Opening Segment
Michael Cole opens the show discussing the new Intercontinental champion along with other premier matchups and promo segments. The opening segment ends with a recap from last week’s unbelievably chaotic Raw that started with Paul Heyman getting stomped by Seth Rollins.
Adam Pearce is in the middle of the ring and greets the fans in Seattle. He notes that there is unfortunate news to discuss before inviting Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins to the ring for a face-to-face conversation in the squared circle. A masked man appeared at the announce table before dozens of similar masked men appeared at ringside.
The group all got into the ring before exiting and Rollins standing with Pearce in the ring. Is this the Shield 2.0 with the masked men sent out to protect Rollins instead of Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.
Pearce says he doesn’t like The Vision either and that these masked men won’t protect him forever and he’s not medically cleared. Logan Paul and Austin Theory appear and walk to ringside taunting Rollins. As they jump in the ring, Rollins raises his hands for the masked men to come in the ring and they all disappear into the crowd.
LA Knight’s music hits and he runs to the ring, taking out Paul along the way. Theory staves off Knight and gets help from Paul before Jimmy and Jey Uso roll out to the ring to put the numbers back in the favor of Knight. With the advantage they gain the upper hand and go to land a 1D on Paul before he’s pulled from the ring by Theory.
Commercial Break #1 - 8:13 to 8:16
We come back from commercial break with a promo with WWE 2K26 marking a worldwide release on Friday, March 13. The Usos are met by Jackie Redmond for a quick backstage interview. They have receipts to hand out and Redmond asks about CM Punk. Jimmy says they don’t have anything to say, before Jey says maybe they do as the tandem walks away into the backstage area.
The Women’s Intercontinental Championship Number One Contender’s Gauntlet match is up next. Lyra Valkyria heads to the ring first, with a sneak peek from her intro in WWE 2K26. Iyo Sky will join Valkyria to start the match, which is the first women’s gauntlet match on Raw in more than four years.
The two tangle in the middle of the ring with neither performer gaining a significant upper hand.
Valkyria gains a brief upper hand in the matchup before Sky uses a takedown and a dropkick to take the advantage. Sky uses a suicide dive to the outside of the ring to maintain the advantage but Valkyria quickly slows things down with a dropkick of her own as we head to the commercial break.
Commercial Break #2 - 8:23 to 8:26
Out of the commercial break, we come back to Valkyria with the advantage and a quick exchange of fists in the middle of the ring. Sky regains the edge with a Bullet Train in the corner, and looks to hit an Over the Moonsault, but Valkyria catches her to curb the momentum.
The two competitors exchange blows at the top turnbuckle and a Step-Up Inseguri is followed by a Fisherman’s Suplex and a two-count for Valkyria.
Sky regains the advantage, hits an Over the Moonsault and gets the 1-2-3 to eliminate Valkyria.
Raquel Rodriguez is next up to join the match. The Genius of the Sky attempts a suicide dive but is caught by Rodriguez who quickly gains the early match advantage.
Commercial Break #3 - 8:31 to 8:34
We return to action with Rodriguez still dominating the match. Sky goes to the top turnbuckle to gain the advantage with a missile dropkick. As IYO tries to hit the Over the Moonsault, Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez show up to disrupt things. Stephanie Vaquer comes out and turns the tandem back before a small package from Sky gives The Genius of the Sky a 1-2-3 for the second win in the bout.
Rodriguez tosses Sky off the corner post and puts her back in the ring as Ivy Nile enters the bout. Nile gets a fast 1-2-3 to eliminate Sky.
Bayley enters the match next and Nile meets her outside of the ring to take control of the match early.
Commercial Break #4 - 8:39 to 8:42
To the viewers at home, three commercials in this gauntlet match that is barely halfway through creates a really disjointed experience. Regardlesss, we return to Nile and Bayley exchanging blows in the center of the ring.
Nile uses a reverse chin lock to maintain the advantage before Bayley gains control for the first time with a Backbody Drop. An elbow to Nile, followed by a cover only garnered a two-count for Bayley.
After losing the advantage, Nile turned the tides but Bayley used a sunset flip off the middle rope to regain the edge. Nile used a kick to the face, followed by a European Uppercut and a Suplex that kept Bayley in the air for 30 seconds but only earned a two-count for Nile.
Nile then delivered a Superplex and a Swinging Uranage to send both performers to the ring apron. Bayley tossed Nile off the steel steps then delivered an elbow to Nile on the apron and picked up the 1-2-3 from a Bayley to Belly.
Asuka entered to wrap up the contestants but a Bayley forearm greeted Asuka before she got to the ring. The wily veteran gained the upper hand from Bayley as we headed to commercial break.
Commercial Break #5 - 8:49 to 8:52
Out of the break, the tandem battle in the middle of the ring with Bayley getting a quick two-count. Asuka quickly converts into an Anklelock and looked for the win but only earned a two count of her own.
Following the pitfall attempt, Bayley applied the knee lock but Asuka eluded the ring to keep the match going on the outside of the squared circle.
Asuka landed a knee and Bayley responded with a Lariat and a Running Knee to regain the upper hand.
Despite losing the upper hand, Asuka quickly worked her way back but came up just short of the IC title match with back-to-back near fall attempts. Bayley hit another Bayley-to-Belly, but the Empress of Tomorrow kicked out to keep the match alive.
Kairi Sane tried to interfere, but Valkyria landed a Dropkick to break up the Sane interference. Bayley landed a Rose Plant and notched the 1-2-3 to earn the victory and a shot at the Intercontinental Title next week in San Antonio against AJ Lee.
Cole then led in to a recap of the epic CM Punk - Roman Reigns promo from last week’s episode of Raw. Punk will appear tonight on Raw.
After a couple of internal promos, they lead in to the Intercontinental Title match between Penta and the Original El Grande Americano.
Commercial Break #6 - 9:02 to 9:05
Following the break, as OG El Grande is headed to the ring he is met by Danhausen. He refuses to help Danhausen and is cursed by the hilarious newcomer prior to his match with Penta. As Grande walks away, what appears to be a Lucha is stalking in the background.
Penta takes a slow walk to the ring to the ovation of the fans. The former AAA star then takes the mic and thanks the fans around the world for believing in him. The title is for everyone who never gives up because that’s who Penta represents. As the promo comes to an end, Original El Grande Americano’s music hits but El Grande Americano comes to the ring instead of the Original.
Commercial Break #7 - 9:14 to 9:17
Danhausen’s curse appears to have struck another performer as OG El Grande is nowhere to be found. El Grande has the upper hand with a standing headlock but Penta quickly takes control with a judo kick.
As Penta is tossed into the corner, El Grande regains the upper hand with a rake of the eyes and a running uppercut. Penta quickly turned the tides with a backstabber and a Springboard Clothesline.
El Grande lands a European Uppercut and stands near the IC title as we head to commercial.
Commercial Break #8 - 9:21 to 9:24
After the break, El Grande is still in control but a drop toehold from Penta quells the advantage. Penta connects on a Slingblade and a dropkick before flying over the top rope to gain a major edge. A crossbody lateral press only garnered a two count for the champ. El Grande hit a Spinebuster to thwart the edge for Penta but it was short lived as a kick from the champ put him back on the advantage.
Both performers continued their exchange in the center of the ring before Penta caught El Grande with a Springboard Mexican Destroyer for the 1-2-3 to retain the title.
Following Penta’s win, we are met with a promo from Stephanie Vaquer. Afterwards, the Judgment Day is back stage and Dominick Mysterio enters their lair in a panic before saying he has to go to the ring to get something off his chest.
Commercial Break #9 - 9:32 to 9:35
We return from commercial to a promo on this week’s WWE Podcasts then quickly move to Jose Valenzuela in the arena, along with Ernest Jones and Mike Morris of the Seattle Seahawks. Then we hear the Judgment Day’s music hit as Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan walk Dirty Dom to the ring.
Dom starts by demanding a rematch with Penta for the IC title. With the crowd booing Dirty Dom, he blames Finn Balor and says he wanted to resolve this privately but Balor wasn’t allowing it. Balor music hits and he walks to the ring with JD McDonagh.
Dom asks Balor if he got him his rematch with Pearce. Balor says he’s right, if it wasn’t for him he would still be IC champion and he’s sorry. He was just trying to teach him a lesson and reminds him that Judgment Day is a family that always has each other’s back. He then tells Mysterio that to be the best Mysterio of all-time, he has to learn how to fight his own battles.
Balor then says maybe Rey was right and that Dom is just a “Spoiled Little Prick” before Dom pushed Balor away. Balor lands a flip kick and a Slingblade. McDonagh then turns on Balor with a Lariat as Morgan and the rest of the Judgment Day attacks Balor. Balor looked to fight back but Mysterio connected with the bell hammer and landed a 619 with a loaded boot to put the finishing touches on Balor before landing a Frog Splash to a defenseless Balor. Mysterio ended the segment with another Frog Splash, this time with a chair over Balor, as the Judgment Day stood tall over their former leader.
Commercial Break #10 - 9:45 to 9:48
After the commercial break, we return with a WWE World Promo for Wrestlemania Week. Then a recap runs of the promo from before the break prior to a backstage segment with Pearce and Je’Von Evans. Evans is then met by The New Day with Grayson Waller. After the promo, a backstage interview takes place with Valkyria, Bayley and Jackie Redmond. Bayley gives credit to Valkyria before finishing the interview by saying she’s always wanted to win the IC title and entertaining the idea of a future match with Valkyria for the IC strap.
Quickly, we return to the arena to set up the main event of the evening with a matchup between Oba Femi and Rusev. Femi’s music hits and the monster heads to the ring.
Commercial Break #11 - 9:54 to 9:57
Rusev heads to the ring out of the commercial break as we get ready to start the main event. The two meet with clotheslines then exchange fists before Rusev takes the early advantage with knees to Femi.
Femi quickly takes over with a running uppercut and a big boot before a plowing Lariat knocked Rusev to the outside. Femi delivered a toss into the steps, but Rusev regained the upper hand with a spin kick into the announce table.
The tides turned in the blink of an eye though as Femi nailed a running uppercut, atomic drop and a Fall from grace for the 1-2-3.
A promo followed highlighting Wrestlemania 42, before setting up Raw next week in San Antonio. We’ll hear from Brock Lesnar next week, have a women’s IC title match and Grande vs Grande in the ring. Finally, The OTC will be live next week.
Cult of Personality hits and Punk heads to the ring as we take our final break of the evening.
Commercial Break #12 - 10:06 to 10:08
Punk is in the ring and asks the fans if it’s great to be alive on a Monday night in Seattle or what. Then raises the stakes by mentioning the Super Bowl Champion Seahawks. He then talks about hearing that he disrespected Roman Reigns last week during his promo by getting too personal, but mentions that Reigns has never respected him in his career.
Championships are made to find out who the best is. They go on to defend those championships. Punk then discusses how Reigns refused to defend his title and the fans deserve a fighting champion.
Punk also states that he levels WWE up. But last week, he lowered himself to Reigns’ level. The Usos theme music hits and an angry Jimmy and Jey Uso briskly head to the ring. Jey demands an apology from Punk but the champ asks why Reigns still sends his cousins to do his dirty work. Jimmy stands tall in front of Punk and says this has to do with respect and “Phil, I respect you.” Jimmy then demands an apology from the Voice of the Voiceless for what he said about Sika a week ago.
Punk then discussed his respect for Sika, and how well he knew Afa and how he went to Afa when he needed a hand at a young age. He also mentioned nearly everyone in the Fatu family and said that The OTC is the only one who has never respected him. Jey interrupted again, and demanded an “I’m Sorry” from Punk.
Punk utters the words, but for how Reigns has treated so many people so poorly including the Usos and Dusty Rhodes. Punk ends the promo by calling the Usos Roman’s “Young Boys”, before Jey hits Punk as the credits rolls.
Tonight’s Match Winners
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Gauntlet Number One Contender Match: Bayley
Men’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Penta
Oba Femi vs. Rusev: Oba Femi