WWE RAW Results – February 22, 2016 – Shane McMahon Returns

Event: WWE Monday Night RAW
Airdate: Monday, February 22nd , 2016 (USA Network)
Location: The Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI
Results by Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.

A video recaps the events from last night’s WWE Fastlane event. Roman Reigns defeated Dean Ambrose and Brock Lesnar to become the #1 Contender for Triple H’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship. They’ll fight at WrestleMania 32.

The RAW video plays, and we’re brought into the arena to see a big pyrotechnics display. The ring is decorated with a red carpet. In the center of the ring on a table is the Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence Award. This will be awarded in a few moments. The commentators talk about the WrestleMania main event before showing footage of Brock Lesnar attacking Dean Ambrose in the parking lot earlier today. Lesnar attacked Ambrose as he got out of his car and slammed him onto the hood of a limousine. They show all this footage before the commentators break it down some more.

Vince McMahon’s music hits, and he powerwalks down to the ring as only he can. McMahon says tonight will be a night no one will ever forget. Tonight, we present the first ever Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence Award. McMahon says the award is very special. For over 100 years, his family has been presenting sports entertainment. His grandfather started in 1914, and the legacy went on to his father, who was the greatest of all time. His father left a great legacy. McMahon talks about what a great and generous person his father was. The person receiving this award is truly a warm, good-hearted soul. The recipient of the Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence Award is Stephanie McMahon. The crowd absolutely groans as she makes her way to the ring.

Stephanie McMahon hugs her father and looks pleased. McMahon says she embodies all of the great qualities of his father. She is holding a thick folder of “prepared remarks.” Stephanie says she didn’t expect to win, but had these prepared just in case. Her husband, Triple H, is preparing to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. It’s unclear which name got the loudest boos.

All of a sudden, Shane McMahon’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage to a thunderous applause. Shane dancing around and soaking in the cheers. A loud “YES” chant breaks out followed by “Shane O’Mac,” “Holy shit,” and “This is awesome.” Shane looks truly taken aback by the reception. Stephanie does not look happy. Vince goes in for the hug, but Shane holds him back with one hand. Vince extends his hand, and Shane puts it down. Shane says, “First off, thank you so much for that.” The crowd loudly cheers him as he says, “What’s up, Detroit?” Shane says Vince just had to do it. This is the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence Award is a great idea and should be given to a worthy recipient, and that’s not Stephanie.

Vince suggests they talk backstage. Shane says they could have done that days ago. Vince always told him as a child to “man up.” Shane says everything is getting done right here and now. Stephanie says this isn’t Shane’s moment. This is her moment and legacy. Shane says Stephanie hasn’t earned it. She asks what he knows about earning anything when he hasn’t been here in six or seven years. She and her husband have been successfully running a billion dollar business whether the people appreciate it or not. Shane asks Vince, “She doesn’t know, does she?” Shane says her and Triple H have been running this company into the ground. Shane says the stock and ratings are down while injury rates are up on their watch. Stephanie says he’s nothing more than a quitter, and he should get the hell out of her ring. Shane says it’s her father’s ring before asking Vince if he wants to tell her. She wants to know what’s going on. Several years ago, their father messed up big time and he saved the day. They cut themselves a deal. In that deal, he was able to take time off and build businesses. Shane says he never lost his place in line. Stephanie says nothing happens in WWE business that she doesn’t know. Shane says the reason she’s climbed so high so far is because he let it happen. Stephanie asks Vince if this is really true. A “YES” chant breaks out. Stephanie says she’ll get Shane a WrestleMania ticket. Vince tries to diffuse the situation, but she asks if it’s true. Vince is being evasive. Vince finally says there is some truth to it. Shane says at the time, it was “best for business.” Shane holds the ropes open for her as she exits. Stephanie says, “I will never forgive you for this.” The crowd sings as she leaves.

Vince asks what this is all about. He has his checkbook because that’s all Shane wants. Shane says this isn’t about money. Shane left a lot of money on the table just to get out from under him. Sometimes he can’t believe he did it, but then he realizes that he has freedom. This is about legacy. Vince’s grandfather and father. Vince is third while he’s fourth and his children are fifth. Shane wants this business around for the fifth, sixth, seventh, and so on. The way it’s going right now, it won’t be. Vince asks what he wants. Shane says, “It’s simple. I want control of Monday Night RAW.” The crowd explodes and starts a huge “YES” chant. Vince guffaws and says if he were controlling the show, he would be controlling the company. Vince says things have changed. This is a public company. You can’t just come in and pick things up where he left off. Shane says he’s here to make sure there is generational continuity. Vince says Shane just came here for a fight and to embarrass them. Vince says he’ll make him a deal. Vince will give him what he wants. Shane asks what the catch is. Vince says he has to have one match on one night. If he wins his match, he gets his wish. If he doesn’t win, then Vince gets the key to the lockbox Shane has so he can’t hold anything over his head ever again. The match will happen with an opponent of Vince’s choosing on a night of his choosing. Shane thinks about it for a few moments. A “You still got it” chant breaks out. Shane says this isn’t his first deal with the devil and shakes hands with his father. Vince says something, but it’s censored. Shane says he remembers the beatings Vince gave him very vividly, but all they did was make him stronger.

Vince says he’s going to name a place and opponent almost as big as Shane’s ego. The place will be WrestleMania and his opponent will be… THE UNDERTAKER! To make sure he doesn’t take his ball and go home, the match will be contested inside of HELL IN A CELL!

-Commercial Break-

Neville and The Lucha Dragons vs. The New Day

Xavier Wood will start against Kalisto. They lock up, and Kalisto takes him down with some arm drags and a dropkick. Woods rolls out of the ring to regroup with The New Day as a commercial break hits.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Kalisto wrench Woods’ arm. Sin Cara tags in, and he hits a slingshot plancha. Neville tags in and hits a standing shooting star press for a two count. Neville wrenches the arm, but Woods quickly gets to the rope. Big E tags in, and he gives Neville a belly-to-belly overhead suplex before gyrating. The New Day then starts a unicorn stampede. Woods gets the trombone out and plays as Kingston dropkicks Neville. Kingston kicks Neville in the face for a near fall. Kingston applies a chin lock, but Neville gets out. Kingston stops him from making a tag and dropkicking him down. Woods tags in, and he dropkicks Neville against the ropes for a near fall.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Kingston kicks Neville in the midsection before hitting a snapmare. Big E and Kingston hit a big splash/leg drop combination, but Kalisto breaks it up. Woods puts Neville in the corner, but Neville back body drops him over the top rope onto the stairs. Kingston is tagged in, and he stops Neville from making the tag. Kingston knocks Kalisto off the apron, and Cara is tagged in. Cara kicks Kingston in the head and takes him out with a springboard clothesline. Cara knocks Big E off the apron and hits a springboard moonsault. Kingston chops him and sends him into the ropes, but Cara springboards off the rope with a back elbow. Cara chops him a few times before Kingston gets out of the ring. Cara then gives him a suicide dive. Cara gets him in the ring and hits a springboard moonsault, but Big E breaks it up. Kalisto hits Big E with a springboard dropkick. Woods gets Kalisto out of the ring. Neville gets in, and Woods eats a kick. Big E goes to spear Neville off the apron, but Neville moves. Big E crashes and burns on the floor. Neville then this Big E with a 450 splash off the apron to the floor! Kalisto then jumps off Neville’s back and hits Woods with a 450 Splash on the floor! Kingston avoids a senton bomb, rips at the mask, and connects with Trouble in Paradise for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: The New Day
Match Rating: **

Roman Reigns is seen texting backstage. The crowd loudly boos him. JoJo asks for an update on Dean Ambrose. Reigns says he only knows what he saw in the video. They’re doing tests on him. That’s all he knows. JoJo asks about the WrestleMania main event. Reigns says this is the big fight he’s been after. He’s dealt with a lot this year, but it’s over now. April 3rd. There will be no more family or corporate tricks. It’ll come down to this (his fist) and this (his heart). Reigns says he likes his odds.

Brock Lesnar will be out, next.

-Commercial Break-

Brock Lesnar’s music hits, and he comes out to a nice reception with Paul Heyman by his side. The commentators are talking about Lesnar’s assault on Dean Ambrose in the parking lot earlier today. Heyman says, “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman, and this is your main event of the evening.” Heyman says that may sound self-aggrandizing because his client isn’t in his wrestling gear, but any segment with his client is the main event. His client is the single biggest box office attraction in sports entertainment or mixed martial arts because his client is Brock Lesnar. Last night in the main event of WWE Fastlane, his client took both Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns to Suplex city. Then his client locked the Kimura on Reigns, and Reigns was seconds away from tapping out. Don’t tell him that Reigns wouldn’t tap out. Undertaker tapped out to Brock Lesnar. Just as Reigns was about to tap out, along came Dean Ambrose. Ambrose took a competitive triple threat wrestling match and turned it into a down and dirty street fight and took his client out the equation for the main event of WrestleMania. This pissed off Brock Lesnar. Then Ambrose took himself out of the equation because he’s so out of his mind that he wasn’t paying attention to what’s going on in the ring. Today, as soon as Ambrose arrived to the arena, the God of Violent Retribution got his revenge. Now Ambrose is out of WrestleMania all together. Heyman then has footage shown of the attack in the parking garage earlier today.

Lesnar looks pleased with the footage. Heyman says there is no Shield that can protect Ambrose from the wrath of Brock Lesnar. Lesnar not only deserves to be in the main event of WrestleMania, he is the main event. Triple H thinks he’s the main event, but Lesnar is on the card. Roman Reigns thinks he’s the main event, but Lesnar is on the card. Ambrose is like the kids doing tricks on their bikes thinking they’re cool until a Mack semi comes up on the sidewalk and wipes them out. Heyman slams the microphone down and breaks it. Heyman gets another microphone and says if they think he’s in a destructive move then imagine how his client feels. His client needs a new WrestleMania opponent. This is fair warning to anyone in the back. They should go to the hospital and see the barely breathing Dean Ambrose. There will be an F5 in everyone’s future. Lesnar will run through everyone on the way to WrestleMania.

The sound of a honking horn is heard. Footage is shown backstage of the garage door opening. An ambulance pulls in and crashes into some dumpster. Lesnar and Heyman look thoroughly confused. Dean Ambrose is shown driving the ambulance into the arena. Ambrose is in a neck brace and looking really bad. Ambrose struggles to pull himself to the ramp. Ambrose rolls down the ramp and falls down a few times. Lesnar looks at him with absolutely no pity. Lesnar calmly gets out of the ring and stands over Ambrose. Lesnar steps on his face and walks off! Lesnar turns around to smile. Ambrose grabs a microphone and screams, “BROCK!” Ambrose tells him to kiss his ass. Ambrose says he’s indestructible. Ambrose wants Lesnar at WrestleMania in a No Holds Barred Street Fight. Lesnar laughs and storms his way back down to ringside. Lesnar then gives him an F5 on the floor! Heyman gets on his hands and knees and says, “My client accepts your challenge.” They then walk off as Ambrose shows a pained smirk.

-Commercial Break-

The Ascension vs. The Usos

Before the match begins, The Dudley Boyz’ music hits. Bubba Ray Dudley says they want to be the first ones to welcome them back. About what happened a few weeks back on RAW, they needed to remind the entire WWE Universe that they are not one trick ponies. They’re not a nostalgia act. They’re the most decorated tag team in the history of WWE. They’re 9-time WWE Tag Team Champions. Their legacy will not be defined by a piece of furniture. Their legacy will be defined by their accomplishments. That’s why they’ll never see the tables again. The crowd boos this. D-Von Dudley says The Usos father is a one trick pony. Instead of buying thongs, maybe he should have taught his boys about respect.

The Ascension attacks The Usos from behind. Viktor will star against Jimmy Uso. Jimmy takes him down and punches before knocking Konnor off the apron. Viktor connects with a high knee before Konnor tags in. Konnor splashes him before running him over. Viktor tags in and hits a jumping fist drop. Viktor then applies a rest hold. Viktor goes for a back suplex, but Jimmy flips through. Jey tags in, and he jumps over Viktor. Jey punches him before hitting a Samoan Drop. Jey hits a running hip attack before kicking Konnor. Jimmy then superkicks Konnor down. They hit Viktor with a double superkick before Jey splashes him for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: The Usos
Match Rating: 1/4 *

The Dudley Boyz start making their way down to the ring, but they stop at the foot of the ramp. The Usos shout at them.

Big Show, Kane, and Ryback will face Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan later tonight.

-Commercial Break-

Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring to a nice reception. Jericho says, “Welcome to RAW is Jericho.” Jericho has a story for everyone. For years, he’s been hearing about this tremendous competitor by the name of AJ Styles. All he heard about AJ was that he is phenomenal. Then he shows up in the Royal Rumble and right off the bat, he didn’t like him. Jericho didn’t understand how you could be phenomenal despite not having a match in WWE. That made him angry. Then he had three matches against him, including last night in one of the best he’s had in a while, and it was phenomenal. Jericho said he didn’t like or respect him, but he wants to say the other things he wants to say to his face. Jericho asks Styles to come down to the ring.

AJ Styles’ music hits, and he comes out to a big reception. The crowd chants, “AJ Styles/Y2J.” Jericho says it appears the crowd likes this. Last night, he told Styles that the pressure was on him. If he beat him twice in a row, it could have ended his WWE career. Jericho says Styles beat him. It was a phenomenal match. Jericho has said he doesn’t like him, but he respects him. Jericho congratulates him on proving that he belongs here in the WWE. Styles has what it takes to go straight to the top to become a WWE Champion. Styles also proved that he is not good or great, but phenomenal. They shake hands.

The Social Outcasts’ music hits, and they derisively clap for them. Heath Slater apologizes for interrupting them. Bo Dallas says the love in the ring is beautiful. Slater says he wasn’t being serious. Curtis Axel says he sees right through Jericho. The only reason he’s playing nice is because AJ Styles made him tap out. Slater can’t believe Styles is shaking Jericho’s hand after all he said. Slater says Styles is a coward. Adam Rose asks if their buddies. No one is buying Y2AJ. They get in the ring. Dallas says they’re not a team. The Social Outcasts are a team. Slater orders them to get out of the ring. Jericho says, “Shut up, ginger jackass.” Slater did make a little sense. They weren’t planning on being a team, but maybe they should. They’re officially a team now, and they’ll start with these four stooges in Detroit Rock City!

-Commercial Break-

AJ Styles & Chris Jericho vs. Curtis Axel & Heath Slater: Jericho and Styles hit lots of their signature moves. Axel avoids a Lionsault, but falls victim to the Walls of Jericho. While Axel is tapping, AJ lays out the rest of the outcasts with a suicide dive to the outside.

Winners: AJ Styles & Chris Jericho

Backstage, HHH and Stephanie discuss Shane’s return. Stephanie then tracks down Reigns and tells him he has a match tonight.

Goldust brings a cake to R-Truth to apologize for messing up his match last night. R-Truth rejects him and his cake. R-Truth smashes the cake in Goldust’s face and leaves.

Ryback & Big Show & Kane vs. Harper, Rowan and Bray Wyatt: Ryback gets big “Goldberg” chants while beating on Harper in the corner. He also gets what sounds like a “Gillberg” chant. As Kane chokeslams Rowan, Ryback leaves and walks to the back. Bray tags in and hits the Sister Abigail on a distracted Kane for the win.

Winners: The Wyatt Family

Charlotte and Ric Flair come out to the stage and cut a promo on Sasha and Naomi. She says Becky and Sasha will have to wrestle each other to find out who gets a shot at her Divas title at WrestleMania.

Backstage, Stephanie wonders what it is that Shane is holding over Vince. She says she refuses to work for her brother. Vince says the odds of him defeating The Undertaker are astronomical.

Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus: The other League of Nations members are at ringside. Sheamus beats down Reigns early, and Reigns comes back with a clothesline to the outside. He hits a flying clothesline on Sheamus off the steps at ringside. Rusev kicks Reigns in the head, the referee misses it. They are fighting back in the ring when HHH’s music hits and The Game comes out to the ring. Reigns meets him at ringside and they brawl. The crowd seems to be booing Reigns and cheering Triple H. Reigns clotheslines Triple H into the timekeeper’s area, then Triple H hits him with the bell. The crowd seems to be cheering for HHH and booing Reigns. Triple H smashes Reigns face into the table repeatedly and it looks like he’s bleeding from his nose. Triple H holds Reigns face up in front of the camera and pummels on him, then the referees break it up. Triple H comes back and lands some kicks and then hits a nasty looking pedigree to Reigns on the ring steps. Triple H tells Reigns to “suck it” and holds up his WWE World Heavyweight Championship for the crowd.

The show goes off the air with Triple H staring down a very bloody Roman Reigns and lots of referees trying to break things up.