WWE Monday Night Raw 3/31/2025

WWE Monday Night Raw 3/31/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/wwe-monday-night-raw-3242025.html

We are in London, England. We see various wrestlers arrive. Michael Cole, Wade Barrett and Pat McAfee are on commentary.

John Cena comes out to talk.  

Cody Rhodes comes out before Cena can say anything. The crowd sings Cody's song. Cody says we have listened to Cena talk for 2 weeks. He says he will do his job for him. Cody offers to cook himself for Cena. Cody says he has a lisp and brings up his neck tattoo. Cody then brings up being booed in the company he created. He says perhaps he is struggling that Superman is really dead.

He says Cena's words haven't matched his actions and says Cena has lied to his audience. Cody asks why. Cena says he won't cook him, he will bury him like everyone else. Cena says the fans said he buried talent for years. He says he is talent. He says Cody has rode his coat tails and says they handed the title to his chauffer, Cody.

He says Cody is a pickpocket who tried to steal the kingdom. Cena says Cody stole his secrets to be undeniable but is still underwhelming. He says Cody is too polished and rehearsed. Cena says Cody doesn't look, act or work like him but Cody doesn't look/act/work like himself. He says Cody is afraid to be himself and says he's a generic mix of every star in some big confused blob. He says Cody looks like a kid who took acting lessons but is afraid of public speaking.

He says Cody is so into himself that he tattooed his wrestling gimmick onto himself. He says it's not where Cody's tattoo is but what he is. He says Cody should be exposed for what he is - an errand boy that got lucky.

Cody says the fans chose him but says the guy who chose Cena isn't in office anymore. Cody says he's a wrestler like his dad and says Cena is the company creation and not him. He says he's not afraid of Cena and says he has more d!ck in his promo than in his jorts. He says Cena calls him a wannabe but Cena hangs out with Zack Efron and wants to be 16. He says Cena made fans who lost interest in the product. He tells Cena not to act like he made WWE better than he found it. Cody asks who sold out to The Rock?

Cody says Cena is still his hero but a piece of sh!t. Cena says no one else was worthy so he did things himself. That's why he said he never left. He says Cody had to leave because he knew he couldn't wipe his @ss. Cena said he makes empires for billionaires and Cody just steals money from his kids. Cena goes to leave. Cody says the fans never chanted "you can't wrestle" at him.

Cena comes back in, tries to hit him then is hit with cross rhodes.

Thoughts: Some of the lines were good and added to this thing, but they still aren't getting the main story of this right. And that story is Cena needing to sell out to The Rock to get the 17th title. They almost seem to even be trying to get away from that story. I don't know if The Rock won't be at Mania and they are trying to cut him out of this. And I don't know if The Rock has the ultimate veto power and is doing Vince stuff where it has to be his way even if it doesn't work or make sense. It's a big problem though because the heel turn was so huge and it's the main program heading into Wrestlemania.

Adam Pearce and The New Day come out separately. Adam says The New Day are wrestling tonight against The New Catch Republic. Tyler Bate has returned.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs The New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne)

Bate has short hair now. He tags out while doing a headscissors to Woods. Pete stomps Woods' arm into the mat. Bate flips off of Pete's shoulders onto Woods. Bate then tope con hilos Woods.

We go to break and return. Woods dropkicks Pete against the 2nd rope. Kofi sentons Pete over the bottom rope. Kofi top rope chops Pete for 2. Pete flips over Kofi.

Bate gets in and knocks Kofi over twice. Bate exploders Kofi. Bate airplane spins Wood then slams him off of it. Kofi takes a rebound lariat + german combo for 2. 

Woods boots Bate then Pete splits Woods' fingers. Peter stomps on Woods' fingers. Bate punches Woods. Pete flying knees Woods. Pete takes a backbreaker + top rope double stomp. Kofi pins him.

Thoughts: I didn't like it. Why bring Bate back just to have him lose here? And why basically make Pete a face for the night just to have him lose again. It doesn't make much sense and this didn't get a ton of time.

The New Day are interviewed in the aisle. Woods says they want a tag title shot. Kofi says they demand what they deserve and it's a tag title match.

The War Raiders come out and hold their titles up at New Day.

The Uso's talk in the back. Jimmy says there's no ring general in there, just a man who is beatable. He says he will beat Gunther then Jey will beat Gunther at Mania. Jey tells him to be careful and says, "I hear you".

Gunther vs Jimmy Uso

Uso hits shots and chops on Gun. Gun facekicks him. Gun throws Uso into the rail. Gun chops him outside and sends him into the rail. Uso back body drops him. Uso then topes him. Gun gets his knees up on a top rope splash.

Gun goes up top and is hit. Uso superpleases him. Uso hits a top rope splash for 2. Gun backdrops him on the apron then short arm clotheslines him. Jey slaps and superkicks him. Jey germans him and superkicks him.

Gunther dropkicks him. Gunther powerbombs him for 2. Gun facekicks him and lariats him for 2. Gun pulls him up on the pin attempt. Gun does a grounded sleeper. Uso then submits.

Thoughts: It was a one sided match with Gun destroying Uso for the most part. It was nice to see Gun in action again at least. I was hoping we'd get a main event style match out of it. This definitely hurt Jimmy's standing some as he's been treated like a quasi main eventer and he came off like a jobber here.

Gun sleepers Jimmy again after then Jey comes out and saves him. Gun then runs through the crowd. 

Jey helps Jimmy out. Gun then hits both from behind and sends Jey into the steps. Security tries to stop him and get beaten up. Gun powerbombs one of them on the steps. Gun sticks his gingers in Jey's eyes then zip ties him to the ropes. Jey is sent into the rails. 

Gun taunts him while holding the tiutle. Jimmy gets on the apron and is hit with the belt. Jimmy is busted open and Gunther powerbombs Jimmy. Gun hits mounted punches. Gun rubs Jimmy's blood on him. Jey grabs onto Jimmy but is swatted away. Gun elbows Jimmy then chokes him again with Jey inches away. Gun's got blood all over him then he poses with the title.

Thoughts: It was a good angle. Thankfully we have some time left to build on it but this definitely helped the feud out some and made Gun look strong.

The Judgment Day talk in the back. Finn says brothers fight like cats and dogs but always make up. Finn says the business about a new member is behind them. Finn says they will start tonight about bringing gold back to the clubhouse. Finn says Raquel lost to Lyra last week but he will bring the IC Title home. Carlito stays there and stares at Raquel and they ask what he's still doing here.

Penta and Bron Breakker vs The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio)

Dom hits Penta from behind. They say Rey Fenix debuts on Friday. Penta flying headscissors Dom. Bron shoulders Dom over. Bron slams Penta. Finn tries to leapfrog but is slammed down by Bron.

Penta enzugiri's Finn then pendulum double boots him. Penta tilt-a-whirl backbreakers Dom and Bron lariats Dom over the top. Penta tope con hilos Dom and Finn. 

We go to break and return. Dom slingshot swantons Penta for 2. Penta goes up and over with a backcracker on Dom. Bron comes in and flying forearms Finn then belly to belly suplexes him. Bron overhead belly to belly suplexes Dom. Bron double suplexes both opponents.

Bron flying lariats Finn. Finn is on Bron's shoulders and takes a slingblade bulldog off the top. Penta superkicks Finn. Dom helps stop a panama sunrise from Penta. Bron spears Penta on accident. Finn top rope double stomps Penta and gets the win.

Thoughts: I don't love Bron being in these kind of matches but we got a short and okay match. The doomsday device slingblade bulldog was interesting and I was surprised to see Finn pin Penta here.

Chad Gable talks to Adam Pearce in the back. Chad says he wouldn't mind facing El Grande Americano. Adam says The LWO would like to face him. Chad says he's still sick and shows a doctor's note. Adam says Raw will be in his hometown next week. He says nothing is more important than Chad's health and says El Grande Americano will be wrestling. Chad complains and Adam says it's doctors orders.

Alpha Academy runs into Chad and Chad calls them clown and an idiot. Maxxine says she wants to discuss her career and says she has some ideas with Natalya.

Bron Breakker is interviewed and Penta runs into and yells at him. They are separated.

AJ Styles comes out. He said Logan Paul was going to call him out and he's sick of waiting. He tells him to come out now if he has something to say.

Logan Paul comes out. The crowd chants at Logan. Logan said he has had a change of heart and is trying to teach his daughter forgiveness. He says he forgives AJ for what he did at MSG but doesn't forget and tells him not to do it again. AJ says he has a daughter and he forgives him too. He says he forgives him for being the biggest douchebag to ever step in WWE. AJ says the fans care about what you sacrifice in the ring for them. He says he has talent but it only gets you so far.

AJ tells him not to let his mouth write a check his @ss can't cash. Logan says he doesn't fight for free and this city can't afford him. He calls the fans broke. He says AJ wants the big money match with him and tries to boot him. AJ stops it and hits shots. Paul then slides out. AJ bangs Paul's head off the commentary table then Paul pulls the ropes into AJ's crotch. Paul then flips him into a ddt.

Lyra Valkyria is interviewed. She says she loves it that Bayley has her back. She says she has to prove that she can stand on her own two feet. She says Bayley is the only person who beat her since she had the IC Title and says they will have a rematch for the title next week.

Judgment Day talk in the back. Finn says he pinned Penta and says it's the 2nd week in a row he got the better of Bron. He says he's on a roll and says he will talk to Pearce about a title match at Mania. Liv asks if Dom heard what he said. Liv says Finn wants to piggy back off of Dom's hard work. Liv says Finn already lost his title shot and Liv says she will talk to Pearce.

Women's World Title - Special Ref: Bianca Belair - Iyo Sky (c) vs Rhea Ripley

Iyo side headlocks her. Rhea hits corner spears. Iyo pounds on RR. RR tries to trip Iyo and they trade pin attempts. Iyo dropkicks RR then RR lariats her.

We go to break and return. Iyo jawbreakers RR and hits uppercuts. Iyo basement dropkicks her. Iyo hits a top rope dropkick on RR then does headflips. Iyo then topes her. Iyo does a bad poisonrana on the floor on RR. 

RR and Iyo trade forearms on their knees. Iyo rolls her into a double stomp. Iyo does a nasty 2nd rope crucifix bomb for 2. Iyo corner meteora's her. Iyo goes for a top rope crossbody and RR just headbutts her in the body in mid-air. RR does a razor's edge and running knee for 2.

Iyo takes her down from behind for 2. RR facekicks Bianca out on accident. RR upkicks Iyo then hits a riptide. Bianca is out and can't count the pin. RR gets mad at Bianca and pokes her. Bianca knocks her hand away. Iyo ropebreaks from RR's mounted shots. RR ignores the count and Bianca throws her off. RR then slaps Bianca.

Iyo top rope dropkicks Bianca out when RR moves. RR hits Iyo from behind. Bianca then calls the match off with a double DQ.

Thoughts: It was what you would expect with the two eventually getting Bianca involved and the match breaking down. I thought they did too much here and I didn't think the selling was good enough. I also don't get why Bianca didn't DQ Rhea earlier.

Rhea and Bianca fight outside. Iyo moonsaults onto both of them. Iyo pounds on Rhea then Bianca forearms Iyo and hits mounted shots. Rhea headbutts Bianca then hits riptide on her. Iyo is hit with riptide as well.

Rhea hits a 2nd rope riptide on Bianca. She has words for Iyo then holds the title up.

Overall thoughts: It was not a star studded Raw here with Punk and Seth not showing up and none of the big stars in action. Gunther basically squashed Jimmy but the angle after was good. I didn't like the main. There was a lot of talking on this show and we only ended up getting 4 matches which is not good for a 2.5 hour show. I feel like they are trying to with the Cena/Rhodes and Gunther/Jey angles but neither are really what they should be and it may be too little and too late. I'd just give this one a 5 out of 10 as it made sense and all but was not the great Raw it should have been.