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WWE Raw Results: Review, Grades, Card For March 17

By Colin Tessier

Our WWE Raw results for tonight include Cody Rhodes and John Cena appearing, Bron Breakker defending the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Finn Balor, and Jey Uso facing Austin Theory. Plus, Bianca Belair and IYO SKY will sign the contract for their title match at WWE WrestleMania 41, and Penta will battle Ludwig Kaiser. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from Forest National in Brussels, Belgium.

WWE Raw Card:

  • Cody Rhodes and John Cena under one roof
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Finn Balor
  • No Holds Barred: Penta vs. Ludwig Kaiser
  • Jey Uso vs. Austin Theory
  • Dakota Kai vs. Ivy Nile
  • Seth Rollins appears
  • WWE WrestleMania 41 contract signing: IYO SKY and Bianca Belair

WWE Raw Results:

Bianca Belair and other stars are shown walking backstage as the broadcast team runs through the card. Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcome viewers to the show.

A video package highlights John Cena’s heel turns and Cody Rhodes’ promo about it.

John Cena Appears

Cena appears live for the first time since his heel turn. He comes out to the same music, and he’s wearing his shirt, hat, and jorts as usual. Cena slowly walks to the ring. The crowd loudly cheers “John Cena sucks”. The boos turn to the usual ‘Let’s go Cena, Cena sucks” split.

Cena moves to leave without saying anything, and the crowd boos louder. He picks up the microphone, and he says that when someone is properly grounded, they shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval. Cena tells the crowd that they are making this easy for him. He says that he has been the victim of an abusive relationship for 25 years. He says that the fans have bullied him, yet they still expect him to keep going with a smile on his face.

Cena says he is not a babyface or a heel. Instead, he says he’s not a human being, and all of the fans have been terrible to him. He says it’s been the same noise for 25 years. He recalls how the fans hated him when he debuted. Cena says that he changed himself, hoping that they would like him, and it worked for a second, but it wasn’t enough. He says that he worked hard, and he kept winning. Cena says that he won a lot, and the fans hated it. He then says that he tried to give everything he could for ten years, and it wasn’t enough.

Cena notes that he could walk away, and the fans cheer. He highlights how he announced his retirement, and the fans ruined that, as whatever he did was never enough. Cena calls the fans idiots. Cena says that no matter what he does, it’s never enough, and the fans should be ashamed. He says that the fans take and take, and they only care about themselves. He says that “not one of you sons of bitches” asked him how he felt. Cena tells the fans that they get what they have earned, and they have earned. He says they don’t get a new look or a new song, as he doesn’t dress like them, and his time is now. Cena tells the fans that they get a long look in the mirror to see how awful they have been to him.

The fans chant for Cody Rhodes, and Cena calls him the fans’ shiny new toy. He again tells the fans that they ar awful people. He points to some fans who are wearing his merchandise and calls them the “Let’s go Cena” people. Cena says that the “Cena sucks” people have proven themselves, but the “Let’s go Cena” people are just as bad, as they haven’t supported him. He says they steal from him, and they have turned him into a toy. He says the fans have made him the butt of a stupid “invisible” joke that isn’t funny. Cena tells them they’re pathetic. He says that he is the definition of perseverance, and the fans use him as an excuse for their failure of a life.

Cena reiterates that all the fans are in a toxic, dysfunctional relationship. He says he’s breaking up with everyone, as he doesn’t need them anymore. He says they don’t matter to him, and there’s nothing they could do to change his mind. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes interrupts.

Cody Rhodes Interrupts

Rhodes tells Cena that he was willing to hear him out. He says that the fans have given Cena their best because he was special, and he could take it. Rhodes cuts Cena off and tells Cena to call him WWE Champion. He asks Cena, “Who the hell are you?” He says he was excited to face John Cena, and instead he got whoever “this” was. He tells Cena that “this” better not show up at WrestleMania because if he does, he’ll retire him early. Rhodes tells Cena to go find John Cena because he wants to face him, not this “whiny bitch.” Rhodes leaves, and Cena remains in the ring. The fans continue to boo Cena, who leaves without saying anything else.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves address Cena’s comments on commentary.

Grade: A

Cena’s promo was probably as good as you could have hoped for. It ventured into a “You people” kind of promo, but Cena is so good that the overall promo delivered. Cena leaned on how the fans had booed him over the years, so his explanation was logical and easy to understand. The explanation for why Cena won’t have new music or gear was a nice touch. Rhodes’ part was short and to the point, if not a little underwhelming. Still, Cena’s promo did what it needed to do.

No Holds Barred: Ludwig Kaiser vs. Penta

Penta and Kaiser battle back and forth. Penta sends Kaiser to the outside. Kaiser counters Penta and sends him into the timekeeper’s area. Penta hits Kaiser with a hurricanrana. He dives onto Kaiser at ringside. Kaiser gouges Penta’s eyes and drops him with a Death Valley Driver onto the broadcast table. Kaiser tries to rip Penta’s mask. Penta rallies with a crossbody and a backstabber.

Kaiser catches Penta with a boot and gets a two-count with a Death Valley Driver. He bounces Penta off the steel steps. Penta sends Kaiser onto the broadcast table with a back body drop. Penta and Kaiser trade blows. Kaiser drills Penta with a stiff shot. He talks some trash and tells Penta to fear him. He hits Penta with a chair. Penta fires up and snaps Kaiser’s arm. Penta kicks a chair into Kaiser’s face and hits him with the steel. He kicks Kaiser again and hits a diving Mexican destroyer onto a chair. Penta scores the win with the Penta Driver.

Winner: Penta

Cathy Kelley interviews Penta after the match, and he hypes up his win. He says the WWE Intercontinental Championship is next for him.

Grade: B+

Fun match here. Penta has looked strong since he joined WWE. Kaiser remains very underrated. Penta targeting the WWE Intercontinental Championship makes sense, as he teased doing so back in January. It will be interesting to see how that title picture evolves heading into WrestleMania.

Backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez speak with Finn Balor and wishes them luck in their upcoming matches. Dominik Mysterio arrives, and Balor thanks him for getting him this match. Mysterio suggests adding Penta to the Judgment Day. Balor lashes out at Mysterio for going behind his back, and he calls Mysterio a snake.

Dakota Kai vs. Ivy Nile

Chad Gable joins The Creed Brothers at ringside ahead of the bout. Kai takes the fight to Nile. Nile drops Kai with a German suplex. Kai rallies and hits a big boot in the corner. Gable distracts Kai, and Nile slams her for a two-count. Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee run in and chase Gable to the back. Kai hits a running boot and slams Kai with the GTK for the win.

Winner: Dakota Kai

Grade: B

This was fine. It seemed like the point of the match was the LWO/Chad Gable angle, which took away from Kai and Nile. Kai got a solid win, but the booking of the match wasn’t a good look for WWE’s treatment of the women’s division.

IYO SKY and Bianca Belair Sign The Contract

WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY and Bianca Belair come out to sign the contract for their match at WWE WrestleMania 41. Adam Pearce moderates the contract signing. SKY says that no one will disrespect her again because she’s the champion, and she will still be the champion after WrestleMania. SKY signs the contract. Belair says she’s going to prove why she’s The EST at WrestleMania. Rhea Ripley interrupts, and she’s frustrated that SKY slapped her last week.

Ripley says Belair had no business being out there for her title match. She says she’s there to watch. Belair gets in Ripley’s face and accidentally hits SKY. Ripley slams SKY onto Belair on top of the table. Ripley picks up the contract and signs it. She takes the contract with her and walks away.

Grade: B

Ripley getting added to the title match has felt like a lock since SKY beat her for the title, and SKY slapping her and Belair last week drove the point home. Belair and SKY’s promos were minimal, so they didn’t do much to build the match. Ripley getting involved added some excitement, and her slamming SKY onto Belair was a good visual.

Jey Uso vs. Austin Theory

Uso cuts a pre-match promo, admitting that he has been doubting himself, but he’s going to shock the world at WWE WrestleMania 41. Gunther shoves Uso and says he talked to Jimmy Uso on SmackDown. Officials separate them as Uso shoves Gunther. He makes his entrance and yeets. The bell rings, and Uso and Theory briefly go back and forth. Uso hits a Spear to pick up eth win in a short match.

Winner: Jey Uso

Uso superkicks Grayson Waller after the bell. Gunther attacks Uso from behind. Uso fights him off and sends him to the outside. Uso takes the title from Gunther and briefly poses with it before he gives it back.

Grade: B-

This was more of an angle than a match, as Uso squashed Theory. Dominant win for Uso, at least. Uso finally stood tall over Gunther in a definitive way, at least for one night. The build to their match has been somewhat underwhelming, but this was a good step.

A video package hypes up the title match between Finn Balor and Bron Breakker.

Rhea Ripley and Adam Pearce argue backstage, and Pearce refuses to put Ripley in the match. Bianca Belair brawls with Ripley, and IYO SKy joins the fight. Ripley fights them off and stands tall.

LWO vs. American Made

Mysterio and Rey Mysterio start the match. Julius takes the fight to Mysterio. Lee briefly fires up, and Creed grounds him. Lee fires up with a stomp. Mysterio tags in and clears house with a flurry of offense. Mysterio drops Julius with a DDT. Lee takes Brutus down with a hurricanrana. Mysterio hits the 619 on Julius for the win.

Winners: LWO (Dragon Lee & Chad Gable)

A masked luchador in an American Made mask attacks Mysterio and Lee from behind. He suplexes Lee. Mysterio gets suplexed as well. The masked man climbs to the top and hits a diving headbutt.

Grade: B

Most of the match happened during a commercial break. Mysterio and Lee are a good team. The Creed Brothers remain very impressive as well. The “American Made” luchador is a fun angle, but at the same time, it feels like Gable has been feuding with the LWO for months.

A video package recaps Roman Reigns’ return.

Seth Rollins Speaks

Rollins stands in the ring while the fans sing his music. He hypes up the crowd. Rollins says that he was mad, but it’s hard to be mad when the fans were singing. Rollins brings up Roman Reigns and says he was not mad that Reigns wanted revenge, as he would have done the same thing. He says that Reigns still can’t come up with a plan, as he needed his architect to do it for him. Rollins then turns his attention to CM Punk and calls him the luckiest loser on the face of the planet. He says he would have ended Punk’s WrestleMania dreams if he had a few more minutes in the cage.

Rollins says that he has to clean up Reigns’ mess again. He notes that Reigns and Punk will both be on SmackDown this week, and he will be there too. Rollins praises the crowd and asks them to sing his song again.

Grade: B

This was mostly Rollins soaking it in while the fans sang for him, and he asked them to sing again. While Rollins briefly addressed Roman Reigns and CM Punk, this seemed like a holdover for SmackDown, where it’s fair to assume the challenge for a WrestleMania match could be made. Overall, this was fluff when it should have been Rollins more firmly responding to Reigns’ return.

AJ Styles is interviewed backstage, and he starts to talk about Logan Paul when Karrion Kross interrupts. Kross says that maybe Styles is mad at himself, and he says that it didn’t take Paul so long to find success in the business. Styles storms off.

Bron Breakker is walking backstage, and he bumps into Penta.

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

Breakker and Balor feel each other out. Balor gains the upper hand and sends Breakker to the outside. Breakker takes control and overpowers Balor. Balor catches Breakker with a Slingblade at ringside. Back in the ring, Balor drops Breakker with a Russian Legsweep. Breakker fires up with some strikes. He sends Balor across the ring. Breakker catches Balor and slams him. Dominik Mysterio and Carlito come to ringside. Balor rolls Breakker up for a two-count.

Breakker levels Balor with a clothesline. He dives from the apron and onto Balor, knocking them both over the broadcast table. Mysterio distracts Breakker. Balor hits Breakker with a Slingblade and a shotgun dropkick. Breakker avoids the Coup de Grace. Balor evades a Spear, but Breakker slams him. Carlito distracts the referee. Mysterio knocks Breakker off the top, but he accidentally causes Balor to crotch himself on the ropes. Breakker rallies and drops Balor with a Spear for the win.

Winner: Bron Breakker

Mysterio and Carlito attack Breakker after the bell. Penta runs in and makes the save. He superkicks Mysterio and Carlito. Breakker drops Carlito with a Sear. Penta gets the WWE Intercontinental Championship and looks at it before giving it to Breakker. They stare each other down, and Breakker raises the title.

Grade: A

Good match here. They hyped up the title so much that it felt like there would be a title change. The continued dissension between Dominik and Finn continues to escalate, and it seems like it could come to a head soon. Penta making the save in the main event spot helped him gain more momentum, and it seems like Breakker vs. Penta could be the match for WrestleMania.

WWE RAW Grade: B

The show was propped up by John Cena’s promo, and it mostly delivered. Rhodes’ brief response left you wanting more. The same can be said for Rollins’ promo, as it was just an appetizer for SmackDown. The Penta vs. Kaiser match was fun, as was the main event. But other than the major highlights (Cena, Ripley, and Breakker/Penta), this was a pretty skippable show, which is especially disappointing in WrestleMania season.

READ MORE: Pat McAfee’s Replacement For WWE RAW In Belgium Revealed

Colin Tessier
Colin Tessier

Colin Tessier is a lifelong fan of all things Marvel and DC, and he has used this passion to write about them for several years. Likewise, having been a fan of wrestling since he was a kid, he also covers professional wrestling. You can find him on Twitter at @ct_2110.

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