By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,671)
Glasgow, Scotland at OVO Hydro
Streamed live March 24, 2025 on Netflix
[Hour One] Michael Cole checked in while shots aired of the host city. Arrival shots aired of CM Punk, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria, Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee, Penta, and Bron Breakker. Cole was joined on commentary by Pat McAfee.
John Cena’s entrance music played. The fans booed and sang “John Cena sucks” along with the song. Cena came out and gave his stone faced response and then held up his “The Last Time Is Now” towel while walking to the ring. Cena was introduced by ring announcer Alicia Taylor.
“Is something on your mind?” Cena asked once he was inside the ring. “It seems like you have something you want to say to me.” The fans booed. Cena said the fans were there to do their worst. He said they finally understand what’s going on in that he’s turning the spotlight on the fans. Cena said he could turn in on any fan in the crowd and rip them to shreds.
Cena said he put a clueless kid on blast. Cena said the kid’s “poor, pathetic face was everywhere and you all loved it.” Cena held up his mic while there were censored “F— you, Cena” chants. Cena asked whether he’s worse as the one guy who actually tells the truth or the fans use profanity and laugh at a kid.
Cena said the fans will find out how he will make them pay for the 25 years of abuse that they put him through. An uncensored “Shut the f— up” chant broke out. Cena told the fans they make it so easy. Cena said he’s been testing, quizzing, studying, prodding, and rewarding the fans for playing along with their childish curse-ridden nursery rhymes.
Cena said the knows everything about the fans, but they know nothing about him. Cena said their lives are sad. “This is the best it’s gonna get, this is all you have,” said Cena. He said to him it’s been nothing more than an experiment. He said the fans were rats in a cage.
Cena said the fans will always tell him everything about themselves because they so desperately want to matter. Cena recalled giving the fans the spinner championship and the fans ate him alive. Cena said all you have to do is Google negative comments about the spinner belt. Cena said the fans told him how stupid he was for turning their championship belt into a toy. Cena said that was the biggest mistake they ever made because it told him what the fans care about most.
Cena declared that he is going to ruin wrestling. Cena said he would ruin it for every fan, every wrestler, for everyone. Cena said he would make history by winning a 17th world championship at WrestleMania and will force the fans to forget the name of the “fun machine” Ric Flair and they will forever say the name of John Cena. “But even worse, I’m going to win that championship, the center of every superstar of this entire business of every fan in this building, I will win that championship and retire with it. I am taking it home with me.”
Cena said he would force the fans to create a brand new toy belt because he’s taking the real belt home. Cena said he will be the last real champion in WWE. Cena said revenge is best served cold and he’s paying the fans back by ripping their heats out and there’s nothing they can do to stop him.
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his entrance. “I”m sorry, what did you say?” Cody asked. “You said you were going to take this away from them. Don’t you have to take it away from me first?” Cody said this is perhaps the most dangerous that Cena has ever been, but he made a massive mistake by saying what he said in front of the fans while he was in the building.
Cody recalled Cena saying he wanted to take the belt. Cody laid the title belt on the ground and told Cena that he’d give him a chance to take it. Both men dropped their microphones and Cody unbuttoned his shirt. They squared off for a moment and then Cena exited the ring.
Cody called Cena’s name, which led to Cena turning around and walking back toward the ring. Cena stopped, turned around, and shook his head no while walking toward the back. Cody said he needs Cena to see him and all of the fans and understand that his psychotic need to take the belt does not outweigh their right to keep it.
“The Champ is no longer standing there, The Champ is standing in the center of this ring,” Cody declared. Cody said Cena was walking away empty handed and that is how he will end up walking away from from WrestleMania and WWE…
Powell’s POV: Another entertaining promo segment. I enjoy the way Cena is playing with the fans, and I like the threat that he’ll retire as champion. But I continue to wish there was some explanation for why Cody hasn’t just punched Cena in the face, and now it feels strange that neither man has mentioned The Rock. I was all for the first promo being all about Cena, but now it feels like they are leaving out some of the story.
A video package recapped Bron Breakker beating Finn Balor to retain the Intercontinental Championship, as well as Dominik Mysterio making a failed play to get Penta in The Judgment Day…
Jey Uso made his entrance for a tag team match. Cole wondered who Jey’s tag team partner would be. Jimmy Uso ran out and headed to the ring with his brother. Cole said one of the greatest tag teams of all-time were together again. The Usos played to the fans heading into a commercial break… [C]
An ad for Stephanie’s Places aired and then Cole said the show would premiere on Wednesday on ESPN+ as well as Disney+ and Hulu…
1. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. “A-Town Down Under” Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. The entrance of Theory and Waller took place during the break. Jimmy hit Waller with a punch at ringside that left Waller on the broadcast table, Theory drilled Jimmy with a big forearm or elbow strike that knocked him down. The heels were in control heading into a break. [C]
Theory went for his rolling finisher, but Jimmy countered into a Samoan Drop and then made a hot tag. Jey worked over Theory with punches and kicks. Jimmy superkicked Waller and then Theory, and then covered Theory for a near fall.
Waller made a blind tag and then he and Theory took double team liberties with Jey, which led to Theory getting a two count. Theory went to the middle rope and went for an elbow drop that Jey avoided. Jimmy tagged in. Jey tossed Waller in the air and then Jimmy hit him with a Samoan Drop on the way down.
Jimmy went to the ropes and was crotched by Waller. Jimmy came right back with a superkick. Both wrestlers tagged out. Jimmy elevated a charging Theory, who was speared by Jey on the way down. The Usos hit 1D and then Jey pinned Theory.
Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso defeated “A-Town Down Under” Austin Theory and Grayson Waller in 9:15.
After the match, the Usos were celebrating on the ropes when Gunther entered the ring and knocked Jimmy to the floor. Jey fought Gunther and hit him with a pair of superkicks. Jey went for a spear, but he slipped and then Gunther worked him over until Jimmy returned to the ring with a chair…
Powell’s POV: A good opening tag team match. I’m not sure why they didn’t just advertise an Usos reunion, but it did make for a nice minor surprise when Jimmy came out. I’m still curious to see if they can heat up Gunther vs. Jey again or if the build simply peaked too soon.
Backstage, Liv Morgan spoke with Dominik Mysterio while Raquel Rodriguez and Carlito stood by. Dom brought up Finn Balor not wanting him to invite Penta to join the Judgment Day faction. Morgan told Dom to talk to Penta again, then said Balor didn’t want her to join and look how that turned out…
Cole hyped Stephanie Vaquer defending the NXT Women’s Championship against Jaida Parker and the NXT Women’s North American Championship against Fallon Henley on Tuesday’s NXT television show…
Lyra Valkyria was shown talking with Bayley for a moment. Valkyria started to walk through the back and passed Adam Pearce, who was speaking with Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee… [C]
An El Grande Americano video package aired. The video started by focussing on lucha libre legends before playing up El Grande Americano as the greatest of them all. The narrator said Americano disappeared after his peers became jealous…
Raw general manager Adam Pearce informed Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee that the video was for the newest Raw roster member El Grande Americano. They assumed it was Chad Gable, who showed up and said they were wrong. Gable said someone got him sick and then gave Pearce a doctor’s note. Gable suggested that Lee face Americano instead. Lee accepted the match. Rey called Gable a jackass…
Richard Gadd of the Netflix series Baby Reindeer was shown in the crowd…
Powell’s POV: Great, now Martha knows where he is. Then again, I’m sure she already knew.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were in the ring. Lyra Valkyria’s entrance was televised…
2. Lyra Valkyria vs. Raquel Rodriguez (w/Liv Morgan) for the Women’s Intercontinental Title. Valkyria targeted Rodriguez’s knee in hopes of taking her down. Valkyria sent Rodriguez to the floor and then went for a dropkick through the ropes. Rodriguez stuffed it and pulled Valkyria out of the ring, but Lyra countered into a huracanrana. Valkyria sent Rodriguez back inside the ring. Valkyria went up top and then jumped into a big boot from Rodriguez. [C]
[Hour Two] Rodriguez executed a slingshot Jackhammer for a two count. Rodriguez went to the ropes and mocked the fans before going for a corkscrew elbow drop that Valkyria avoided. Valkyria went up top and dropped a leg on the back of Rodriguez’s neck before covering her for a two count.
Rodriguez fought back and hit the corkscrew elbow drop for a two count. A short time later, Rodriguez set up for a move, but Valkyria countered into a DDT. Valkyria had the pin, but Morgan put Rodriguez’s foot over the bottom rope to save her.
Valkyria ducked a big boot and then blasted Morgan with a dropkick through the ropes. Rodriguez grabbed Valkyria and set her up for a Tejana Bomb, but Valkyria countered into a pin and got the three count.
Lyra Valkyria defeated Raquel Rodriguez in 8:25 to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Title.
After the match, Rodriguez and Morgan attacked Valkyria. Bayley ran out for the save and eventually helped Valkyria clear Rodriguez from the ring…
Powell’s POV: Bad news. The European fans still haven’t gotten that damn Bayley song out of their systems. The match was fine, but the outcome was predictable. Yes, Rodriguez is bigger than Valkyria, but she is already a tag team champion and they just didn’t build this up in a way that would make viewers think that a title change was possible.
Cole and McAfee spoke at ringside. Cole touted that McAfee’s Big Night AHT show sold out the PPG Paints Arena for an April 9 show in just 92 minutes. Cole also mentioned that McAfee arrived in Glasgow on Monday morning. Photos aired of McAfee at a local shop and then he stood up and showed off the kilt that he purchased at the shop. Cole also hyped the late August overseas tour (that really should have been saved for September so that I could watch Monday Night Football live!)…
Highlights aired of the recent issues between Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley…
Adam Pearce was shown walking backstage with a contract folder… [C] A video package aired on Triple H vs. The Rock for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam 1998. Jim Ross’s play-by-play could be heard and there were comments from The Rock and others about the match, which Triple H won…
Cole hyped Triple H as the headliner for the WWE Hall of Fame and then mentioned that “The Natural Disasters” Earthquake and Typhoon were added to the Class of 2025…
Backstage, Jimmy Uso sat down next to Jey Uso on a flight of stairs and spoke to him about getting in his own head. Jey spoke about his past losses to Gunther. Jimmy assured Jey that he could beat Gunther. Jimmy fired up Jey about being the Uce he needs. Jimmy told Jey that he had him and then walked away.
Jimmy found Gunther and challenged him to a match for next week. Gunther smirked and said sure, as long as Jimmy doesn’t trip and fall like his brother. Jimmy slapped Gunther across the face and walked away. Gunther was dazed, but he smiled by the end of the shot. Cole had to correct Jey, who mistakenly said that he was 3-0 against Gunther when he should have said 0-3…
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce stood in the ring and recalled Rhea Ripley signing her name to the contract for the Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania. Pearce said the match is between Iyo Sky and Bianca Belair, and Ripley signing the contract means nothing.
Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky made her entrance with a microphone. Sky said she doesn’t care about the contract. She said she would take on Belair and Ripley because she is the champion.
Bianca Belair made her entrance and told Sky to hold up. Belair said she went through Elimination Chamber to get to WrestleMania, so she wasn’t about to let Ripley headbutt her way into the match. Pearce started to talk, but he was interrupted.
Rhea Ripley made her entrance and said she doesn’t give a damn about WrestleMania or who she has to go through to get her title back. Ripley entered the ring and shot Belair a look and then approached Pearce. “All I want is my rematch,” Ripley said. Belair said she could wait until after WrestleMania and get her rematch with her as champion.
Belair and Ripley started to bicker and Sky was pie-faced again. Pearce told them all enough. Pearce said Ripley will get her rematch with Sky next week, and the winner of that match will defend the title against Belair at WrestleMania. Pearce exited the ring.
Belair and Ripley jawed at one another. Sky charged and then Belair popped her up and Sky hit Ripley with a DDT on the way down. Belair cleared Ripley from the ring with a clothesline moments later. Sky clotheslined Belair using the top rope and then performed a huracanrana on Ripley at ringside. Sky returned to the ring and landed on her feet when she went for a springboard move. Belair hoisted her up for a KOD and then dropped Sky onto Ripley at ringside. Belair picked up the title belt and pointed at the WrestleMania sign…
Powell’s POV: I still suspect this is leading to a Triple Threat at WrestleMania despite next week’s title match. Regardless, it’s bizarre that they followed up on making Ripley look like a dope in recent weeks by having her look weak during the three-way brawl.
Backstage, Dominik Mysterio told Penta that he knows he’s good, but he could be better. Dom said he was willing to offer him a spot in The Judgment Day and maybe things will go Penta’s way. Penta tried to speak, but Dom stoped him and said that Penta could be Intercontinental Champion tonight… [C]
Cole hyped Undertaker’s one-man show for Las Vegas during WrestleMania weekend…
Cole said this was Glasgow’s 13th WWE television broadcast and the second time Raw has been held in the city…
A video package aired on World Tag Team Champions “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar…
Backstage, “New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods barged into Adam Pearce’s office and demanded a shot at the World Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania. Pearce took issue with them making demands. Pearce told them to come back when they were ready to ask for a match.
Bianca Belair entered the room after New Day exited. Belair wanted to know who she would face at WrestleMania. Pearce informed her that she would be the special referee for the Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley match next week. Belair said she doesn’t know how to referee. Pearce told her she has a week to figure it out…
Cole said Adam Pearce has lost it. Dragon Lee was in the ring. El Grande Americano made his entrance to generic mariachi music…
3. El Grande Americano vs. Dragon Lee. Americano suplexed Lee off the apron to the floor heading into an early break. [C] Americano suplexed Lee into a corner of the ring. Americano went up top and attempted a moonsault, yet landed on his feet when Lee avoided it. Lee powerbombed Americano and got a two count.
Lee went to the ropes where Americano was tied up in a tree of woe. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Americano sat up and pulled Lee’s mask off while suplexing him to the mat. Lee covered his face. Americano put Lee in an ankle lock and got the submission win…
El Grande Americano defeated Dragon Lee in 8:55.
Powell’s POV: A good match in addition to the Americano comedy. These are strange times with AEW wrestler Harley Cameron wrestling as El Grande Americano in WWE while WWE wrestler Chad Gable works as Harleygram in AEW.
Cole set up a preview of Gunther’s appearance on Sunday’s WWE LFG on A&E…
A video package recapped the Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins angle from Friday’s Smackdown…
Cole hyped Seth Rollins appearing on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” show on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8-10 ET…
Powell’s POV: Pay attention, Seth, and you might learn a thing or two about rooting for a superior NFC North team from host Jamie Erdahl.
CM Punk made his entrance… [C] Cole set up a sneak peak of CM Punk’s appearance on the premiere episode of Stephanie’s Places…
Punk was cheered and the fans chanted his name despite his history with Scotland’s own Drew McIntyre. Punk said it’s hard to be pissed off when you come out to an ovation like that. Punk said he’s tired and jet lagged. Punk said he’s been concerned about his road to WrestleMania.
Punk said he’s not getting what he wants. “Or am I?” Punk asked. Punk said he wanted to win the Royal Rumble, but he did not. Punk said he needed to win Elimination Chamber. He said the more things change, the more things stay the same. “I work with children,” Punk said. He called Seth Rollins “a little diaper piss baby.”
Punk said it’s simple math in that the two men standing in the way of what he wants must go. Punk said Rollins has been crying since he returned because the shadow he casts over Rollins belittles Rollins’ entire career. Punk said Roman Reigns sees in real time that his wiseman isn’t just his wiseman. Punk winked into the camera.
Punk said it’s just business for him. He said there will be “an old fashioned contract signing.” Punk asked why some fans were booing. He assumed they wanted the contract signing to be in Glasgow. Punk said so did he and that’ why he was there. Punk wondered if the match would get him closer to what he wants or if it will just be another rug pull from the powers that be.
Punk reminded Reigns and Rollins that neither man has beaten him without the other man’s help “because you can’t.” Punk said he brought them into the business and can’t wait to be the man who takes them both out. “Best in the world,” Punk said before dropping the mic…
Cole announced that Monday’s show will start at 2CT/3ET due to the time change in London that occurs this weekend. He also said there will be a special guest joining them in London…
A social media video aired of Logan Paul calling out AJ Styles for next week’s Raw…
[Hour Three] Cole listed another Cody Rhodes and John Cena face-to-face meeting for next week’s Raw, as well as Gunther vs. Jimmy Uso, and Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship with Bianca Belair as special referee…
Cole hyped Stephanie Vaquer defending two titles on Tuesday’s NXT television show…
Cathy Kelley interviewed Bon Breakker outside the building and asked if he’s concerned about the possibility of Judgment Day getting involved in his match against Penta. Breakker said that doesn’t concern him and then spoke about the dawgs barking in Glasgow… [C]
Penta made his entrance while Cole hyped Jey Uso as the special guest on Tuesday’s Raw Recap show. Bron Breakker made his entrance. Cole hyped the Slammy Awards for April 20 and noted that voting is already underway. Surprisingly, there were not in-ring introductions despite this being a main event title match…
4. Bron Breakker vs. Penta for the Intercontinental Championship. There was an early “Let’s go, Penta” chant. Breakker performed an early high speed rope run and then put Penta down with a clothesline. Breakker followed up with shoulder blocks in the corner.
Penta took Breakker down with a huracanrana. Breakker went to the apron. Penta jumped from the middle rope for a move, but Breakker caught him with a knee strike that sent Penta to the floor. Breakker jumped from the apron and then clotheslined Penta, causing both men to tumble over the broadcast table.
Dominik Mysterio and Carlito walked out and were booed heading into a break. [C] Penta dropped Breakker with a superkick. Both men were down and there were dueling chants for Penta followed by barks for Breakker. Penta sent Breakker to the floor and then set up for a suicide dive, but Breakker caught him with a shot from the floor.
Breakker returned to the ring and set up for a move, but Penta countered into a Backstabber for a near fall. Penta went for a Destroyer, but Breakker stuffed it and then pressed Penta above his head before dropping him gutbuster style, which led to a near fall.
A short time later, Penta hit a flip dive onto Breakker at ringside. Carlito got excited about it and high-fived Dom. Back in the ring, Penta hit the Destroyer and then covered Breakker for a near fall. Penta spoke in Spanish to Dom and then set up Breakker for a move, but Breakker elbowed his way out of it.
Penta went to the ropes. Breakker ran up the ropes and hit a Frankensteiner for a near fall. Breakker lowered the straps on his get and then barked at the crowd, which drew a lot of barks in return. Breakker turned around to set up for a move, but he was distracted by Dom standing on the apron. The referee went after Dom. Meanwhile, Carlito climbed on the apron and was pulled into the ring and speared by Breakker. Dom clipped the back of Breakker’s knee and the match ended with a disqualification finish.
Bron Breakker defeated Penta by disqualification in 11:25 to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
Dom attacked Breakker, who quickly fought back until Finn Balor showed up and slammed a chair over Breakker’s back. Balor hit Breakker with another chair shot. Balor looked like he might go after Dom, but he passed him the chair and then watched Dom jab Breakker with it.
Penta asked for the chair. Dom gave it to him and then made Penta’s hand gesture. Penta looked at Breakker and then looked to the crowd. Penta tossed the chair at Dom, who caught it, and then Penta superkicked the chair at Dom. Balor attacked Penta and then knocked Breakker out of the ring by slamming the chair over his back again.
Balor went up top and hit the Coup De Grace on Penta. Balor helped Dom to his feet and then jawed at him about wanting Penta to join Judgment Day. Balor, Dom, and Carlito stood over Penta while Breakker was still down at ringside. The executive producer credits were shown while Cole said it looked like the Judgment Day trio were back on the same page, adding that it’s not good for the rest of the locker room…
Powell’s POV: Imagine paying top dollar to attend Raw and having it conclude with weak Judgment Day interference to an Intercontinental Title match. It’s bad for the fans in attendance, but this was just a forgettable television match finish for those of us watching on Netflix. Will Penta get help from his brother Rey Fenix or is this leading to Penta, Rey Mysterio, and Dragon Lee facing The Judgment Day trio?
Overall, a decent show that did more to set the table for next week’s Raw than it did to provide a big boost to the WrestleMania 41 buzz. I will be back with my weekly same day audio review of Raw for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Raw by reading it below.
So much for Joe Hendry being Jey’s partner..
The best part of the episode was Bayleys jeans. Prove me wrong
This is the first time I’ve enjoyed John Cena. That was awesome.
Ok, I’m impressed that McAffe has a sgian-dubh. I wonder if HE knows what it signifies…
Fun fact: El Grande Americano’s music isn’t just “generic mariachi music”. It’s specifically a mariachi version of The Stars and Stripes Forever, aka “America’s fight song”.
yeah, I laughed out loud for real when i noticed that 🙂
I’ll do you a deal Jason, us UK fans will retire the Bayley song when you guys figure out you need to stop chanting USA! USA! Every chance the fans get. Especially in the current worldwide political climate it’s as obnoxious as it gets. Does that seem fair?
You’re talking to the wrong person. I mentioned the Stars & Stripes Forever comment in my audio review a minute ago and said maybe I would have recognized it had I not stopped feeling patriotic a while ago. Get ready for the true snowflakes to start in with the usual “love it or leave it” meathead bullshit. Putting that aside, the Bayley song was cute the first 5,000 times. Come up with some new shit. Or don’t because that phenomenal song is even worse.
hmmm. not patriotic? what would Del Wilkes say?LOL don’t blame you though…that was a nice heel promo though….
I just read that the great broadcaster Bill Mercer passed away at the age of 99. I remember him from World Class as a commentator. A fact I just found out was that he informed Lee Harvey Oswald that he was being charged with the murder of JFK. What a fascinating life he lived!
Oswald went along with it because he thought it was a work.
I hope the special guest in London will be Alan Partridge hosting the show, and doing backstage interviews.
Hopefully he’ll be guest commentator. “SHIT!! DID YOU SEE THAT?!”