WWE Raw continues to heat up as it heads towards WWE WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. Things have taken an unpredictable turn recently across WWE, with title changes, returns, and surprise victories.
WWE Raw emanates from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA, with the typical start time of 8/7c.
Here’s our preview for WWE Raw.
WWE Raw Preview: Match Card
Rusev makes his return to the WWE 2K video game series for the first time in six years in the 2026 instalment. He returns to the WWE Raw ring with the inenviable task of defeating Oba Femi. This is Femi’s toughest challenge since stepping up to the main roster.
Femi got the better of Rusev when the two squared up last week, but can he do it in an official match?
New Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee will also return in WWE 2K26. She hasn’t been a playable character in the game since 2015. So the chance to create dream matches with her will appeal to gamers. WWE is setting up a dream match at WWE WrestleMania 42 for AJ Lee. A big-money IC Title defence seems a guarantee.
But will the winner of this week’s gauntlet match be worthy of a match on the “grandest stage of them all”? She who runs the gauntlet could act as little more than the first opponent for AJ Lee on the road to WWE WrestleMania in Las Vegas.
That’s not to say there isn’t a potential WrestleMania-level opponent in the gauntlet. Lyra Valkria, Bayley, IYO SKY, Raquel Rodriguez, and Asuka would all make great ‘Mania opponents. Then there’s Ivy Nile. Either way, it is hard to see past Becky Lynch getting involved.
Anything Elsehausen?
Told you that you were cursed @DomMysterio35
Congratulations Mr. Penta pic.twitter.com/vEVezcearH
— Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) March 3, 2026
Poor Dominik Mysterio is cursed now. Danhausen cursed “Dirty” Dom and his “Judgement Day” brethren last week. Mysterio lost his WWE Intercontinental Championship to Penta moments after the curse was placed on him. It will be interesting to see how Mysterio works to get this curse lifted.
Finn Bálor owes Mysterio one after preventing JD McDonagh from giving him the ring hammer to use against Penta. With clouded judgment like that, we can only presume that Danhausen’s curse was extended to the entire “Judgment Day” boys.
CM Punk has a serious receipt coming after he claimed he would bury Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania 42. There was nothing too edgy about the “Straight Edge Superstar’s” comment until he added the caveat that the burial would happen ‘next to Reign’s father.’
WWE Raw Match Card (2/9/26)
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship No.1 Contenders Gauntlet match: Lyra Valkria vs. Bayley vs. IYO SKY vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Asuka vs. Ivy Nile
- Oba Femi vs. Rusev
