WWE Raw Results (Feb. 16, 2026): Takeaways From Memphis

CLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 9: Adam Pearce and Paul Heyman speak during Monday Night RAW at Rocket Arena on February 9, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images)

WWE via Getty Images

WWE Raw rolled through Memphis on Monday night as the road to Elimination Chamber continued to take shape. Qualifying matches for both the men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber bouts pushed the card forward, while additional marquee matches were further solidified, including CM Punk vs. Finn Balor for the World Heavyweight Championship and AJ Lee vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

The show also teased an intriguing surprise set for Elimination Chamber, raising questions about what WWE may have in store.

So what stood out from the night at FedExForum? Let’s take a look.

Can WWE Reheat The Vision For WrestleMania?

With Bron Breakker potentially out of WrestleMania 42, The Vision feels very much in flux. WWE has put Bronson Reed on the backburner despite his victory over Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel 2025, the Austin Theory reveal has yet to meaningfully pay off, and Logan Paul’s direction remains unclear.

Breakker vs. Seth Rollins could have been the program that carried them to the Show of Shows, but that now appears to be on hold for another time. That leaves WWE needing to reheat Reed, something they have attempted multiple times already. This week, they did so with a pinfall win in a six man tag team match against LA Knight and The Usos. Reed was also announced for a qualifying match next Monday for the Elimination Chamber.

Even so, Reed is unlikely to be the favorite heading into that match, and it is difficult to see a clear path to WrestleMania unless it involves Knight, who is also rumored to be lined up for Brock Lesnar. As it stands, WWE’s endgame for Reed remains unclear. One possibility is that he and Theory are being positioned for a tag team title program against Jimmy and Jey Uso.

Then there is the masked man who appeared after the match while Paul was cutting a promo from the commentary headset. The body type resembled Grayson Waller, though it is unlikely to be him. With rumors circulating about Knight potentially facing a certain Super Bowl halftime performer at WrestleMania, this angle could simply be a way to buy time until that individual is available to appear.

What’s In the Box?

Meanwhile, WWE teased another kind of reveal. A mysterious box arrived backstage and was examined by Raw general manager Adam Pearce, bearing instructions not to open it until Feb. 28, the same day as Elimination Chamber.

It is worth approaching the angle with caution. The box offered no clues as to its contents, but it did add an extra layer of intrigue to the event, even if the eventual reveal falls short of expectations.

One possibility is the unveiling of a new championship design, although the Raw titles were updated only a few years ago. Another option is that it serves as a device to build additional anticipation for WrestleMania ticket sales, though that would be something of a Hail Mary.

Finn Balor’s Title Shot Could Lead To Judgment Day Split

Something WWE still has to sell for a few more weeks is CM Punk putting the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber, despite already being set to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. On paper, it does not make much sense to defend the title before the biggest show of the year, but the Second City Saint has leaned into the idea of being a fighting champion. In his Feb. 16 promo, Punk reiterated that the people deserve it.

It also does not hurt that Elimination Chamber takes place in Chicago, giving WWE an added incentive to feature Punk in a hometown spotlight. That part tracks. Much of the rest does not.

Punk largely echoed the points he made the week prior, but the wrinkle this time was Balor arriving alongside Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh, who made his first appearance in several months after being sidelined with an injury.

Balor delivered a sharp promo, citing his global journey from Japan to Mexico and reminding everyone that he defeated Reigns in his first ever main roster match. He used that resume to justify calling himself the best in the world. Punk fired back by questioning why someone who accomplished so much on his own suddenly needed backup. If Balor did not need Mysterio and McDonagh then, why does he need them now?

The exchange made sense and may have planted another seed for a Judgment Day breakup, especially when Balor held McDonagh back from attacking Punk and told him backstage to not help at Elimination Chamber.

While the logic behind the feud remains shaky, it could ultimately position Balor for a break from his longtime stable. With no clear challenger currently lined up for Mysterio’s Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, unless Penta takes the title, that direction may factor into where this story goes next.