WWE Monday Night Raw 3/18/2024

WWE Monday Night Raw 3/18/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/03/wwe-monday-night-raw-3112024.html

We see videos of Cody, The Creed Brothers and DIY arriving earlier.

Jey Uso comes out. He says he knows Bloodline is here and asks where Jimmy is. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa come out. Jey says they always get into it but know how to shake on it. Jey says he misses him. He tells him to come back. Jimmy said he never left him. He said he was protecting him. He said he helped him leave Bloodline and then he became the biggest start on the roster. He said he then teamed with Cody and forgot him.

Jimmy said the biggest moment in Jey's career is because of him. Jimmy said the biggest moment of his career will be at Wrestlemania 40 when he knocks the yeet out of his @ss. Solo distracts Jey then Jimmy superkicks Jey. Jimmy is 2v1'd then Cody Rhodes comes out. Cody nails Jimmy then cody cutters Solo.

We get a package on Nia Jax and Becky Lynch. We then see Becky arrive earlier.

Adam Pearce is arguing with Nick Aldis on the phone. Paul Heyman goes up to Adam. He says he owes him an apology and said the Uso/Solo thing was not authorized by The Rock or Roman. He said they went into business for themselves. Paul says Jimmy and Solo are already gone from the building. Paul says he will handle his official business and be gone. He says when he does his official business, everyone will get caught off guard.

Wrestlemania Tag Title Match Qualifier - DIY vs The Creed Brothers

JG = Johnny Gargano, JC = Julius Creed

JC takes down Ciampa and they mat wrestle. JC takes him down and goes for an ankle lock. Ciampa takes fireman's carries. Brutus takes a 2v1 and is lariated by Ciampa. JG hits an assisted shiranui on JC. DIY then do plancha's outside.

We go to PiP break and return. JC flips out of a backdrop. Brutus clears off DIY, doing n exploder on JG. He then powerbombs Ciampa. Brutus backrolls Ciampa and northern lights suplexes JG while doing it. JC suplexes Brutus onto Ciampa then Brutus flips JC onto Ciampa. JC is on his knees and deadlift suplexes Ciampa. Brutus then suplexes JG.

The Creed's do kip ups then do standing moonsaults for 2. Ciampa takes a double gutbuster. Brutus catches a shiranui attempt and does a slam on JG. Brutus then pounces Ciampa over the announcer's table. Brutus then poses with Pat. 

We go to break and return. Ciampa stunners JC then reverse ddt's him. Ciampa is tagged in and beats up The Creed's. JG hits a bulldog + flying lariat combo. JG hits a slingshot spear for 2. JG topes Brutus then Ciampa 2nd rope air raid crashes JC for 2. Ciampa hits chops on JC and they trade forearms.

JC ankle locks Ciampa then one arm powerbombs JG. The Creed's then both put ankle locks on. DIY then do stereo reversals and put submissions on. The Creed's lift DIY then throw DIY into each other in mid-air. JC 2nd rope moonsaults Ciampa and Brutus top rope moonsaults Ciampa for 2. Ciampa avoids an electric chair Brutusball. JC is superkicked and Ciampa rolls JC up for the win.

As you guys know, I'm not a huge fan of the opening match going long and this went long. It's like starting a workout by running up a mountain when a jog would be better, The Creed's push or lack there of has been real weird. They had the rocket strapped to them, then they stopped being used on TV and now they are doing jobs to DIY who I think they beat already. The match was good of course but it would have been better if this had a story going into it.

Andrade talks ot Judgment Day in the back. Rhea said they don't send invites to anyone and says it's an exclusive club. Rhea said if he keeps impressive them, they will make things happen. Finn says he will catch Andrade's match next week. Priest said he was watching the DIY/Creed match. He said they thought JD would run the gauntlet last week and win the match. JD said he thought he put out a good perfromance and battered Ricochet. Rhea said Ric made a fool of him. She says Dom will make things right by beating Ric tonight. Dom says he will make things right and says let's make this match official.

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs Candice LaRae and Indi Hartwell

Carter springboard dropkicks CL off the bottom rope then superkicks her. Indi face kicks Carter for 2. Chance dropkicks Indi then boots her in the corner. Chance flying lariats her then holds her leg when she flips out of a backdrop. Carter checks on Chance then CL baseball slides her. CL then hits a deep single leg crab on Chance and wins it. Indi is confused.

This was quick and was just there to push the new heel character of LaRae.

Cody Rhodes does a promo. He said Rock referred to himself as our favorite heel and said he's the bad guy. He said he doesn't think Rock is a heel, he thinks he's an @sshole. He said there's no crying in wrestling but Rock has been crying behind the scenes this whole time. He said Rock thought this would be good PR until it wasn't. He said the WWE board are yes people.

He said Rock is a good wrestler but a terrible salesman and a whiny b!tch. He said Rock's mom is a nice lady and helped him chop Kevin Owens in a dark match. He said his mom wouldn't tremble if he got hit with a belt and said she's not afraid of him.

He said he doesn't know if the match with Roman will be a fair match or if he will finish the story. He said Rock hasn't been in the ring for years and asked if he just has little d!ck syndrome. He said Rock calls himself The Final Boss and brings up Brian Gerwitz. He said he doesn't think he's the Final Boss, just Roman's side chick.

Paul Heyman comes out. He said he's here to offer an apology to Cody for the incident a few weeks ago with the security guards. He said it was dumb and didn't work. He apologizes. Cody said he didn't ask for an apology.  

Paul says Cody has Roman's word that if he shows up on Smackdown, Roman will show up alone. Cody agrees then Paul said he forgot an important point. He said Cody needs to show up alone too. Cody agrees.

I didn't like all the use of insider words here and bringing up Brian Gerwitz. This was another weak segment just like their last one a few weeks ago.

Nia Jax does a promo. She said Becky Lynch has never beaten her and never will. She said she will take her spot at Mania when she breaks her face again. She said she will be the last woman standing and will walk out the champ. 

LA Knight talks about his favorite Wrestlemania moments bringing up Hulk Andre WM3, Savage at WM4, Rock/Hogan at WM18.

Jey Uso talks to Cody in the back. He says he knows he isn't going to SD alone. He says the whole Bloodline will be there but he's got him if he needs him.

Ricochet vs Dominik Mysterio

Dom back elbows him on the ropes. Pat says Dom would get booed at his own wedding (this happened). Ric handspring back elbows Dom then JD pushes Dom from behind tope'd outside. Ric then corkscrew plancha's him outside. JD pulls Ric's foot then Dom baseball slides JD.

We go to break and return. Ric knees Dom in the face and is pulled down on the ropes. Dom facebusters him. Ric and Dom trade suplexes then Ric does a go to sleep variation. Ric superkicks Dom then springboard dropkicks JD off the apron. Dom dropkicks Ric in the back then misses a 619. Ric does a one legged codebreaker and wins it.

It was a short and fast paced match. It was fine for what it was but we didn't see that much of it.

Ric fights off JD after and escapes outside.

Sami Zayn talks to Chad Gable in the back. He said last week's match was an honor. Chad says it was great but doesn't seem to want to talk about it. Chad says he's fine. Chad said Mania meant more to him. Sami says it's unfair and says Mania matters to others as well. He said his kid cries when he loses and he has people he let down. He said Chad doesn't get to tell him what matters to him. Chad says it's not about that. He says Sami can't beat Gunther.

 Adam Pearce says it's time to sign the contracts for the Intercontinental Title match at Wrestlemania. Sami and Gunther come out. Gunther says this is the biggest and most important contract signing for the biggest and most important Intercontinental Title match. He asks why Sami is dressed like a bum in the audience for this. Sami said it's not another day at the office and says Gunther doesn't believe he can do it. Sami talks about people who didn't believe in him. He said he will end the longest IC title reign of all time.

Gunther said to listen to Chad as Chad thinks he can't beat him. Gunther said the fans don't think Sami can beat him either. Gunther says Sami doesn't believe he can beat him. He said Sami is begging to get the beating of a lifetime at the biggest stage of them all. He says his dreams will meet reality at Mania. Sami tells him to look in his eyes if he doesn't believe. Sami says he will take him down at Wrestlemania.

Sami walks all the way out, walking past Miz, Truth and DIY. Miz tells Truth that's the mindset we need. Jinder and Indus Sher then walk in and walk past. Truth says one of them was hairy and he talks about not wanting to fight them.

Miz and Truth then do Truth's rap together.

Wrestlemania Tag Title Match Qualifier - Awesome Truth vs Indus Sher

Miz hits shots on Sanga then takes a back elbow. Sanga slams Miz then Veer elbow drops Miz. Veer traphezus holds Miz. Truth is tagged in and he flying shoulders Veer. Truth hits a blue thunder on Veer then does the five knuckle shuffle. Truth then puts him in the STFU.

Sanga takes a double dropkick then Veer takes a skull crushing finale + STO combo. Miz dropkicks Jinder through the ropes. Truth takes a back elbow and falls on Veer to grab the win.

It was a short tag that wasn't much. I liked the Truth/Miz combo move they did at the end here.

Sami Zayn asks Chad Gable why he thinks he can't beat Gunther. Chad says he just saw why. He says it's not just physical, it's mental. He says Gunther's on a different level. He said he's a different beast and says you can't beat him if you don't change your mentality.

CM Punk does a promo. He said you can't do Wrestlemania in Philadelphia without Phil. He says he will be there one way or the other.

Drew McIntyre comes out to talk. Seth Rollins then comes out before he gets in the ring. Seth said he didn't see him there. Drew says to enjoy the spotlight because the spotlight is all his come Wrestlemania.

Seth says he's a spotlight junkie. Drew says Seth is becoming a parody of himself. He said he only cares about their match. He said he's sick of the jokes and the punchline is when he beats him at Mania.  

Seth said coming out here and wrestling is his fix. He says he lays it all out in the ring and says it gets better every time. He said on Night 1 at Mania, he takes the biggest star in Hollywood and his side chick on then its him and Drew on Night 2. Drew said that's what he wants, the passion. He said Seth's priorities are all wrong and all he wants is for him to make it to the ring on Night 2. He said he will carry him down to the ring if he has to as he will get the moment he earned.

He said Drew wants the spotlight just like he does and has been begging for the spotlight for the last few years. He said he won the Mania main event in an empty warehouse and said Drew said it wasn't good enough. Seth said Drew fumbled the ball when they came back but says Seth shines bright in the big lights. He said Drew will find out he's not as good as he thinks he is.

Becky Lynch does a promo. She said all she knows is taking risks and fighting. She said she will be the last woman standing tonight.

Wrestlemania Tag Title Match Qualifier - Alpha Academy (Otis and Akira Tozawa) vs The New Day

Otis and Woods start us off. Otis shoulders him over then hits his head with his body. Otis then running bodyblocks him in the head. Akira face kicks Woods then 2nd rope diving hurricanrana's Kofi. Akira topes both opponents outside.

We go to break and return. Akira step up enzugiri's Woods. Otis lariats Kofi then spinning back elbows him. Woods takes a hard lariat then Otis catches Kofi off the ropes and hits a world's strongest slam. Otis does the caterpillar elbow drop on Kofi for 2.

Otis misses a vader bomb then Akira top rope crossbodies Kofi. Woods ddt's Akira off the bottom rope. Akira 2nd rope hurricanrana's Woods then top rope sentons him for 2. Kofi tornado ddt's Otis off the rails then Kofi is cokrscrew kicked off the apron. Woods spinning powerbombs Akira then rope walk elbow drops him for the win.

It was a decent match as expected between these two. Otis did new attacks with his belly here. 

Liv Morgan talks to Becky Lynch in the back. Becky asks if she should watch out for her tonight. Liv says Nia is all hers and she better makes sure she beats her.

Cody has his dog with him and talks to Seth in the back. Seth asks if he will meet Roman 1v1 on Friday and Cody says he will.

Last Man Standing Match - Becky Lynch vs Nia Jax

BL dropkicks her then top rope dropkicks her. Nia goes out and takes a baseball slide. BL forearms her off the apron then Nia back rams her into the post and apron. Becky hits shots to the body and we go to break.

We return and BL is setting a table up. Nia bangs BL's head off the apron. Nia tries to set a table up but one of the legs of it gives out. Chairs are thrown in the ring. Nia gives up on the table. BL chairs her in the gut and back. Nia samoan drops her on chairs then Nia is bulldogged onto chairs.

BL comes off the top and is chaired. Nia grabs kendo sticks and hits BL with one. Nia slams her on a chair then legdrops her on it. Nia chairs her back more then sits ona chair on BL's throat. BL uses a kendo stick to get out and hits Nia with it many times.

Nia lariats her on the floor then hits her with the steps. Nia misses a legdrop on the apron then BL ddt's her on the steps. BL gets a table in the ring. We go to break and return. BL is put on a table then she fire extinguisher sprays Nia. She hits her with it. BL takes a samoan drop through a table in the corner.

Nia banzai drops her. They fight on the apron and Nia takes a uranage through a table off the apron. Nia beats the count up. BL climbs a ladder then jumps off it, legdropping Nia through the announcer's table. Becky then wins it.

I liked the storyline of Becky not being able to beat Nia and I don't really get why they ended that one here. It had a lot more life in it and it was one of the few things Nia really had going for her. It's not like Nia is part of Becky's Mania match either. Now it's done. It was a hardcore match for the most part and was focused on various weapons shots. The big spots were Nia taking a a uranage off the apron through a table, Becky taking a samoan drop through a table and Becky legdropping Nia through a table. It was a good main and it was entertaining, but not great.

Rhea Ripley comes out after. They go face to face and talk trash and the show ends.

Overall thoughts: They had some good in-ring action on this one and that helped make it a good show. The Gable/Sami Zayn angle seems to be going somewhere. The segment with Drew and Seth wasn't that great much like the Cody and Paul segment. The main was a good main but I didn't like Nia losing to Becky as it kills the whole "Becky can't beat Nia" angle.