WWE RAW Live Coverage - March 17th, 2025

[Kemo]

Cody Rhodes and John Cena under one roof

After being ruthlessly attacked by John Cena at WWE Elimination Chamber, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has made it clear that he will stand face-to-face with his WrestleMania challenger on Raw.

– Finn Balor, Bron Breakker, Bianca Belair, Iyo Sky & Dakota Sky are all shown arriving to the arena.

– Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet audiences at home before throwing it to a video of the recent on-goings between John Cena and Cody Rhodes.

– Cena then makes his way down to the ring.

The live crowd rains down loud boos on Cena as he contemplates what to do in the ring. Cena grabs a microphone and says when someone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn't have to look outside themselves for approval. He says for 25 years, he's been the victim and says all fans are is hurtful towards him. He says fans have bullied him for years and expected him to be their puppet with a smile on his face. He says he's not a babyface or a heel, but rather a human being.

Cena says every single fan has been awful towards him for 25 years, and they let him know when he first arrived in WWE in 2002. He says fans let him know that he wasn't worthy of his attention, and he changed himself to get fans to like him but it wasn't enough. He says he worked hard and started to win over and over again, but it still wasn't enough and he spent the next ten years of his life giving everything he could. He says he could walk away his final moments, and he tried doing something nice for his fans, but it still wasn't enough.

Cena says the live crowd is proving his point, and no matter what he does, it's never enough and the fans should be ashamed of themselves. He says all fans do is take and only care about themselves while he puts his values on the line. He says fans get nothing, and explains that he isn't changing his theme song since it's his voice on the track. He tells fans to take a long look in the mirror and reflect on how awful they've been to him.

Fans chant for Cody Rhodes as Cena says his points go for every single person in the live crowd. He says the fans who chant for him are just as awful because they claim to support him while having done nothing to actually do so. He says they steal his personal moments and time, and have made him on the receiving end of an invisible joke for 15 years. He says fans wear his t-shirt to make him feel good, but he lives the words hustle, loyalty, respect, and never give up every single day.

Cena says fans use him as an excuse for the failures of their lives as they sit and watch him be great. He calls his relationship with fans toxic and dysfunctional, then breaks up with all of them and says he doesn't need them anymore, he doesn't care about them, and they don't matter to him.

Cody Rhodes' music hits, and he makes his way out. He says everyone was willing to hear Cena out including him, then says while fans have given Cena their worst, they've also given him their best. He says fans did that because Cena was special, could take it, and carry it. He asks Cena where the guy on his shirt is, then says even after what he did, he was excited at the idea of going face-to-face with Cena but all he got was what he is now. He warns Cena against bringing his new self to WrestleMania 41 because he will run him over and retire him early. He tells Cena to find his old self because he wants to wrestle that man at WrestleMania 41.

Ludwig Kaiser then makes his way down to the ring. Penta follows.

No Holds Barred Match: Ludwig Kaiser vs. Penta

The bell rings and the two men fire off strikes on one another. Kaiser gains the upper hand on Penta, but Penta clotheslines Kaiser out of the ring. Kaiser sends Penta crashing over the barricade near the timekeeper's area, but Penta quickly recovers and delivers a hurricanrana to Kaiser off the barricade that sends him crashing into the ring post.

Kaiser grabs a couple chairs from under the ring, but Penta dropkicks him out of the ring and flies over the top rope to level him. Penta then fires off chops on Kaiser's chest on top of the announce desk, but Kaiser gets Penta up on his shoulders and sends him crashing on top of the announce desk with a Death Valley Driver.

Kaiser sends Penta crashing into the ring post, then rains down right hands on him and sends him crashing into the barricade. Kaiser gets Penta back in the ring and drags him up the ropes, then fires off right hands on him. Penta fights off Kaiser and delivers a crossbody to him off the ropes, then connects with a backstabber off him. Kaiser responds with a Death Valley Driver to Penta, then charges at him on the outside. Penta delivers a back body drop to Kaiser that sends him crashing on top of the announce desk, then dumps him back in the ring.

Penta and Kaiser exchange strikes, but Penta fires off forearms on Kaiser. Kaiser hits Penta with one of the chairs across his spine, then jams the chair into his neck in the corner. Penta sends Kaiser's arm bouncing off the mat, then grabs one of the chairs and debates using it on Kaiser as Kaiser begs him not to. Kaiser grabs the chair from Penta, but Penta uses it to land a superkicks on him and ascends up the ropes. He follows it up with a Mexican Destroyer onto the chair and the Penta Driver on it as well for the win.

Winner: Penta

– After the match, Cathy Kelley catches up to Penta on his way backstage. She asks him what's next for him and he says he's going for the Intercontinental Championship next.

– Dakota Kai is with Iyo Sky backstage warming up for his match against Ivy Nile.

– The Judgement Day is backstage and Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez wish Finn Balor the best of his luck in his match tonight. Dominik Mysterio says he has an idea and Morgan tells Mysterio this may not be the best time. Mysterio suggests they add Penta to the Judgement Day. Balor tells Mysterio he's a snake.

– Ivy Nile and The Creed Brothers then make their way out to the ring. Dakota Kai follows, and a late Chad Gable runs down to the ring.

Ivy Nile (w/ American Made) vs. Dakota Kai

The bell rings and Kai wastes no time going after Nile. Nile responds by firing off right hands on Kai, then whips her into the corner and follows it up with a German suplex. Kai rolls up Nile, but Nile kicks out and Kai levels her with a clothesline. She follows it up with a dropkick and a running boot in the corner, then sends Nile crashing out of the ring.

Chad Gable hops up onto the apron and distracts Kai, opening the door for Nile to send Kai crashing into the mat. Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee then run down to the ring and take out The Creed Brothers before chasing away Chad Gable from ringside. This opens the door for Kai to land another running boot on Nile and follow it up with the Go To Kick for the win.

Winner: Dakota Kai

– IYO SKY then makes her way down to the ring. Bianca Belair follows, and Adam Pearce is waiting inside the ring.

Pearce says it's time to make SKY and Belair's WrestleMania 41 match official, then says two signatures is what he needs. SKY grabs the mic and tells Belair that she won't disrespect her again. She says Rhea Ripley or anyone else also won't disrespect her again because she's the Women's World Champion, and after WrestleMania 41, she will still hold the title. SKY then signs the contract. Belair says that she respects SKY, but she will find out who she is at WrestleMania 41. She signs the contract, and Pearce thanks Belair and SKY for both being professional.

Rhea Ripley's music hits, and she makes her way out as Pearce calls for referees. He then asks Ripley why she's at ringside, and Ripley explains that SKY slapped her next week. She questions why Belair is in the ring and tells her that she had no business at ringside during SKY and Ripley's Women's World Championship match, and Ripley says she's just at ringside to watch. SKY tries to intervene, but Belair slaps her. Ripley then sends Belair crashing onto the table and powerbombs SKY on top of her, then picks up the contract and signs it herself.

– Jey Uso walks backstage before his match and says tonight he'll make an example of Austin Theory like he will to Gunther at WrestleMania. He runs into Gunther who gets into Uso's face but officials break them up. Jey Uso then makes his way out to the ring.

Jey Uso vs. Austin Theory (w/ Grayson Waller)

The bell rings and Theory goes straight after Jey. He fires off strikes on him, but Jey delivers a spear to him for the win.

Winner: Jey Uso

– After the match, A-Town Down Under looks to beat down Jey. Jey sends them both crashing out of the ring, but GUNTHER looks to lock in a Sleeper on Jey once again. Jey sees him coming and grabs the World Heavyweight Championship belt from him. He holds it up, then dumps it onto the floor on the outside in front of GUNTHER.

– Backstage Adam Pearce argues with Rhea Ripley about signing the contract. Bianca Belair runs by and attacks Ripley. Iyo Sky runs to them and attacks Ripley and all three end up battling backstage.

– American Made then makes their way out to the ring. LWO follows.

LWO vs. American Made

Julius Creed and Dragon Lee begin the action. The bell rings and Julius goes after Lee. Rey Mysterio looks to tag in, Brutus Creed pulls him off the apron and Julius takes down Lee. Brutus tags in and delivers the Brutus Smash to Lee. Julius tags in, then immediately tags back out to Brutus. The Creed Brothers double team on Lee, and Julius whips him into the corner.

Brutus tags in and delivers a knee to Lee in the corner. He fires off forearms on Lee, but Rey tags in and connects with a hurricanrana on Julius. He rains down right hands on Julius and delivers a DDT to him. He lands a second hurricanrana to Julius into the ropes, then dials it up for a 619 and connects with a splash over the top and from the apron for the win.

Winners: LWO

– After the match, the masked Luchador in an American mask attacks Lee and Rey out of nowhere. He lands a German suplex on Lee and sends Rey crashing on top of him with a second one, then connects with a diving headbutt on Lee off the top rope.

– Seth "Freakin" Rollins then makes his way down to the ring.

Rollins welcomes fans to Monday Night Rollins, then introduces himself and addresses Roman Reigns after he interfered in his Steel Cage Match next week. He calls CM Punk the luckiest loser on the planet, and if he had a few more seconds in the cage, he would've stomped his head in and ended his WrestleMania 41 dreams. He says he's left to clean up Reigns' mess, then says he will put him in his place along the way. He says Punk and Reigns will be in the same place at the same time on Friday night.

– Cathy Kelley talks to AJ Styles about his thoughts on Logan Paul. Karrion Kross and Scarlet approach Styles. He tells Styles that maybe AJ is upset at himself and not Paul. Styles says he knows what Kross is trying to do and it won't work.

– Finn Balor then makes his way down to the ring. Bron Breakker follows.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Finn Balor

The bell rings and Breakker levels Balor with a clothesline. He sends Balor crashing into the corner and fires off shoulders on him before the action spills out of the ring and Balor levels Breakker.

Balor rains down right hands on Breakker back in the ring, then levels him with a dropkick. He continues beating down Breakker, but Breakker responds with a back body drop and follows it up with a powerslam. Dominik Mysterio and Carlito run down to the ring, opening the door for Balor to roll up Breakker. Breakker kicks out, but Balor lands an elbow drop on him.

Breakker lands a flying clothesline over the announce desk on Balor off the apron, then dumps him back in the ring. Balor dropkicks Breakker into the corner, then rolls him up. Breakker kicks out, then connects with a powerslam on Balor and pins him. Balor kicks out, then ascends to the top. Breakker meets him up there, then delivers a Frakensteiner on him and follows it up with a spear for the win.

Winner and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: Bron Breakker

– After the match, Dominik and Carlito blindside Breakker. Dominik grabs the Intercontinental Championship, but before anything else can happen, Penta's music hits and he runs down to the ring. He superkicks Dominik and Carlito, and Breakker delivers a spear to Carlito. Breakker and Penta then stare down one another as Breakker holds up the Intercontinental Championship and the show goes off the air.

[Kemo]

[LionDen]

Just started watching RAW now, that was funny seeing Cena as a heel. It seemed weird lol.

The poor kid in the crowd.



Also, I like the little smirk Rhodes had looking at Cena when the crowd was singing "Cody Rhodes" to his theme song.