WWE Raw Review – March 25, 2024
Kicking off this week’s Raw with a recap of the in ring confrontation between 2024 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes & Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns on Smackdown this past Friday.
Cody Rhodes asks Chicago what they want to talk about then says he could say nothing now that the time for talk is over with WrestleMania 2 weeks away. He addresses Roman Reigns and says he’s had a lot to say over the past week. He says Reigns referred to him as a politician on The Pat McAfee Show and says Reigns’ then said that he’s made promises he can’t keep. He says Chicago should know more than any other city that he always keeps his promises then cites him promising to be the Best Man of a fan and attending a 5 year old boy’s birthday party as examples. He says he never asks for anything in return for doing good deeds for the fans and says he dresses, acts and speaks the way he does for 1 reason: he pretends to be the champion because the champion isn’t always there.
Rhodes tells Reigns flat out that he hates his guts and says it’s fine with him if Reigns hates him too. He says it’s his fault that Reigns won’t be facing The Rock at WrestleMania and it’s also his fault for winning the Royal Rumble 2 years in a row. He says he’s learned from pointing at the WrestleMania sign that he can’t do it alone then says although he doesn’t ask fans for anything, he needs them to do something. He asks the crowd if they’ll ride with him and fight with him at WrestleMania.
The Rock’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He & Rhodes stare down one another before The Rock whispers something to Rhodes then leaves the ring and heads to the back.
After the break we see Jackie Redmond catch up with The Rock backstage & she asks The Rock what he said to Rhodes and he tells her to ask Rhodes herself.
Judgment Day were hanging out in their clubhouse. Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley said she knows Dominik Mysterio has unfinished business with his father. She asked him to let her know next time because she would have loved to have joined in. Mysterio said he would. Damian Priest spoke with JD McDonagh about his match with Ricochet. Ripley told him to just win. McDonagh bumped fists with Judgement Day.
Ricochet vs. JD McDonagh
Match starts off with a lock up before JD McDonagh lands an elbow but Ricochet responds with a hurricanrana and a dropkick that sends McDonagh tumbling to the outside.
He looks to fly but Dominik Mysterio puts himself in front of McDonagh.
McDonagh moves to another side of the ring and Ricochet redirects then flies to level McDonagh as we go to a break.
After the break McDonagh hits a knee to Ricochet’s midsection.
Ricochet responds with a pair of back elbows but McDonagh plants him with a chokeslam.
He looks to follow it up with a standing moonsault but Ricochet rolls out of the way and lands a springboard back elbow.
Ricochet then lands a few strikes on McDonagh and hits a shoulder to his midsection from the apron.
He flies off the top rope and lands a clothesline then follows it up with a standing Shooting Star Press and an enzuigiri.
McDonagh catches Ricochet with a standing Spanish Fly and a Brainbuster then sits him on the top rope and lands a chop.
He joins him up there but Ricochet counters into an avalanche reverse hurricanrana and Recoil.
He goes for a pin but Mysterio puts McDonagh’s leg on the bottom rope to break the fall.
Ricochet then looks to land a 450 Splash off the top rope but McDonagh gets his knees up and rolls up Ricochet but he kicks out as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break McDonagh hits a clothesline to Ricochet and follows it up with a sit out powerbomb.
Ricochet responds with a Canadian Destroyer and ascends to the top rope but Mysterio hops up on the apron and grabs Ricochet’s attention.
He trips Ricochet and the referee catches him so the referee then ejects Mysterio from ringside.
This opens the door for Ricochet to deliver a Shooting Star Press to McDonagh for the win.
Winner: Ricochet
After the break CM Punk says he has a lot to say and a lot of business to get to but it feels good to be in Chicago. He says everyone has been asking if he’ll be at WrestleMania and he will be. He says he’s still not medically cleared then ponders possibilities of what he could do at the event. He says a lot of people need to talk about him then addresses Pat McAfee’s interview with Roman Reigns. He then addresses Reigns and says he has a feeling they’ll see each other down the line before he brings up World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and takes a few jabs at him. Punk calls out The Rock next and says his arms were too short to box with God then calls out Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Punk says he may not be medically cleared but he’s not looking to have a match. McIntyre says he would love to beat Punk now but reminds Punk what happened the last time they were in the ring and tells him he prayed for this. He looks on the back of the shirt he’s wearing to point out the first thing on the checklist on the back is injure CM Punk. He says Punk may be straight edge but he spends a lot of time in rehab. McIntyre then says he doesn’t hate Punk because he completes him and says that he’s his muse. He invites Punk to have a front row seat during his World Heavyweight Title match against Rollins at WrestleMania, then calls himself The Chosen One. Punk questions who anointed McIntyre The Chosen One and McIntyre ups the ante. He invites Punk to be guest commentator during his WrestleMania match.
Rollins’ music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He welcomes fans to Monday Night Rollins and says now that it’s been established who’s show it is has been and will be then says if Punk and McIntyre had a brain cell between them, they would know that they don’t get to make decisions about the World Heavyweight Title match if they aren’t in it. He says they may as well poll Chicago since they didn’t ask for his opinion and asks them if they want Punk to be a guest commentator at WrestleMania. Chicago cheers before Rollins tells Punk that he doesn’t think anything of him. He says Punk hasn’t crossed his mind since the last time they were in the ring together then says it makes no difference if he’s a guest commentator or guest referee. He says Punk says everyone needs him but Punk needs him to have a WrestleMania moment. He says the irony of Punk narrating his finest hour is not lost on him then tells him to do whatever at WrestleMania. He warns him to stay out of his way.
Punk officially declares himself as a guest commentator at WrestleMania and says he’ll do something that neither McIntyre or Rollins can do make them interesting. Punk calls for his music to be hit and looks to head to the back.
McIntyre calls for Punk’s music to be turned off and berates Punk as he walks up the ramp including telling Punk that he’s his #1 fan. Rollins then blindsides McIntyre with a superkick and a Curb Stomp then brushes past Punk on the ramp on his way to the back.
A subtitled Shinsuke Nakamura video aired. Nakamura spoke about Jey Uso and his dream then asked about his own dream. Nakamura said he would turn Jey’s dream into a nightmare.
Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae
Ivy Nile hits a shoulder tackle to Candice LeRae then follows it up with a single leg dropkick and a delayed vertical suplex but LeRae sends Nile crashing out of the ring.
Nile gets back in the ring and LeRae fires off right and left hands on her.
She sends her crashing back out of the ring then clocks Maxxine Dupri after she hops up on the ring.
LeRae then feigns an injury in the corner and rolls up Nile with her feet on the ropes to get the win.
Winner: Candice LeRae
New Day were shown talking with DIY about having a match and the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Fatal 6 Way Ladder Match at WrestleMania. Paul Heyman could be seen talking with Drew McIntyre in the background. Awesome Truth shows up. R Truth said he would sit in on commentary for the match.
Tag Team Match
New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano)
Match starts off with Kofi Kingston & Tommaso Ciampa lock up before Ciampa hits a monkey flip and a dropkick then tags in Johnny Gargano.
DIY double team on Kingston but Kingston responds with a leg drop on Gargano.
He then hits Unicorn Stampede on Gargano in the corner then tags in Xavier Woods.
Woods does the same and they continue hitting the move to Gargano then hits a double dropkick on DIY in the corner as we go to a break.
After the break Ciampa lands clotheslines on New Day in different corner then hits them both with a double clothesline and tags in Gargano.
Gargano then hits New Day with a double tope suicidas on the outside.
Judgment Day runs down to the ring and starts beating down everyone causing the double disqualification.
Winners: No One (No Contest)
After the match Judgment Day continues beating down everyone before The Miz gets in the ring but Priest hits him with South Of Heaven. They then drag Truth in the ring and Priest hits Razor’s Edge. Balor follows it up with Coup De Grace on him.
Cody Rhodes was interviewed by Jackie Redmond inside a locker room and asked him what The Rock told him. Rhodes said it wasn’t something he wanted to repeat but it was a promise that Rock can’t keep.
Intercontinental Champion Gunther was interviewed by Cathy Kelley. Gunther said he doesn’t believe Sami Zayn can beat him at WrestleMania nor does he believe Zayn can beat Bronson Reed. Kelley asked if Gunther would be scouting Zayn during his match with Reed Gunther repeated that he doesn’t believe Zayn can beat him.
Giovanni Vinci vs. Andrade
Giovanni Vinci lands a right hand on Andrade’s spine.
He tosses him into the ropes but Andrade catches himself and poses.
Vinci ascends to the top but Andrade catches him with a dropkick and a moonsault off the top rope. He then hits a 2nd one and a suplex as we go to a break.
After the break Andrade hits a pair of dragon screws to Vinci.
He kips up and hits a pair of running double knees in the corner then plants him with The Message for the win.
Winner: Andrade
After the break Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley says she feels like she’s not getting enough attention and says a certain someone isn’t giving her such. She says Becky Lynch continues fighting week in and week out and says she hasn’t interfering in any of her matches because she’s respectful. She says she’s now getting impatient and Lynch should be giving her full attention to her.
Lynch’s music hits and she makes her way down to the ring. She says The Man has come around to Chicago then says she doesn’t have to wait until Ripley has wrestled a 20 minute match before confronting her like Ripley has done to her. She says she could never do that since Ripley never wrestles on Raw anymore and Ripley asks Lynch why she would want to compete before the biggest match of her career. She says she doesn’t need to get in the ring to compete every week and all she has to do is post a photo. She says she doesn’t need to prove herself.
Lynch says the problem between Ripley and her is that they have 2 different interpretations of what a champion is. She says the long game in professional wrestling is skill and merit then says it’s all about how you come back when the chips are down. She tells Ripley that while she has yet to experience that she’ll give her a new experience at WrestleMania.
Ripley says Lynch reminds her of a cockroach in that she’s hard to kill but not impossible. She says she won’t take it that far at WrestleMania because she wants Lynch alive to sit on the couch with her daughter to watch her then says Lynch’s daughter will be calling her Mami.
Lynch warns Ripley against invoking her daughter’s name and says while Ripley may think what she said is a joke, it’s not one to her. She says her father would be most proud of watching her become a mother, and says there is nothing respectful about Ripley. She tells Ripley neither of them will be the same again at WrestleMania.
Ripley & Lynch get in one another’s faces before Mysterio inserts himself between them. Lynch clocks Mysterio and begins brawling with Ripley. Ripley lands a kick on her and sends her crashing into the ring post shoulder first then checks on Mysterio then they continue brawling up the ramp before Mysterio and officials separate them.
Sami Zayn was walking backstage when he spotted Chad Gable as he was talking with Maxxine Dupri. Gable ended his conversation and then told Zayn he wanted to talk about how they ended their conversation last week. Zayn said it was fine because Gable and Gunther both don’t think he can beat Gunther.
Zayn said Gunther doesn’t think he can beat Bronson Reed. Zayn said the match was about making Gunther eat his words. Gable said this wasn’t about Gunther, who wanted to take control and ruin Zayn’s focus. Gable told Zayn to get his head out of his ass. Zayn conceded that Gable was right and told him that he knew what he needed to do. Zayn told Gable he appreciated what he said and then they shook hands.
Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed
Match starts off with a lock up before Bronson Reed hits a shoulder tackle to Sami Zayn but Zayn responds with a back elbow and dumps Reed out of the ring.
He then goes flying over the top rope to level Reed on the outside then gets Reed back in the ring and looks to fly off the top rope.
Reed moves out of the way before he lands a chop that sends Zayn crashing to the outside.
He then hits a shoulder tackle to Zayn off the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Reed hits an elbow drop to Zayn before Zayn responds with a kick to Reed’s face then fires off several chops.
Reed lands a chop of his own but Zayn responds with a clothesline to him as Gunther appears at the top of the ramp to watch the action.
Reed looks to take advantage but Zayn sees him coming.
Reed manages to land a headbutt and a splash in the corner but Zayn rolls him up.
Reed kicks out and Zayn looks to plant him but Reed counters into a crossbody.
Reed then hits a twisting neckbreaker but Zayn manages to land a tornado DDT on him out of the corner then looks to land Helluva Kick but he becomes distracted by Gunther.
He charges at Reed but Reed catches him with a clothesline and a senton.
He ascends to the top and connects with Tsunami for the win.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Jey Uso cuts a promo in the backstage area about his match with Shinsuke Nakamura. Solo Sikoa walks onto the picture followed by Jimmy Uso. No yeet Jimmy said before laughing and walking away.
After the break we see a frustrated Zayn vent to Chad Gable about letting Gunther get in his head. Gable tells Zayn that Gunther plants seeds of doubt and says Zayn’s one of the best that he’s ever been in the ring with. He says he can’t let Gunther get in his head then says he needs a different approach. He says they can talk if he wants to take a different approach.
We then head over to Jey Uso & Seth Rollins in Gorilla position. Rollins tells Jey something doesn’t feel right then tells him that he and Rhodes have his back and wishes him luck in his upcoming match.
Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Match starts off with a lock up before Jey Uso looks to fly out of the ring to level Nakamura but Nakamura hits him with a kick.
He drapes Jey across the top rope and hits a pair of knees to his midsection that sends Jey crashing out of the ring as we go to a break.
After the break Jey fires off a series of open palm strikes on Nakamura and lands a kick on his midsection.
He then connects with an enzuigiri and looks to land a hip attack in the corner but Nakamura moves out of the way and hits a German suplex using the middle rope.
He ascends to the middle rope and looks to fly but Jey moves out of the way and hits a superkick.
Nakamura hits a knee to the back of Jey’s neck as Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa emerge from the crowd.
Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins run down to even the score but Drew McIntyre appears to send Rollins crashing into the ring post.
He then connects with a Future Shock DDT on him then back in the ring Nakamura locks in a sleeper on Jey.
He looks to plant him but Jey avoids it then follows it up with a superkick and a Spear for the win.
Winner: Jey Uso
We head backstage and see Rhodes continuing to brawl with Jimmy. He sends Jimmy out of the arena but Sikoa goes after him. Rhodes begins beating Sikoa down but The Rock blindsides him and sends his head into a trash can. He then sends the trash can bouncing off Rhodes before he sends Rhodes crashing into a road case. He dumps out a box of tools on Rhodes then sends him crashing into a barricade and sends a 2nd trash can bouncing off him.
The Rock sends Rhodes out of the arena and follows him out there as he berates the Chicago crowd. He brawls with Rhodes between production trucks in the pouring rain then tells Chicago, fans at home and Rhodes’ mom to look at what he’s done to their hero. He begins targeting Rhodes’ leg then sends Rhodes crashing into a production truck. The Rock continues to run his mouth as Rhodes begins bleeding and The Rock sends Rhodes’ head bouncing off a production truck. He slaps him then shows off his weight belt inscribes with Mama Rhodes. He says he’s a man of his word then wipes some of the blood off Rhodes’ head and wipes it onto the belt. He sends Rhodes crashing into a production truck once again then tells Rhodes’ mother to look at her son to close this week’s Raw.
Next Week’s Raw
8 Man Tag Team Match
Judgement Day (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest & Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh) vs. DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) & New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
