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WWE RAW TV REPORT
MARCH 11, 2024
HOUSTON, TX. AT TOYOTA CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA
REPORT BY MAURICIO POMARES, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Samantha Irvin
[HOUR ONE]
– Drew McIntyre made his way to the ring to call Seth Rollins a selfish hypocritical junkie. Drew said that The Rock was the bigger picture and that the next step in professional wrestling was working with one of the most powerful persons in the world. Before Drew could keep talking, Rollins interrupted to tell him to shut up. Rollins dared Drew to hit him with another Claymore kick while calling him a coward. Drew told Rollins to follow his own advice and forget about the Bloodline. Rollins told Drew that he always thought that CM Punk was the biggest hypocrite, until he met Drew.
– Rollins pointed out how Drew complained for years about the Bloodline, only to happily accept their help a few weeks ago. He insinuated that Drew wanted to win the title and become the Bloodline’s chosen one. Rollins led the people into chanting his song while Drew responded that he wouldn’t provoke him and walked away from the ring. Rollins told Drew that the reason he didn’t pay much attention to him was because he saw him as the last of his problems. Drew nearly returned to the ring, but stopped himself at the last moment.
(Pomares’s Analysis: Another top-tier performance from Drew McIntyre who continues balancing being in the right and being a massive hypocrite in a masterful way. Last week, I had issues with the world title history taking a backseat, but this week they made up for it with a strong exchange between Seth and Drew.)
– Becky Lynch made her way to the ring, ahead of her match against Liv Morgan.
[Commercial Break]
– A video package was shown featuring Chad Gable talking about gaining redemption and facing Gunther because to him the match meant more.
(1) BECKY LYNCH vs. LIV MORGAN
Lynch took Liv down with a waist lock takeover, only for Liv to respond with a shoulder tackle. Lynch knocked Liv off her feet with a shoulder tackle before they got into a slap exchange. Liv avoided a sliding dropkick to hit Lynch with a suicide dive, as WWE Raw went to commercials.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Liv nailed Lynch with an enzuigiri, only for Liv to retaliate with a pair of Xploders. Lynch clobbered Liv with a diving forearm strike from the apron into the floor. Back in the ring, Liv caught Lynch with a Codebreaker mid-air before they started exchanging forearm strikes. Liv surprised Lynch with a springboard Codebreaker, but she kicked out at two.
Lynch hit Liv with a couple of rising kicks, only for Liv to block the follow-up German suplex on the apron. Liv put Lynch down with a sunset flip powerbomb on the floor for a close two count. Liv went for the Oblivion, but Lynch countered it with the Manhandle Slam. Lynch tried to make the pinfall, only for Liv to immediately roll out of the ring, as WWE Raw went to an ad break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Lynch dropped Liv with a Butterfly suplex into an armbar, until Liv transitioned into the Rings of Saturn. They traded a couple of pinning combinations before Liv spiked Lynch with a float-over DDT. Liv nailed Lynch with Oblivion, but Lynch immediately rolled out of the ring. Liv clocked Lynch with a rising knee, only for Lynch to catch her with the Manhandle Slam for the three count.
WINNER: Becky Lynch at 14:55
(Pomares’s Analysis: A very good match to showcase Liv Morgan as a star on the rise while maintaining Becky Lynch’s momentum ahead of Mania. With this result, it seems pretty clear that any chances of more people getting involved in this match are done with.)
– After the match, Rhea Ripley made her way to the ring to congratulate Becky Lynch before pointing out that she leaves everything in the ring after every match. Ripley said that Lynch claims that she does it for the people, but she actually does it to try to prove that she is the best. Ripley said that Lynch kept on accepting matches to have an excuse to lose at WrestleMania, threatening Lynch to come to Mania fully healthy. Lynch told Ripley that when people believe in her she is good, but when people doubt her she is great. Lynch said that if she had to take on the whole world, the world didn’t stand a chance.
(Pomares’s Analysis: Now this was by far the strongest segment Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley have had since it became clear this match would take place. Becky was at her best when she was the underdog and her promo at the end felt like seeing peak Becky once again.)
– Backstage, Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis announced that the Judgment Day would defend the tag team titles at WrestleMania against 5 other teams in a ladder match.
[Commercial Break]
(2) IVY NILE & MAXXINE DUPRI vs. CANDICE LERAE & INDI HARTWELL
Nile nailed Hartwell with a roundhouse kick before she and LeRae knocked each other down with clotheslines. Dupri hit Hartwell with a roundhouse kick and a dropkick, followed by a corner splash. LeRae stopped Dupri for going for the inverted Caterpillar and started berating her in the corner. Dupri tried to leave the ring, only for Hartwell to knock her out with a big boot.
WINNERS: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartweell at 2:04
(Pomares’s Analysis: Kind of a nothing match, but the acknowledgment of the Maxxine Dupri story from last week was at least an interesting turn to take. I don’t know if either of these teams will make it to the Mania card, but at least they are part of an actual feud.)
[Commercial Break]
[HOUR TWO]
– Backstage, the Judgment Day confronted Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis for booking them in a ladder match. Pearce mentioned R-Truth and The Miz as people that gave them the idea. Damian Priest demanded a match against Truth and Miz, but Pearce told them that they were doing media. Truth showed up not aware that it was Monday, as Priest told Pearce to make the match.
– A recap of the confrontation between Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and the Rock on SmackDown was shown.
– Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring for an in-ring interview with Michael Cole. Cody said that it felt great to slap his boss and that it was a receipt. Cole asked Cody why he and Rollins would risk the chance of turning the title match into a Bloodline Rules match. Cole asked Cody why he would trust someone like Seth Rollins who was the last one to beat Roman Reigns in a singles match and seemingly was looking to get his win back.
– Cody said that people change before showing a video from a few months ago of Cole asking him what his story was. Cody said that his story was all the people that came to see him, including his sister, his mother and his wife. He told Roman Reigns that they were in the last inning and that at WrestleMania, a Rhodes would be world champion.
(Pomares’s Analysis: An excellently delivered promo from Cody Rhodes that’s probably the strongest material he has shown since last year’s Mania. Cody getting emotional mentioning his family usually brings the best out of any Cody Rhodes promo.)
– A video package was shown featuring Ricochet and JD McDonagh talking about their plans to win the Gauntlet and face Gunther at WrestleMania.
– The Kabuki Warriors made their way to the ring, ahead of their match against Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.
[Commercial Break]
– Backstage, Becky Lynch shook Liv Morgan’s hand, only for Nia Jax to attack both of them from behind. Jax tossed Liv over a storage case and put Lynch through a table with a uranage.
(3) KABUKI WARRIORS (Asuka & Kairi Sane w/Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai) vs. SHAYNA BASZLER & ZOEY STARK – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Stark evaded Asuka’s strikes and knocked her down with a dropkick. Baszler attacked Asuka with a series of kicks to the chest before putting her in an ankle lock. Sane got the blind tag and knocked Baszler down with a clothesline. Baszler took Sane down with a German suplex while Stark knocked Asuka off the apron. Stark crashed into the Warriors with a top rope plancha, as WWE Raw went to a commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Stark hit Sane with a series of clotheslines and a running uppercut. Stark crushed Sane with a corner splash, but Sane blocked the follow-up superplex. Sane tripped Stark into a Tree of Woe position and crushed her with a diving double stomp for a nearfall. Stark blocked the sliding forearm strike, reaching Baszler for the tag. Asuka hit Baszler with a series of kicks and backfists, setting her up for a Codebreaker and blockbuster combination. Sane knocked Stark off the apron before she and Asuka clocked her with a double strike to the abdomen for a close two count.
Baszler took Asuka out with a roundhouse kick, but she was able to plant Stark with a German suplex. Stark blasted Sane with a thrust kick, followed by the Z-360. Baszler cracked Sane with a running knee strike, only for Asuka to break the pinfall. Stark missed a Pescado while Baszler put Sane in the Kirifuda Clutch. Kai grabbed Baszler’s leg, allowing Sane to knock Baszler down with a spinning backfist. Asuka cracked Baszler with a kick to the head, setting her up for the Insane Elbow and the win.
WINNERS: Kabuki Warriors at 10:21 (Still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
(Pomares’s Analysis: A pretty good match that struggled to get the crowd invested. The women’s tag division is in a bit of a dire position, but getting involved in the Bayley vs. Damage CTRL program can only do good to it.)
– Backstage, Andrade met the Judgment Day to speak with Dominik, but he wasn’t with them. Rhea Ripley told Andrade that Dominik spoke highly of him and that maybe they could do business at a later date.
– R-Truth made his way to the ring, ahead of his match against Damian Priest.
[Commercial Break]
– A video package was shown featuring Shinsuke Nakamura and Bronson Reed talking about their plans to win the Gauntlet and face Gunther at WrestleMania.
(4) DAMIAN PRIEST vs. R-TRUTH
Priest immediately knocked Truth down with a forearm strike before the bell even rang. Priest blasted Truth with more forearms to the head and tossed his body out of the ring. DIY showed up to cheer Truth, as Truth managed to ram Priest into the ring post. Truth knocked Priest down with a diving clothesline from the apron, as WWE Raw went to commercials.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Priest dropped Truth with an elevated flatliner for a close two count. Truth knocked Priest off the top turnbuckle to hit him with shoulder tackles, a back suplex, the Five Knuckle Shuffle and the Attitude Adjustment for a close nearfall. Truth put Priest in the STF, but was distracted after the rest of Judgment Day attacked DIY at ringside. While both groups brawled at ringside, Truth crashed into them with a top turnbuckle cannonball. Back in the ring, Priest laid Truth out with a lariat and finished him with the South of Heaven.
WINNER: Damian Priest at 8:00
(Pomares’s Analysis: A solid encounter to position R-Truth as more of an equal to Damian Priest, as his chances of taking part in the Mania Six-Way ladder match rise.)
– After the match, the Judgment Day continued assaulting DIY and R-Truth.
[Commercial Break]
[HOUR THREE]
– Backstage, Becky Lynch set up Last Woman Standing match with Nia Jax for next week.
– Jey Uso made his way to the ring to talk about Jimmy Uso not letting him go. Jey officially challenged Jimmy to a singles match at WrestleMania. He finished by telling Jimmy that he would beat the yeet out of his ass.
(Pomares’s Analysis: A simple yet effective plan to make the obvious Uso vs. Uso match official. I’m not particularly excited about it, but if anyone deserves a big spot at Mania after their recent work, it’s definitely Jey Uso.)
– A video package recapping Gunther’s dominant title reign was shown.
– Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviewed Gunther about the chance that he might be underestimating any of the challengers in the gauntlet. Gunther said that he wasn’t worried about it before putting over how everyone would leave it all in the ring to face him at Mania. Gunther simply wished the participants in the gauntlet good luck.
– Ricochet made his way to the ring as the first participant of the Gauntlet.
[Commercial Break]
– It was announced that the qualifying matches would start next week; and that Becky Lynch would face Nia Jax in a Last Woman Standing match. Additionally, it was announced that CM Punk would be back on TV in two weeks.
(5a) RICOCHET vs. JD MCDONAGH – WWE Intercontinental Championship Condender’s Gauntlet Match
Ricochet swept JD off his feet and launched him across the ring with a monkey flip, followed by a dropkick. Ricochet launched JD out of the ring, but JD blocked a crossbody with his knees. JD nailed Ricochet into the barricade twice before dropping him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. JD beat Ricochet down with forearm strikes, a uranage and a standing moonsault for a two count. Ricochet caught JD with a handspring enzuigiri, followed by a springboard crossbody. JD blocked a Lionsault with his knees and spiked him with a brainbuster for a nearfall. They got into a strike exchange, until Ricochet hit JD with a thrust kick and a poison rana. JD caught Ricochet off-guard with a Spanish Fly, as WWE Raw went to an ad break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Ricochet dropped JD with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. JD barely returned to the ring in time, only for Ricochet to crush him with a springboard moonsault. Ricochet planted JD with a brainbuster and a Northern light suplex for a close two count. JD raked Ricochet’s eyes and rammed his body ribs-first into the ring post. Ricochet knocked JD off the top turnbuckle, setting him up for the Shooting Star Press and the win.
WINNER: Ricochet at 12:02
(Pomares’s Analysis: Really good match that got way more time than I expected it too. Neither man had any chance of winning the overall match, so it was cool to see them get a shot to showcase their work.)
(5b) RICOCHET vs. BRONSON REED – WWE Intercontinental Championship Condender’s Gauntlet Match
Ricochet blasted Reed with a suicide dive, followed by a springboard dropkick and a fosbury flop. Reed caught a springboard crossbody and floored him with a powerslam for a two count. Ricochet cracked Reed with an enzuigiri, only for Reed to hit him with a senton. Reed crushed Ricochet with the Tsunami to eliminate him.
WINNER: Bronson Reed at 14:22
(Pomares’s Analysis: More of an angle to write Ricochet out of the match in a fast manner after his lengthy opening match.)
(5c) BRONSON REED vs. SAMI ZAYN – WWE Intercontinental Championship Condender’s Gauntlet Match
Sami sent Reed out of the ring and took him down with a moonsault from the barricade, as WWE Raw went to a commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Reed clocked Sami with a big boot and a spinning suplex for a two count. Reed missed the senton, but was still able to crush Sami with a uranage and an elbow drop. Sami countered an avalanche Samoan Drop with a sunset flip powerbomb to score the pinfall.
WINNER: Sami Zayn at 21:07
(Pomares’s Analysis: A pay-off to last week’s angle to give Sami a relatively fast win while keeping Bronson protected in defeat.)
(5d) SAMI ZAYN vs. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA – WWE Intercontinental Championship Condender’s Gauntlet Match
Reed attacked Sami from behind and crushed him with a Tsunami before Nakamura could enter the ring. Sami countered the Kinshasa with a roll-up, but Nakamura managed to kick out at two. Nakamura sent Sami over the announce table with a running kick, as WWE Raw went to commercials.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Nakamura nailed Sami with a series of kicks to the chest, only for Sami to knock him down with an enzuigiri. Sami shocked Nakamura with the Blue Thunderbomb for a close two count. Sami blocked another Kinshasa, but couldn’t hit Nakamura with the Xploder into the corner. Nakamura clobbered Sami with an axe kick to the back before Sami caught him off-guard with a Helluva Kick for the three count.
WINNER: Sami Zayn at 28:31
(Pomares’s Analysis: A solid match to probably end the storyline between Sami and Nakamura while giving Sami loads of adversity with the Bronson Reed post-match assault.)
(5e) SAMI ZAYN vs. CHAD GABLE – WWE Intercontinental Championship Condender’s Gauntlet Match
Gable helped Sami to his feet, so they could have a proper match. Gable planted Sami with a couple of German suplexes before trapping him in the Ankle Lock. Sami kicked Gable into the steel steps, as WWE Raw went to its final commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Gable planted Sami with a modified superplex, but he managed to kick out at two. Sami blocked a moonsault with his knees and nearly beat Gable with an inside cradle. They got into a strike exchange, until Gable avoided the Blue Thunderbomb and put Sami in the Ankle Lock. Sami managed to hit Gable with a Xploder into the corner before Gable countered the Helluva Kick with an Ankle Lock. Sami tried to kick Gable away, but Gable refused to let go of the hold.
Gable dropped Sami with a German suplex, but missed the follow-up moonsault. Sami was barely able to hit Gable with the Helluva Kick, struggling to follow it with a pinfall. Gable shocked Sami with a crucifix pinfall for a close nearfall. Gable clobbered Sami with a series of forearms to the head, followed by a bridging German suplex and the Ankle Lock. Sami managed to counter the Ankle Lock with a roll-through to get the victory.
WINNER: Sami Zayn at 41:36
– After the match, Sami Zayn and Chad Gable hugged, as Gunther showed up on the ramp.
(Pomares’s Analysis: A top-notch ending between the two favorites to finish a decent Gauntlet in a strong note. Gable and Sami’s work was superb with easily the best reversals and nearfalls of the entire match. While Sami was one of the favorites going in, I was shocked that Gable lost after they heavily referenced his daughter. Sami as a contender for Gunther’s title is a great choice though, I was personally more invested in Gable going to WrestleMania.)
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