty restless during the main event. Lots of headlocks and dueling, “Let’s go, Roman…Roman sucks!” chants. The highlight of the match was Elias running Roman into the steps, throwing him into the ring and hitting him with an elbow drop from the top rope. Roman wins with the spear.

The show ended at 10:30 PM. Despite a substantial snowstorm (for Vancouver standards), the lower bowl was 80-90% full. Overall, it was a pretty good show.