WWE Raw Review – March 18, 2024
Kicking off this week’s Raw with Jey Uso welcomes fans to Raw and says he knows Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa are in the PNC Arena then calls them out to the ring.
Jimmy & Sikoa make their way to ringside through the crowd and Jimmy gets in the ring. Jey says regardless of what happened between him & Jimmy, he misses him. He asks Jimmy to come back to his side and Jimmy says he never left him. He says he protected Jey and says it was his idea to leave The Bloodline. He says he helped Jey because he’s his brother but when he left, he became the biggest star on Raw, the top merchandise seller, and an Undisputed Tag Team Champion without him. He says Jey forgot him and says his biggest moment in his career is because of him.
Jey says the biggest moment in his career will be his dream match at WrestleMania 40 when he beats him down. Jey then attacks Jimmy and clocks Sikoa on the apron but Jimmy manages to land a superkick on Jey. Sikoa then holds Jey in place as Jimmy berates him but Cody Rhodes runs down to the ring to even the odds. He clocks Jimmy on the ramp and lands a Cody Cutter on Sikoa then checks on Jey.
We get a video package on the Becky Lynch & Nia Jax feud.
After the break Adam Pearce was on the phone when Paul Heyman interrupted him. Pearce was upset about The Bloodline attack. Heyman apologized and said it wasn’t authorized by The Rock or Roman Reigns. Heyman said Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa went into business for themselves.
Heyman said there were flight delays all day including his own private jet. Heyman told Pearce that Jimmy & Solo were gone and he had Roman’s word. Heyman said he had official business to take care of and then he would be gone. Heyman told Pearce that when he does his official business everyone would be caught off guard. Heyman said that wasn’t a prediction it was a spoiler. Heyman walked away and calls Reigns on his phone.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Qualifying Match
DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus)
Tommaso Ciampa & Julius Creed lock up to get this match started.
They take turns locking one another in submission holds and pinning each other before Ciampa lands a chop on Julius.
Julius responds by cinching in an Ankle Lock on Ciampa but Ciampa makes his way over to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Brutus & Johnny Gargano then tag in and Gargano lands an assisted Sliced Bread on Brutus.
Creed Brothers end up on the outside and DIY hits crossbodies over the top rope to take them out then they sit on the apron to clap as we go to a break.
After the break Ciampa lands a back elbow on Julius before Brutus tags in before he hits a splash to DIY in the corner then pins both of them but DIY kicks out.
Julius then tags in and Brutus helps Julius land on top of Ciampa.
Julius gets Ciampa into a delayed vertical suplex position but Gargano gets in the ring.
Brutus gets him up into a delayed vertical suplex position and Creeds plant DIY.
They then land simultaneous moonsaults on DIY before Julius gets Ciampa in an electric chair position and Brutus ascends to the top rope.
Gargano helps Ciampa out and Brutus gets Gargano up on his shoulders as Julius rocks him with a knee to his head and Brutus plants him.
Brutus hits a shoulder pounce to Ciampa on the outside that sends him crashing over the announce table as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break Ciampa lands a reverse DDT on Julius.
Gargano tags in and levels an interfering Brutus then hits a jumping knee to Brutus and plants both Creed Brothers.
Gargano then hits a Spear to Julius from the apron through the middle rope then sits him on the top turnbuckle and tags in Ciampa.
Ciampa hits a chop to Julius then hits an Air Raid Crash on him from the middle rope.
Julius cinches in a 2nd Ankle Lock on Ciampa and Gargano tries to make the save.
Julius releases the hold to deliver a powerbomb on Gargano then locks it in once more on Ciampa as Brutus does the same to Gargano. DIY escape and lock in Gargan No Escape.
Creed Brothers manage to escape and send #DIY crashing into one another.
Julius then delivers a moonsault off the middle rope to Ciampa & Brutus follows suit.
Julius gets Ciampa in an electric chair position and Brutus ascends to the top rope.
He looks to lands Brutus Ball but Ciampa escapes.
Julius rolls up Ciampa but with some assistance from Gargano in sending Brutus crashing to the outside then hits a superkick before Ciampa rolls up Julius for the win.
Winners & Gets Into The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Ladder Match: DIY
Backstage Judgement Day spoke with Andrade. Dominik Mysterio said they like his style but he added that things had changed since he was last there and Judgment Day now runs Raw. Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley said it’s an exclusive club but they could make things happen if he continues to impress them.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Finn Balor said they would be watching Andrade’s match next week. Andrade said that sounded great and then turned around and saw Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest. They exchanged quick pleasantries before Andrade made his exit.
Priest mentioned the DIY win and said it was okay because he & Balor can handle them. He took issue with JD McDonagh failing to win the Intercontinental Title #1 Contenders Gauntlet Match. Ripley said Ricochet made a fool out of McDonagh. Ripley said Mysterio would make things right. Mysterio said he & McDonagh would go talk to Pearce to make things official as we go to a break.
After the break Michael Cole acknowledged the addition of Thunderbolt Patterson to the Hall Of Fame Class of 2024.
Tag Team Match
Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance
Kayden Carter lands a dropkick on Candice LeRae before LeRae hits a back elbow then tags in Indi Hartwell. Hartwell hits a boot to Carter then tags LeRae back in.
LeRae fires off left and right hands on Carter then looks to land a step up senton.
Carter avoids it and tags in Katana Chance then Hartwell tags in and Chance dropkicks her into the corner. She fires off a few stomps then plants her face first.
Chance grabs her knee and the referee checks on her.
LeRae tags in and dropkicks Carter on the outside then sends Chance’s knee bouncing off the ring post.
She then wrenches in a submission hold on Chance & Chance immediately taps out.
Winners By Submission: Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae
After the match Hartwell looks surprised by LeRae’s actions. LeRae then asked Chance if she was okay before smiling.
Highlights aired of The Rock’s appearance on Smackdown.
An ad aired for the Bray Wyatt documentary that will premiere on Peacock (United States) & WWE Network (Everywhere Else) on April 1st.
2024 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes says he will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania for a 2nd year in a row then says he and Reigns will have a conversation on Friday. He says there are complications and other factors in The Rock and says he referred to himself as our favorite heel in an Instagram post. He says he’s known some heels himself then says he doesn’t think The Rock is a heel because he’s an asshole. He says he doesn’t want The Rock or the 7 Bucks Production team to be offended after taking a shot for him about crying in his interview with Michael Cole on Friday.
Rhodes then says The Rock has been crying backstage this whole time, and told the TKO board that it would be good PR for them. He says that the TKO board are yes people but they won’t tell it to The Rock like it is. He says he will for them and says while The Rock is on the Mount Rushmore of professional wrestlers, he’s a terrible salesman. He says while The Rock has been otherwise convinced that he’s not whiny then says since The Rock wants to bring his mother into things, he’ll do the same thing.
Rhodes tells The Rock he has nothing but respect for his mother and knows her well, then says The Rock doesn’t know his mother and she’s not afraid of him. He says he doesn’t know if he’ll be facing Roman Reigns in Bloodline Rules or if he can even finish the story, then says The Rock hasn’t been in the ring in years. He questions if The Rock will be The Great One when the bell rings and says The Rock has referred to himself as The Final Boss. He says while that could be true he doesn’t think that nickname will hold up at WrestleMania. He then says he thinks The Rock will just be Reigns’ side chick at WrestleMania.
Paul Heyman then appears at ringside and introduces himself then tells Rhodes that the ideals they both share are greater than their conflicts. He says he came out to offer up an apology to Rhodes for coming to the ring with NYPD officers a few weeks ago and admits it was a bad plan.
Rhodes offers for Heyman to step in the ring with him but Heyman declines to do so. Heyman then says he has a message from Roman Reigns and informs Rhodes that no other Bloodline members will be in sight when Rhodes meets with Reigns on Friday except for him & Reigns. He says that will only happen if Rhodes shows up alone as well and Rhodes agrees then shakes Heyman’s hand.
Nia Jax said she just realized that Becky Lynch has never beaten her and after tonight she never will. Jax said that once she breaks Lynch’s face again she’ll take her spot at WrestleMania and become the Women’s World Champion.
After the break we go backstage where Jey Uso applauded Cody Rhodes then told him he knew he wasn’t going to Smackdown alone. Cody said he gave his word. Jey said he would have his back if he needed him.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Ricochet
Ricochet cinches in a waist lock on Dominik Mysterio before Mysterio lands a back elbow on Ricochet but Ricochet lands a series of strikes and follows it up with a springboard back elbow.
He looks to fly to level Mysterio on the outside but McDonagh pushes Mysterio out of the way.
Ricochet then flies over the top to level Mysterio and gets him back in the ring but McDonagh grabs his ankle as he looks to follow him back inside.
Mysterio then takes advantage and dropkicks Ricochet out of the ring as we go to a break.
After the break Ricochet looks to fly in the ring from the apron but Mysterio trips him and sends him crashing into the mat with a facebuster.
Mysterio then looks to hit 3 Amigos but Ricochet counters the 2nd suplex into a Brainbuster and gets Mysterio up on his shoulders before hitting a kick to him.
Mysterio looks to land a kick on Ricochet’s midsection but Ricochet catches it and lands a kick on Mysterio head then looks to land a 450 Splash but Mysterio moves out of the way.
McDonagh hops up on the apron but Ricochet hits him with a kick.
Mysterio looks to take advantage and kicks Ricochet in the ropes then dials it up for 619.
Ricochet ducks out of the way and lands Recoil for the win.
Winner: Ricochet
After the match McDonagh looks to attack Ricochet but Ricochet escapes.
Backstage Sami Zayn spotted Chad Gable in the hallway and spoke about how their match could have gone either way. Gable cut him off and said Yeah, it was great. Zayn said they knew each other a long time. Gable says it meant more. Zayn said he has kids at home and they cry when he loses too. Gable said he knows all that. Zayn asked him what it’s all about. You can’t beat Gunther Gable said before walking way as we go to a break.
After the break Adam Pearce looks to get the contract signing underway but Intercontinental Champion Gunther interrupts him and questions why Sami Zayn is wearing a t shirt for the biggest contract signing in history. Zayn says Gunther’s smug smile is bothering him and gives props to Gunther for beating anyone who’s challenged him for his Intercontinental Title. Zayn says Gunther doesn’t think he can beat him but many have doubted him in his career and he’s proved them wrong. He recalls dethroning The Usos as Undisputed Tag Team Champions last year with Kevin Owens then says he will make history at WrestleMania again by ending the longest Intercontinental Title reign of all time then signs the contract.
Gunther says no one including Zayn, truly believes that he can dethrone him. He says all Zayn is doing is begging on his doorstep for a beating on The Grandest Stage Of Them All and tells Zayn to keep dreaming because his dreams will meet reality at WrestleMania. Gunther then signs the contract.
Gunther grabs his Intercontinental Title and looks to head to the back but Zayn stops him. He says he wants to make sure he heard Gunther right when he says he looked into his eyes and didn’t believe in himself. Zayn tells Gunther to look again because Gunther is looking into the eyes of the man who will beat him at WrestleMania.
Zayn walks by Awesome Truth & DIY as The Miz told R Truth that Zayn had the mindset that they needed. Jinder Mahal & Indus Sher walks into the picture. Truth said he feels sorry for whoever has to fight those guys then Awesome Truth makes their way down to the ring.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Qualifying Match
Awesome Truth (The Miz & R Truth) vs. Indus Sher (Veer Mahaan & Sanga)
R Truth & Sanga starts this match Truth immediately tags out to The Miz.
Miz fires off right hands on Sanga but Sanga hits him with a back elbow.
Veer Mahaan tags in and lands an elbow drop then wears Miz down with a hold.
Truth tags in and hits a pair of flying shoulder tackles to Mahaan then sends him crashing into the mat spine first and lands 5 Knuckle Shuffle then locks in the STF.
Sanga gets in the ring to break the hold but Awesome Truth lands a double dropkick on him.
The Miz lands an assisted Skull Crushing Finale on Mahaan with Miz then hits Jinder Mahal with a dropkick through the ropes as Truth then pins Mahaan for the win
Winners & Gets Into The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Ladder Match: Awesome Truth
Sami Zayn caught up with Chad Gable backstage and demanded to know why Gable didn’t think he could beat Gunther.
Gable said it’s not physical, it’s mental. Gable said Zayn has made a career out of being the underdog who crawls his way out of any hole he ends up in. Gable said Gunther is on a different level. Gable said Zayn would sit and wait for that opportunity to appear, but that doesn’t happen with Gunther. Gable told Zayn that if he doesn’t change his mentality, then he can’t beat Gunther.
Michael Cole & Pat McAfee sets up footage of CM Punk doing his physical therapy. Punk asked if he would be at WrestleMania. He asked what the 1st 4 letters in Philadelphia are. You can’t have WrestleMania in Philadelphia without Phil Punk said. Punk said it didn’t matter if he was invited or uninvited.
After the break Drew McIntyre makes his way down to the ring but World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins’ music cuts McIntyre’s music off and he makes his way out as well passing McIntyre on the ramp.
Rollins welcomes fans to Monday Night Rollins then says he didn’t see McIntyre there as he was too busy soaking up the spotlight. McIntyre says he knows Rollins has more and tells him to get it out of his system now. He says he thinks McIntyre is stupid and a hypocrite but he has to admit that something he said was correct that he’s a spotlight junkie. McIntyre tells Rollins that everything is a joke to him and says the only thing he cares about is his WrestleMania match against Rollins for the World Heavyweight Title. He says the punchline will be dethroning Rollins.
Rollins says this isn’t a joke to him and says him saying he’s a spotlight junkie isn’t a joke. He says he’s been in the wrestling business for 20 years and everytime he goes through the curtain is his fix. He says it gets better everytime he puts everything on the line whenever he enters the ring and says he gets his fix from fans singing his song. Rollins says he will defeat The Rock & Roman Reigns at Night 1 of WrestleMania with Cody Rhodes, and the biggest spotlight will then be on him & McIntyre in their match at Night 2. McIntyre says Rollins has made the World Heavyweight Title the workhorse title and admits that he had him. He says Rollins lost him when he brought up the spotlight then questions why their match can’t just be about the title. He says all he cares is that Rollins makes it to the ring at Night 2 of WrestleMania then says he won’t get the moment he deserves but rather the one he’s earned.
Rollins says McIntyre is an addict like he is and he wants the spotlight as much as he does. He says since McIntyre won in an empty arena at WrestleMania 36, he’s been wanting his moment in front of fans. He says when the lights shine on him, he shines the brightest and McIntyre will find out he’s not as good as he thinks he is.
Backstage Becky Lynch cuts a promo while seated in an undisclosed area. She said all she knows is fighting and taking risks and would be the Last Woman Standing.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Qualifying Match
New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Alpha Academy (Akira Tozawa & Otis)
Otis hits Woods with his stomach bunch of times before Akira Tozawa tags in and Woods lands a kick on his midsection.
Kofi Kingston tags in and Tozawa lands a hurricanrana on him off the middle rope.
He then hits New Day on the outside with a tope suicida as we go to a break.
After the break Otis tags in and runs over New Day then lands a slam on Kingston then follows it up with The Caterpillar then looks for a Vader Bomb but Kingston avoids it.
Tozawa becomes legal and hits a crossbody to Kingston off the top rope for a 2 count but Woods tags in and catches him with a tornado DDT out of the corner.
Woods then ascends to the top rope but Tozawa meets him up there.
Woods gets Tozawa up on his shoulders but Tozawa counters into a hurricanrana and climbs back up to the top rope & lands a senton and goes for a pin but Kingston breaks the fall.
On the outside Kingston hits a tornado DDT to Otis.
Tozawa levels him when he hops up on the apron but Woods catches him with a spinning sit out powerbomb.
He then ascends to the top rope and hits Limit Break for the win.
Winners & Gets Into The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Ladder Match: New Day
Becky Lynch was stretching backstage when Liv Morgan entered the room. Lynch asked Morgan if she would have to watch out for her. Morgan said Lynch should always watch her but tonight is all hers. Make sure you kick her ass Morgan said before making her exit as we go to a break.
After the break Cody Rhodes was shown walking backstage with Pharaoh. Seth Rollins approached Rhodes and said Friday 1on 1? Rhodes confirmed it then walks away. Love the bandana Pharaoh Rollins added.
Last Woman Standing Match
Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
Becky Lynch wastes no time as she lands a dropkick on Nia Jax then hits a 2nd one off the middle rope that sends Jax crashing to the outside.
Lynch hits a 3rd one through the bottom rope then lands a flying right hand on the outside.
She looks to fly a 2nd time but Jax catches her and sends her crashing into the ring post and the barricade.
The referee begins a 10 count but Lynch makes it to her feet in time.
Jax then runs over Lynch and the referee begins another count but Lynch beats it once again as we go to a break.
After the break Lynch is setting a table up on the outside before Jax dumps her back in the ring and tosses several chairs in along with her then gets back in the ring.
Lynch hits Jax with one of the chairs then looks to land Manhandle Slam on top of the rest of the pile but Jax blocks her and hits a Samoan Drop on her on top of the chairs.
She then sets one of the chairs up before Lynch catches her in a Sleeper Hold and lands a bulldog to her on top of the chair.
The referee begins a 10 count but Jax makes it up to her feet and beats it.
Lynch then ascends to the top rope but Jax hits her with a chair mid air.
She then cracks it across Lynch several more times and grabs a couple of kendo sticks from under the ring.
Jax cracks one of the kendo sticks across Lynch’s spine then bodyslams her on top of the pile of chairs then connects with a leg drop and the referee begins a 10 count.
Lynch makes it up to her feet in time but Jax cracks a chair across her spine.
She sets up the chair over Lynch and sits on her but Lynch grabs one of the kendo sticks and hits her with it several times.
They end up back on the outside and Jax grabs one of the ring steps.
She hits Lynch with it then looks to land a leg drop on her on the apron.
Lynch avoids it then lands a DDT to Jax on top of one of the ring steps.
Lynch then grabs another table from under the ring and sets it up as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break Jax sets Lynch up on the table set up on the outside and climbs up a ladder next to it but Lynch escapes from the table and Jax climbs back down the ladder.
Lynch surprises Jax by spraying a fire extinguisher in her face then charges at her.
Jax catches her and hits a Samoan Drop to her through a table set up in the corner.
Jax then hits An Nia Lator in the corner and the referee begins a 10 count but Lynch rolls out of the ring to make it to her feet.
Jax gets Lynch up on her shoulders on the apron but Lynch escapes and hits Manhandle Slam to Jax through the table on the outside.
The referee begins the 10 count but both women beat it then Lynch ascends up the ladder and connects with a leg drop to Jax through the announce table.
The referee begins another 10 count and Lynch makes it back up to her feet but Jax doesn’t.
Winner: Becky Lynch
After the match Rhea Ripley’s music hits and she makes her way down to the ring & holds up her Women’s World Title and they get into each other’s faces to close out this week’s Raw.
Next Week’s Raw
Andrade vs. TBD
Ricochet vs. JD McDonagh
Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae
Updated WrestleMania 40 Card So Far (April 6th & 7th)
Night 1 (April 6th)
Tag Team Match
The Bloodline (Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & The Rock) vs. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins & 2024 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes (If The Bloodline wins the Night 2 Match under Bloodline Rules & if Rollins & Rhodes win The Bloodline is banned from ringside)
Night 2 (April 7th)
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs. 2024 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes
World Heavyweight Title Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Nights TBD
Women’s Title Match
Iyo Sky (c) vs. 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Winner Bayley
Women’s World Title Match
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Intercontinental Title Match
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Fatal 6 Way Ladder Match
Judgement Day (Mr Money In The Bank Damian Priest & Finn Balor) (c) vs. DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. Awesome Truth (The Miz & R Truth) vs. New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Angel & Humberto) or New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate) vs. TBD
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
United States Title Triple Threat Match
Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
