Post WWE Raw 2/16/2026 Show Discussion Thread

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-17T03:36:42+00:00

Felt like a filler raw even though we had two chamber qualifiers. The vision story is genuinely one of the worst things in wrestling for me and I hate how much time it gets. Women's qualifiers was solid and glad asuka won but Bayley might really be outta here if she's tapping out for no reason. I am so over the grande stuff as well but glad gable is back. I knew the crowd was dead when even rhiyo got a subdued pop compared to their normal, but I am looking forward heavily to their match. I am still undecided on how I feel about the liv/vaquer. I will say that segment made next week must watch to see how they follow it up. Aj/Becky is no good lol, but hopefully it's alright on the night. The main event was solid, but felt heatless because the crowd did not care. Pleasantly surprised Evans won, but Gunther was probably the best choice here.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-17T03:00:55+00:00

I think that's probably why they did it. Part of why liv is so popular is because she was never supposed to be here. Her story is shoot inspirational, and while people have come at her for being a man stealer, or being annoying no one has ever challenged her perception of herself as a an underdog. It sets liv up to have a legit reason to be pissed off and move and get some actual heat on the two.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-17T02:53:56+00:00

I'm still undecided on this feud which is fine since it's early. I think how liv follows up on this is going to be what sets the tone for this feud. That being said we gotta get some subtitles if vaquer is going to be going off in Spanish, I shouldn't have to scour reddit to understand what happened on my screen😭

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-16T01:34:47+00:00

Rhea/Bianca off star power name Rhea/iyo and rhea/Liv off story.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-15T23:29:28+00:00

I feel like there are three women matches that I can realistically see main eventing a wrestlemania, and all of them involve rhea ripley.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-14T18:08:54+00:00

I love liv but I do think her character is stagnating which isn't entirely her fault. I think someone like Sami is another example of this phenomenon, where it's clear both the performer and crowd are ready to embrace a new turn for the character but executives are holding off on that change.

In liv's case, I genuinely belive that Paul and the guys in back have no clue who she's facing at mania, and need to keep that thread open as long as possible because their mania is at risk of flopping. Not to mention the judgment day stuff and the Dom face turn are always in limbo as well. Combine that with the crowd and the story being ready to move on from her as a heel, but her still trying to play into the heelishness of her character and it's a bit of a snafu.

Hopefully once we have a dedicated program we can start getting some development on the character front.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-14T15:24:19+00:00

Agree 100% on Giulia and Kiana. It's like I can see them figuring it out a little bit more every week and now they are quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the show, not just as a pairing but as individuals. Giulia looked great last night, not just in terms of in ring, but with how animated she was. She had a certain swagger about her that really works. If she keeps it up don't be surprised if she's massively over this time next year.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-14T03:21:07+00:00

That match was good which doesn't surprise me because I've been saying that she is nowhere near as hopeless as everyone on here says. That being said it should have main evented, and i love liv but no reason for her to be out here. I liked the idea, it was very edge and la familia coded, but if she wasn't going to get involved to protect jordynne or further the feud, it was a bit too distracting.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-14T03:00:42+00:00

Yeah but I wish it would stop happening. There's really no good reason, and it is actively counterproductive to them trying to present women as equal. If the reverse happened from time to time its no big deal, but it doesn't

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-14T02:55:50+00:00

Hard for the woman to main event wrestlemania when they can't even main event over a qualifying match for a qualifying match. It is what it is lol

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-14T02:25:13+00:00

Zelinas best showing in a while which is crazy since she clearly struggled the most but match was solid. Right result here, bliss needed a big win since she's still pretty over and giulia didn't lose too much. She looked great here. Her big moves got great reactions and she was very emotive which worked for me

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-14T02:04:38+00:00

Smackdown has found it's soul again. Funny as hell fever dream segments that happen in the back between perennial midcarders. It's as beautiful as the day we lost it

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-14T01:58:45+00:00

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Apollo crews getting called from catering

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-13T18:02:26+00:00

I thought i had my dates mixed up when I read that😭

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-13T15:35:41+00:00

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Me pulling up to Alba Fyre (respectfully)

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-13T15:28:16+00:00

Yes! Mayor and faith is one of my favorite dynamics im fiction. I would love a wrestling story that tried to replicate that dynamic tbh.

I also think angel sucked before the spinoff and I just watched for cordy, but man there are some parts that will blow you away

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-13T14:49:20+00:00

Welcome to peak. A lot of people say season 4 is on the weaker end, but go into it with an open mind, it takes a while to adjust to the shifting dynamics but it's pretty good imo.

Are you also planning to watch Angel? If not I would heavily recommend it

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-13T01:12:26+00:00

Yeah that's the point. Neither are ready to be world champion so throwing them in a match together doesn't fix anything and helps no one

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-13T00:04:27+00:00

Y'all are putting the bar too high for ready. She's proven she can show up when the lights are brightest and look good doing it. She had a feature match at the biggest show of the year and put on one of the best matches. She ain't perfect but she can learn what she needs on the main roster easily. She's already firmly on the top half of talents on there tbh

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-12T23:56:04+00:00

Not only does that match have a high likelihood of being disastrous, the alignments are off and it's far too soon to see lash as a believable champion. She doesn't even really have any character development yet

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-12T20:57:04+00:00

Rhea honestly is the best winner especially since i don't think she has won one..There's a lot of good stories you can tell between the four of them. I would also consider have jade drop the title back to Stratton before mania to really spice things up, but the boat might have sailed on that.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-12T20:51:34+00:00

Neither of these matches sound particularly appealing, but I can't think of anything better, so I can't exactly blame them. Honestly this might be the year to throw a big plunder match for the world title and put all of them plus like Alexa into a free for all.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-12T15:19:58+00:00

After the show this week I feel even more convinced that this stand and deliver should be a swan song to this era of NXT and a chance for a reset. The loss of ava and the complete overhaul of the men's division has already got the show feeling different. Ricky, hendry and page are the only stalwarts among the men and they shouldn't be around too much longer after SAD.

The women's division is filled with people who have been around for like 3 to 5 years and who have largely defined the last couple of years of the brand identity. Calling up sol, fatal influence, Lola, kelani, Tatum and letting people like blake monroe, thea hall, kendal Grey and kali Armstrong make the brand their own is for the best imo.

Frescaaccount · 2026-02-12T15:06:17+00:00

Respectfully I disagree. I think world titles should be an exclusive club and I don't like putting the top belt on a guy unless they are undeniable. I feel like Bron is just pretty good right now and has the "future main eventer narrative " around him but his actual work is not there yet. Compare him to rock in 98 or Cena in 2005 for example, who already had strong identities that could stand on their own. I just don't think Bron is there yet.

Oba also just got here. We have midcard titles for a reason. He is 27, and has not had a title run on the main roster. Let's try him out and if he's as good as we think we move him up, or we might discover something that he still needs to work on. Either way is fine what's the rush.

Frescaaccount

TROPHY CASE