We are just 26 days away from WrestleMania 40 and live from Houston, Texas tonight we have Monday Night Raw!
Tonight’s show is kicking off with the #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, Drew McIntyre. He is enraged with his ‘Mania opponent, Seth Rollins because he accepted the tag match with Cody Rhodes against Roman Reigns and The Rock. He believes Rollins should be more worried about him and The Rock is right for having a problem with Cody, but it’s none of Rollins’ business. Drew said it is a good thing ‘Mania is coming close so WWE can have a World Champion they can be proud of.
Rollins now made his way out to the ring since McIntyre is begging for his attention and all he has been thinking about is the Claymore Drew hit him with last week. He then challenged McIntyre to do it again, but he said he knew Drew was too much of a coward to hit him face-to-face. McIntyre then told Rollins to listen as he told him he was right that before their last match, Rollins told Drew to get over The Bloodline.
He said Rollins was right as he has now become more focused on victories and championships, so Rollins should’ve taken his own advice. Rollins responded by saying McIntyre reminds him of CM Punk because he always thought Punk was the biggest hypocrite until he met Drew. For months now McIntyre has whined about The Bloodline, but now it seems like he wants to be an honorary member of The Bloodline. Rollins knows McIntyre wishes he would be standing next to The Rock, but it’s not going to happen because, on Night 1 of ‘Mania, Rollins promises he and Rhodes will end The Bloodline. Then night 2 he said the same thing that always happens will happen, he will beat Drew in a title match and he will hear the people singing his song.
Has @WWERollins awoken a Scottish fire-breathing dragon in @DMcIntyreWWE on the Road to #WrestleMania?#WWERawpic.twitter.com/729ZVuVLSX
— WWE (@WWE) March 12, 2024
McIntyre knew Rollins was trying to provoke him, but he said nothing would get to him because he needs to beat him at WrestleMania. Rollins responded by saying the reason he hasn’t given much attention to Drew is because of his list of worries heading into ‘Mania, Drew is at the very bottom of that list. It seemed like McIntyre was going to hit Rollins, but he stopped himself and charged into the locker room.
Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
This has become a mini-rivalry over the last three weeks and the animosity was very obvious as this match began. They exchanged some slaps and things really got going when Morgan dove onto Lynch with a suicide dive through the ropes. Morgan continued her offence until Lynch caught her with a kick and an exploder. She followed that with a baseball slide and a diving attack off the apron, but she then dove off the second rope into a codebreaker from Morgan in mid-air. She then hit a springboard variation of the codebreaker and a sunset flip powerbomb off the ring apron to the floor.
Back in the ring, Morgan wanted the Oblivion, but she ran into a Manhandle Slam from Lynch, though Morgan was smart enough to roll to the floor before a pin could be attempted. Lynch brought her back to lock in an armbar, but Morgan reversed into a submission of her own. The hold was released and Morgan hit a tornado DDT followed by an Oblivion, but this time Lynch rolled out to the floor. Morgan got her back in the ring and dove from the second rope, however Lynch caught her with a Manhandle Slam to get the victory. What a fantastic match!
Winner: Becky Lynch
Following the match, the Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley made her way down to the ring. She is defending her title against Lynch at WrestleMania. Ripley congratulated Lynch on her victory, but she questioned her on why every week she keeps leaving everything in the ring. They are getting closer to ‘Mania and she continues to weaken herself, but Lynch does this to prove to herself she’s still the best. However, Ripley told Lynch that deep down she knows that Ripley is better than her. So she continues to have these matches so she has an excuse when she loses to Ripley. If Lynch goes into ‘Mania less than 100% and loses, Ripley said Lynch will no longer be The Man, she will be the disappointment.
Lynch said when she told Ripley she may be better than her she planted a seed of doubt in the world, but when people doubt Lynch she is great. So it can be her against the whole world and the whole world won’t stand a damn chance.
The general manager of Raw, Adam Pearce and Smackdown’s general manager, Nick Aldis made a massive announcement for WrestleMania. At the Grandest Stage of them All, The Judgement Day will defend their WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships in a 6-Pack Ladder Match! Qualifying matches will be taking place over the next few weeks.
Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
Dupri was working to prove herself tonight following her recent hate online, but when she went for a Caterpillar LeRae got in her face calling her stupid, telling her she doesn’t belong and it’s good that everyone hates her. LeRae even took it as far as saying it’s a good thing Dupri’s dead brother isn’t here to see the embarrassment she has become. A crying Dupri then ran into a knee from Hartwell to lose the match.
Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
Michael Cole now sat down with Cody Rhodes to discuss the tag match with Seth Rollins against The Rock and Roman Reigns on night 1 of WrestleMania. Cole asked about Rock trumpeting the fact that he is on TKO’s board of directors last week on Smackdown and why Cody slapped him. Cody said if Rock is his boss, it feels great to slap his boss and Rock used to be a wrestler, so he knows that slap was a receipt. Cole then asked why Rhodes would take the tag match knowing on night 2 he is facing Reigns for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship. He also touched on the fact that Rollins accepted the match for them and maybe he is trying to sabotage him, so can he trust Rollins? Rhodes believes people change and Rollins has always had his respect, so he is happy to go to war with him.
This is Rhodes’ one opportunity to get a fair one-on-one match with Reigns. Rhodes also recalled the last time he was in the ring with Cole, and Cole asked him if his coming up short for the WWE Championship like his father would become his story. However, Cole said the story is now not only about Roman Reigns, it’s about everyone who has believed in him on this journey. All his fans, his family and Cody then broke down talking about his mother and wife. He said his story is beyond just himself, but it is up to him to finish that story.
Go finish the story, @CodyRhodes. ❤️#WWERawpic.twitter.com/Im3p05Phmo
— WWE (@WWE) March 12, 2024
Reigns said last year was the third inning and now Cody wants Reigns to know that they are in the last inning. He then told Cole that he is so happy they got this moment because at ‘Mania he will get to say that a Rhodes is the WWE Champion and that Cody Rhodes finished the story.
Becky Lynch found Liv Morgan backstage to offer her a sign of respect and Morgan accepted the offer shaking Lynch’s hand. However, they were both then attacked by Nia Jax, who sent Morgan into crates and slammed Lynch through a table.
Later in the night, Lynch said she knows she shouldn’t be doing this so close to ‘Mania, but next week on Raw she wants Jax in a Last Woman Standing match!
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) (c) vs. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark
Stark was showcasing her agility to begin this match and Baszler was showing why they call her the submission magician. Baszler sent the champs out to the floor so Stark could springboard through the air onto them. The challengers were looking strong, but Stark tried to go high risk again and got caught with a double-diving foot stomp from Sane. Asuka then began laying into Baszler with her stiff strikes, the champs then hit a sliding knee and forearm combination.
However, Stark battled back with a superkick and Z360 to Sane followed by a knee from Baszler. Asuka was then taken out and Baszler locked Sane into a Kirifuda Clutch, but Dakota Kai standing at ringside interfered and allowed The Kabuki Warriors to get back in control. Sane won the match with an Insane Elbow.
Winners: Still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, The Kabuki Warriors
Rhea Ripley invited Andrade to the Judgement Day’s locker room because Dominik Mysterio has talked very highly of him and when Dom returns they should talk business. J-Day seems to be recruiting Andrade into their family.
R-Truth vs. Damian Priest
Before this match began, Priest attacked Truth and once the bell sounded that vicious attack continued. To try and get Truth back on track, #DIY came to cheer him on from ringside and Truth hit Priest with a diving clothesline. Truth also hit Priest with a Five-Knuckle Shuffle, an Attitude Adjustment and he also locked in an STF. While that was locked in, J-Day attacked #DIY on the outside causing Truth to fly through the air onto J-Day. When Truth got back in the ring he was hit with a South of Heaven from Priest to end the match.
Winner: Damian Priest
Following the match, J-Day continued their attack on #DIY. Priest choke slammed Ciampa on the ring apron and Finn Bálor hit Gargano with a Coup de Grace.
Jey Uso now has some time to address things in the ring, he has recently been screwed by his brother Jimmy in several matches. Jey quickly addressed Jimmy saying he came to Raw for a fresh start, but The Bloodline and Jimmy won’t let him go. So, if he won’t let him go how bout they have brother versus brother, twin versus twin, blood versus blood, Jimmy versus Jey at WrestleMania! Jey told Jimmy to accept so he can slap the Yeet out of his ass!
Gauntlet Match-Winner faces Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania
Ricochet vs. JD McDonagh
These two were off to a quick start as McDonagh caught Ricochet in mid-air with a gutbuster before slamming him into the barricades. Despite the early offence, Ricochet battled back with a springboard crossbody. Even after more gritty attacks by McDonagh, Ricochet dropped him on the apron with a Death Valley driver. He followed that with a springboard moonsault, a Northern Lights suplex and a deadlift brainbuster. Ricochet then went to the top rope and delivered a shooting star press to advance.
Ricochet vs. Bronson Reed
Ricochet greeted Reed with a suicide dive, springboard dropkick and a twisting tope to the outside. Despite that early attack, it was not long before Reed dropped Ricochet, hit a senton and then a Tsunami to advance.
Bronson Reed vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn started with a moonsault off the barricade and kept that momentum going until running into a body check from Reed. He then dropped Zayn with a uranage before dropping an elbow, but Zayn shocked Reed with a sunset flip powerbomb from the second rope to eliminate him. Despite being eliminated, Reed attacked Zayn and dove into him with a Tsunami.
Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura had a beaten-down Zayn handed to him by Reed and he began hitting him with kicks and strikes. However, Zayn is not one to go down without a fight and he caught Nakamura with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Zayn then caught a rolling Nakamura with a Helluva Kick and Zayn moves on to the finals.
Sami Zayn vs. Chad Gable
Gable was not going to attack a beaten-down Zayn and gave him a chance to recover before kicking off this final match. Once Zayn was ready Gable delivered multiple German suplexes and locked in an ankle lock on the outside, but Zayn kicked Gable back-first into the steel steps to break the hold. These two men battled onto the top rope where Gable delivered an avalanche exploder suplex. Gable now went to the top rope and went for a moonsault, but Zayn got his knees up. These two men were now exchanging strikes until Gable rolled Zayn into an ankle lock.
Zayn got to the ropes to break the hold and then sent Gable into the corner with an exploder before attempting a Helluva Kick. Gable ducked the kick and locked Zayn back into the ankle lock, but Gable released the hold to hit a German suplex and attempt another moonsault. Zayn rolled out of the way and hit Gable with a Helluva Kick, however, against the odds Gable kicked out at two! Gable was now clubbing Zayn with cross faces and hit another German suplex before locking in the ankle lock for a third time. This time Zayn rolled through and caught Gable in a roll-up to get the victory and head to WrestleMania!
Sami Zayn versus Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship is now official for WrestleMania 40.
