Posted on 3/25/125 by Bob Magee
Show Recap —
CM Punk, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez, Lyra Valkyria,
Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio, Penta, and Bron Breakker were
shown arriving at the arena in Glasgow. Punk and Penta got
big reactions.
Pat McAfee is back on commentary with Michael Cole.
John Cena and Cody Rhodes segment
John Cena entered and was loudly booed. He knew the crowd
was ready to do their worst because he turned the spotlight
on them. They knew that he could pick them out individually
and rip them to shreds. No one was safe, not even that
clueless kid from last week. His poor, pathetic face was
everywhere. WWE even posted it—and the fans all loved it.
The crowd loudly chanted, “F*ck you, Cena,” and it was
censored.
Cena would tell the truth, while the best idea the fans had
was to use profanity. They meme’d a defenceless kid getting
destroyed, so he didn’t need to single out anyone tonight
because they were all horrible people. Instead, they would
all pay for the abuse they put him through.
He listened to their lies and their noise for 25 years. He
didn’t waste time being mean like them; he paid attention.
The crowd chanted, “Shut the f*ck up.” He said he has been
learning from the fans and testing them all this time. They
told him everything about themselves, but they didn’t know
anything about him.
Their lives were sad. This (being fans) was the best it
would get for them. But they have been nothing but an
experiment for him. Rats in a cage. Pick out any moment in
his career, and he could tell them what he learned about
them.
When he bled, they thought he was tough. When he spoke, they
were inspired. When he was edgy, they were excited. When he
was vanilla, they were bored. When he spoke in rhythmic
tones, they said, “What.” (They were indeed chanting “What”
at this moment.)
They would always tell him everything about themselves
because they wanted so desperately to matter. The most
important thing they told him was in April 2005, when he
gave them the WWE spinner championship.
They ate him alive for it. He turned their belt into a toy,
and they didn’t like that because the championship wasn’t a
toy. He disrespected tradition. That was the biggest mistake
they made. They told him what meant most to them. And now
that he knew that, he was going to ruin wrestling.
He was going to ruin wrestling for every fan, wrestler—for
everyone. At WrestleMania, he would make history by winning
a 17th championship. He would force them to forget about the
fun-machine Ric Flair, and they would forever say the name
John Cena. Even worse, he would win the title—the centre of
every superstar and fan in his business—and he would retire
with it. “I am taking it home with me.”
He was leaving them to make a brand new toy belt because the
real one was coming home with him. “I will be the last real
champion in WWE. Revenge is best served cold, and I pay you
back by ripping your heart out and forcing you to watch as I
just walk away with your memories, with your traditions, and
your dreams. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Cody Rhodes entered. The fans sang his name. Rhodes told
Cena he couldn’t take the belt away from the fans without
taking it from him first. Rhodes could see that Cena was
being sincere. Cena was angry and dangerous, but he made a
massive mistake. The mistake was not that Cena hit him with
the belt in Toronto; it was saying what he just said to
these fans.
Rhodes said Cena should know how hard he had to fight just
to hold this belt one time. Cena thought the timeline of
professional wrestling hung in the balance because of his
vanity. Rhodes laid the belt down and told Cena he could try
taking it right now.
Cena acted for a moment like he might fight Rhodes, but he
left the ring instead.
Rhodes told Cena that his psychotic need to take the belt
did not outweigh their (Rhodes and the fans) need to keep
it. The champ was standing in the middle of the ring while
Cena walked away empty-handed. That is how Cena would walk
away at WrestleMania, and that is how he would walk away
from WWE.
********
There was a video package for Bron Breakker vs. Penta
tonight.
Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso defeated Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
(9:15)
Jey Uso initially entered alone but was quickly joined by
Jimmy in the aisle. Cole exclaimed, “Wait, wait, wait! Look
who’s here! Jey’s brother!” He didn’t actually say Jimmy’s
name. (Jimmy entering separately would’ve felt like a bigger
moment, but they might’ve wanted to keep the focus on Jey
since he’s the main eventer.)
Cole said this was the first time The Usos teamed up (just
the two of them) in a year and a half when they beat Roman
Reigns and Solo Sikoa.
A-Town Down Under got the heat on Jimmy when Theory made a
blind tag and clocked him with a running forearm. After a
break, Waller rolled into the ring and into a Samoan drop by
Jimmy. Cole somehow thought this was a slingblade by Waller.
(It’s sometimes difficult to judge a person’s offence or
move, but this was not one of those times.)
Jey tagged in, but A-Town Down Under teamed up on him. Jimmy
tagged back in, and they hit Waller with an alley-oop. Jimmy
hoisted up Waller into a spear by Jey before The Usos hit
Theory with a 1-D for the pinfall win.
— Gunther knocked Jimmy off the top rope as he celebrated.
Jey superkicked Gunther and set up for a spear, but he
literally tripped and fell. He went for the spear anyway but
Gunther tackled him down. Gunther hammered away with elbows,
but Jimmy ran him off with a steel chair.
I don’t know if they did this trip spot on purpose or not,
but this was not a good look for Jey, regardless. (Update:
It looks like the spot was done deliberately, and they’ll be
using it to build Jey back up in the coming weeks.)
*******
There was a big video package for “El Grande Americo” (Chad
Gable), who hailed from the “Gulf of America.” I suppose
this video was a nice idea, except for all the AI they used
to make it.
Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio told Adam Pearce that the person
in the video was clearly Chad Gable. (Because they used AI,
the wrestler didn’t actually look like Gable.)
Gable showed up and said they were wrong. He was also sick
and had a doctor’s note, so he wouldn’t be able to compete
today. Pearce said the note was legit. (Even though he was
obviously faking it.) Gable suggested that Dragon Lee face
El Grande Americo instead. Dragon Lee accepted. Rey looked
at Gable and said, “You’re a real jackass.” (That was
funny.)
********
Richard Gadd of Baby Reindeer (on Netflix) was in the
audience.
Lyra Valkyria defeated Raquel Rodriguez (w/Liv Morgan) to
retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (8:23)
Rodriguez booted Valkyria out of mid-air to take control
ahead of a break. She hit a jackhammer following the break
for two. Valkyria countered a suplex into a DDT, but Morgan
placed Rodriguez’s foot on the rope to break up the cover.
Valkyria dropkicked Morgan moments later and countered
Rodriguez’ Tejana Bomb attempt into a victory roll for the
pinfall win.
— Morgan and Rodriguez attacked Valkyria after the match. I
guess Bayley was waiting behind the stage because her music
hit immediately, and she ran out to clear the ring with
Valkyria. Bayley gave Valkyria her IC title belt, and they
posed together.
This match was just fine. The crowd liked Valkyria.
********
The New Day (who last appeared on Raw three weeks ago when
they beat Rey and Dragon Lee) cut a promo during
commercials. They ran down the locals before proclaiming
they would win the tag team titles at WrestleMania.
There was a video package of Triple H beating The Rock at
SummerSlam 1998 in a ladder match for the IC title. This was
meant to hype HHH going into the Hall of Fame, but it also
put over the importance of the IC title, which is on the
line tonight.
********
Jey sat alone in the back when he was joined by Jimmy. Jimmy
wondered what was going on with Jey the last few weeks. He
could see Jey was in his own head. Jey hit dives perfectly
for 15 years before last week. Last week’s dive became a
meme and a joke. Then he went out there tonight and slipped.
If he kept going like this, he wouldn’t win at Mania.
Jey bluntly said he knew that. He said he couldn’t beat
Gunther and was 3-0 against him (he meant to say 0-3). Jimmy
said that this Jey could not beat Gunther. Jimmy hyped him
up and said he needed to see the Right Hand Man Jey Uso, the
one who became the Main Event Jey Uso. The one who won the
Royal Rumble. That’s the Uce he needs.
Jimmy found Gunther around the corner and challenged him to
a match on Raw next week. Gunther said sure and suggested he
didn’t slip and fall like his brother. Jimmy slapped him
hard in the face.
********
Women’s World Title segment
Adam Pearce was in the ring with the contract for Iyo Sky
vs. Bianca Belair at WrestleMania for the title. He said
Rhea Ripely signed her name on it, too, but that did not
mean she was getting a title shot at Mania. The crowd booed.
Pearce said he’s been trying to assign Ripley’s title
rematch for weeks, but in the meantime, Belair won the
Elimination Chamber and earned the title match at Mania.
Ripley, meanwhile, only wanted the title rematch on her
terms.
He was about to make an announcement but was interrupted by
Sky. Sky didn’t care about contracts and was happy to take
on both Belair and Ripley because she was the Women’s World
Champion.
Belair interrupted next. Belair was not about to let Ripley
headbutt her way into this match because she didn’t earn it.
Ripley interrupted and said, “Honestly, I don’t give a damn
about WrestleMania.” She didn’t care who she had to face to
get her title back. She wanted her rematch. Pearce was
annoyed because now she suddenly wanted the match. Belair
said Ripley has already waited three weeks, she can wait
another three weeks.
Once again, Ripley and Belair argued while Sky tried to
interject, but Ripley shoved her aside. Sky was about to go
after them again, but Pearce stepped in. Pearce was pissed
and announced that Ripley would get her title rematch
against Sky next week. The winner would face Belair at
WrestleMania.
As Ripley and Belair argued again, Sky wiped out Ripley with
a DDT. The crowd booed as Belair set up Sky for a KOD. Sky
avoided it and gave Ripley a hurricanrana outside the ring.
However, Belair gave Sky a KOD to send her out of the ring
and onto Ripley. Belair stood tall with the belts.
This was another weak segment to set up whatever match
they’re doing at Mania.
********
Dom approached Penta backstage. Before Penta could say
anything, Dom told him to think about his offer and maybe he
would walk away as IC champion tonight.
*******
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods told Pearce they were
demanding a world tag title shot at Mania. He said no. He
wanted them to prove they earned a shot first. They left.
Belair, perhaps suffering from amnesia, entered next and
asked Pearce who she was facing at Mania. Pearce said she
would find out next week after the title match. He also
announced that she would be the special referee. She said
she didn’t know how to be a referee, and he told her to
figure it out. (Now everyone is coming off poorly in this
feud.)
*******
El Grande Americo (Chad Gable) defeated Dragon Lee (8:55)
Gable (wrestling in a mask) hit Dragon Lee with an exploder
off the apron ahead of a break. They exchanged chops after
the break until Dragon Lee hit a snap German suplex and
superkick. Dragon Lee sprinted at Gable, but Gable launched
him with an overhead suplex into the corner. The crowd
chanted, “Olé.” Dragon Lee avoided a moonsault and hit a
Liger Bomb for two.
With Gable dangling upside down in the corner, Dragon Lee
set up for a double foot stomp, but Gable sat up and ripped
Lee’s mask off. Dragon Lee frantically covered his face
while Gable applied an ankle lock. Dragon Lee struggled for
a moment but he couldn’t get the ropes while also covering
his face, so he tapped out.
This was pretty fun for the time they had, and the finish
got a ton of heat.
********
There was a video package for CM Punk/Roman Reigns/Seth
Rollins.
CM Punk segment
Punk entered to a big reaction. He said he was not in a good
mood, but it was hard to be pissed off when you enter to a
reaction like that. He was tired and jetlagged. He hasn’t
slept well the last few days, thanks mostly to the
uncertainty around his road to WrestleMania.
He had a match at Mania, “but what I want, I’m not getting—
or am I?”
He wanted to win the Rumble, but he didn’t. He needed to win
the Chamber, but the more things changed, the more things
stayed the same. “I work with children.” He said Seth
Rollins was the world champion of being a piss-baby, and
Rollins screwed him at the Chamber.
For Rollins and Reigns, it was clearly personal, but for
him, it was just business. The two men who stood in his way
from getting what he wanted had to go.
Rollins has been crying since Punk returned because the
shadow he cast over him belittled everything Rollins was
about. Reigns seemed to be taking it personally because he
realized his wise man wasn’t just his wise man.
It would be business for Punk on Smackdown, too, because
they were having a contract signing. Some fans booed, and
Punk acknowledged it. He knew they wanted it tonight, and so
did he. He wanted his hands on the contract to see if this
match would get him closer to what he wanted or if it would
just be another rug-pull from the powers that be.
Punk reminded Rollins and Reigns that they had never beaten
him without the other’s help. Punk also said, “I brought you
into this business. I cannot wait to be the man who takes
you both out of it.” Punk called himself the best in the
world and dropped the mic.
(Cole reminded us that Punk brought The Shield to WWE.)
*******
Next week on Raw in London, England (airing at 3 pm ET/12 pm
PT):
Logan Paul calls out AJ Styles
Gunther vs. Jimmy Uso (non-title)
Cody Rhodes and John Cena face-to-face
Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship
*******
Cathy Kelley asked Bron Breakker if he was worried that
Penta might have help from Judgment Day tonight. Bron didn’t
seem worried about it. He would retain the title because the
dogs were barking in Glasgow.
Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker defeated Penta
via disqualification (11:25)
They were having a strong match until the finish.
Penta used a hurricanrana to send Bron into the ropes. To
set up the next spot, Bron was actually supposed to be on
the other side of the ring, so he “stumbled” to the other
side as Penta posed, which looked pretty awkward. This led
to Bron hitting a leaping clothesline off the apron and over
the announce table.
Dom and Carlito wandered out during a break.
Bron and Penta traded strikes until Penta hit a superkick,
bulldog, and backstabber for two. Bron blocked a Canadian
Destroyer and hit a military press gutbuster for two. Penta
hit a superkick and enziguri and used a hurricanrana to yank
Bron off the middle rope. Penta followed with a flip dive
and Canadian Destroyer for two. Bron followed later with a
Frankensteiner for a nearfall.
Bron set up for a spear, but Dom distracted the referee.
Carlito tried to interfere, so Bron pulled him into the ring
and speared him. Dom chop-blocked Bron in front of the
referee for the DQ.
Bron went after Dom, but Finn Bálor attacked him with a
chair. Bálor seemed like he was pissed with Dom, but he
handed Dom the chair.
Dom hit Bron with the chair before handing it to Penta.
Bálor didn’t like that idea.
Penta teased that he might hit Bron, but instead, he chucked
the chair at Dom and superkicked it in his face. Bálor
decked Penta and hit Bron with the chair. Bálor laid out
Penta with a Coup de Grace.
Raw ended with Bálor, Dom and Carlito standing tall.