WWE is stacking the February 9 edition of Raw with matches that will shape the next few weeks on the road to Elimination Chamber and, by extension, WrestleMania season.
Headlining the announced slate is a WWE World Tag Team Championship bout, as The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) put the titles on the line against Alpha Academy’s Otis & Akira Tozawa. The challengers earned this opportunity by winning a contenders match in January, and now they’ll try to convert that momentum into gold against one of the most decorated teams of the modern era.
Also set for the show: Elimination Chamber qualifying matches, with spots in one or more Chamber bouts up for grabs, and a singles clash between Maxxine Dupri and Natalya. On paper, it’s a lineup with immediate stakes and long-term implications.
Why this Raw matters
February is where WWE typically locks in the pieces for its late-winter premium live events, and qualifying matches are the doorway to those high-profile opportunities. The Elimination Chamber has historically decided title challengers or even crowned champions outright. Getting into a Chamber match can change a wrestler’s entire spring trajectory; missing out can mean waiting months for another shot.
Add in a tag title defense and a veteran-versus-rising-star singles match, and you’ve got a show that will influence multiple divisions at once. It’s not just about who wins on Monday—it’s about who positions themselves for the biggest stages still to come.
Usos vs. Alpha Academy: Tag division pressure test
The Usos enter Raw with the WWE World Tag Team Championships and the target that comes with them. The challengers, Otis & Akira Tozawa, earned their crack at the titles by navigating a contenders field in January. That win wasn’t a fluke; Otis brings raw power and surprising agility, while Tozawa’s speed and timing have given the duo a puncher’s chance in every matchup they’ve had on Raw.
This defense will say a lot about the health of the tag landscape. If The Usos turn back another challenge, it reinforces the idea that the belts run through them, and it pushes potential contenders to raise their game in a hurry. If Alpha Academy pulls the upset, it shakes up the division overnight and forces top teams to rethink their pecking order heading into a pivotal stretch of the calendar.
There’s also the chemistry factor. The Usos know each other inside and out—double teams, ring positioning, and tempo shifts come second nature to them. Otis & Tozawa have been building rhythm, and their January run showed they can catch teams cold with quick tags and a blend of power and speed. The early minutes will be crucial; if the challengers can disrupt the Usos’ pace, they can turn this into the kind of scramble that creates title changes.
Elimination Chamber qualifying begins
WWE has announced Elimination Chamber qualifying matches for Raw, and those bouts always come with urgency. Every win is a ticket to a high-stakes, career-shaping environment; every loss is a detour at the worst possible time. The Chamber is designed to expose weaknesses, reward endurance, and magnify momentum, so simply securing a spot is a statement in itself.
Without knowing which Superstars are slotted into Monday’s qualifiers, the macro takeaway is still clear: the fields will take shape fast. Expect strong emphasis on who looks decisive, who survives a scare, and who finds themselves on the outside looking in. Those details matter when WWE starts connecting the dots from Raw to the premium live event and beyond.
Keep an eye on post-match reactions, too. Qualifiers tend to spark immediate rivalries, backstage confrontations, and last-minute shuffling as the locker room feels the squeeze of limited spots. Even the near-misses can set up meaningful stories for the weeks ahead.
Maxxine Dupri vs. Natalya: A measuring-stick moment
Maxxine Dupri meets Natalya in singles action, a matchup that neatly captures where WWE’s women’s division is right now: building new faces while relying on a standard-bearing veteran to test and elevate them. Natalya is a proven measuring stick—well-rounded, durable, and tough to game plan for. She doesn’t give away openings easily, and she punishes hesitation.
For Maxxine, this is less about flash and more about fundamentals: ring positioning, stringing together offense, and managing the pace. A win over Natalya would be the kind of resume booster that repositions Maxxine as a factor in weekly singles storylines. A competitive showing, even in defeat, can still signal that she’s closing the gap. Conversely, if Natalya controls the match, it’s a reminder that experience still rules when the margins are thin.
What to watch for Monday
- Championship consequences: Do The Usos reinforce their grip on the division, or does Alpha Academy flip the tag scene on its head?
- Qualifier urgency: Who capitalizes on the first wave of Elimination Chamber opportunities, and who gets stuck chasing a second chance?
- Maxxine’s next step: Can she translate momentum into a breakthrough win against a battle-tested opponent?
Announced for the 2/9 Raw
- WWE World Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) vs. Alpha Academy’s Otis & Akira Tozawa
- Elimination Chamber qualifying matches
- Maxxine Dupri vs. Natalya
With titles in play and Elimination Chamber berths on the line, this episode of Raw isn’t filler—it’s foundation. Monday’s results will shape the next month of WWE programming, alter the tag team hierarchy, and clarify who’s moving forward with real momentum. Buckle up.
