By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,672)
London, England at O2 Arena
Streamed live March 31, 2025 on Netflix
[Hour One] Michael Cole checked in on commentary while a shot aired of the exterior of the building. Backstage/arrival shots aired of Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai, Bianca Belair, Logan Paul, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso, and World Hvt. Champion Gunther…
The broadcast team laid out while the crowd had dueling “Let’s Go Cena” and “Cena Sucks” chants. Cena’s entrance music played and the crowd serenaded him with “John Cena sucks.” Cena held up his “The Last Time Is Now” towel with the Union Jack Flag on it and headed to the ring while being introduced by ring announcer Alicia Taylor. Cena stood in the middle of the ring and took in the mixed crowd reaction. He was about to speak when entrance music played.
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his entrance dressed in a pinstriped suit. Cody told Cena to allow him to do his job for him. Cody said there’s so much about him to make fun of. Cody said he has a bit of a lisp. He used Stardust as an example. Cody said it has to bother Cena to be wrestling Stardust in the main event of WrestleMania 41 (and noted it’s going on last). Cody said he has an arm tattoo that is on his neck. The crowd sang Cody’s name (again).
Cody said Cena’s words don’t match his actions and accused him of lying to the audience over the last two weeks. Cody said he used to ride with Cena. Cody said he knows that Cena cared for him and even more so for the fans. Cody told Cena to look at the fans and tell them why. A “You sold out” chant broke out.
Cena said he would not reduce himself and punch down to Cody’s level just to protect him. Cena said Cody had been protected long enough. Cena said he will bury Cody just like everybody else. “They’ve been saying for year that John Cena buries talent,” Cena said. “I don’t bury talent. I am talent. I bury mediocrity.”
Cena told Cody that he doesn’t give a damn about his lisp or his failures. He spoke of Cody’s ego and accused him of riding his coattails. Cena said Cody is nothing more than his chauffeur. “There’s your why, Cody Rhodes,” said Cena,. “You with that (WWE Championship belt) disgusts me.” Cena said Cody wants to be undeniable, but he’s still underwhelming.
Cena recalled telling Cody to be authentic, but he’s too perfect and polished. Cena said Cody relies on the fans singing Cody’s name over and over again to get by. Cena laughed at Cody when the crowd took his cue by singing Cody’s name. Cena said if you take away Cody’s entrance, there’s not much to look at aside from a pinstripe suit.
Cena said Cody is afraid to show who he is and gives viewers a generic mix of every superstar or TV show’s he’s ever watched. He said he comes off like a generic blob who is still afraid of public speaking. Cena said he worked too hard to make the title a symbol of mastery to have it carried around by a nepo baby who is so into himself that he had his wrestling gimmick tattooed for the world to see.
Cena said it’s not where Cody’s tattoo is at, it’s what it is. Cena said the tattoo exposes Cody as a common fan. Cena said the last real champion is taking the title home and will expose Cody for being an errand boy who got lucky. “There’s your why, pal,” Cena said.
Cody said the fans chose him. Cody asked if Cena can say the same or if it was one guy in the office who chose him who isn’t there anymore. The crowd gasped. Cody said he’s a wrestler like his father before him. Cody said that if anyone is a company creation it’s Cena. He said everyone is afraid of Cena on the mic, but he’s not because he knows Cena has more dick in his promo than he does in his jorts.
Cody said Cena makes fun of him for looking like his sixteen and taking public speaking lessons, but Cena is the one hanging out with Zac Efron wishing he was sixteen. Cody asked Cena which one of them sold out to The Rock. Another “you sold out” chant broke out. “John, you are still my hero, but you are also a piece of shit,” Cody said.
Cena smiled and said that just like all the people, Cody’s brain is filled with feces rather than facts. Cena said he’s worked harder than anyone and was never protected by an audience or a superstar from taking their best shot at him. Cena said no one has been worthy enough to put him in the ground. Cena said he decided to do it himself.
Cena said he never left. He’s always been there. Cena said that no matter what garbage he’s given, he finds a way to make it great. Cena said Cody had to leave because at his best, he realized he can’t wipe Cena’s ass. Cena said he makes empires for billionaires. “All you’ve ever done is steal money from their kids,” said Cena. “See you at WrestleMania, champ.”
Cody called for Cena to stop as he was on the apron. Cody told Cena that no crowd has ever chanted “You can’t wrestle” at him. Cena returned to the ring and struck a fighting pose. Cena smiled and saluted Cody as if to say he was leaving. Cena went for a cheap shot, but Cody stuffed it and put Cena down with CrossRhodes. Cody pointed at the WrestleMania sign. Cody picked up Cena’s hat from the mat and tossed it on him…
Powell’s POV: It was really fun to see Cody and Cena make things personal as opposed to Cena blaming the fans. It was also good to hear Cody bring up The Rock’s name after he wasn’t mentioned over the last two weeks. I was surprised to see Cody get the better of Cena physically, but I’m sure Cena’s character will get his revenge soon enough.
Cole checked in from ringside with Pat McAfee and Wade Barrett. Barrett thanked Cody Rhodes. McAfee said Cody left Cena flat on his ass. Cole shifted the focus to the Women’s World Championship match and said it would be the main event…
A video package chronicled the recent issues between Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley, and Bianca Belair…
“New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made their entrance while Cole said we’d find out out who their opponents would be after the break… [C]
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce came out and recalled saying that New Day needed to earn a shot at the World Tag Team Titles. Pearce said they would do just that. Pearce introduced “New Catch Republic” Pete Dunne and the returning Tyler Bate…
1. “New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. “New Catch Republic” Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate. Bate’s hair is shorter than it was prior to his long layoff caused by a torn pectoral muscle. Both New Day members ended up on the floor. Dunne jumped from the apron and hit Kingston with a knee strike and then Bate hit Woods with a flip dive. [C]
Cole said the event was sold out and listed the attendance as 16,566. Bate gave Kingston an airplane spin and then dumped him to the mat. Bate tagged in Dunne and then they hit Kingston with simultaneous kicks. Dunne and Bate performed a clothesline into a suplex combo move that led to Woods breaking up a pin.
Dunne did the finger snap bit on Woods. Kingston hit Dunne with SOS fora. near fall. A short time later, Bate set up for a springboard move, but Kingston pulled him down from the floor. Kingston tagged in and then joined Woods in hitting Daybreak on Dunne. Kingston covered Dunne for the win…
“New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods defeated “New Catch Republic” Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate in 8:45.
As New Day was heading to the back, Woods gave the death stare to a young fan as Cathy Kelley approached them for an interview. Kingston said they did what they said they were gong to do. Kingston demanded a shot at the World Tag Team Titles.
World Tag Team Champions “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar came out. Erik and Ivar had a biker look while holding up their tag team titles in front of Kingston and Woods…
Powell’s POV: It was a nice touch to have Bate make his return and reunite with Dunne in their native England. Obviously, the right team went over given that all signs point to War Raiders vs. New Day at WrestleMania.
Cole spoke about the WWE Evolve show and hyped it as airing Wednesdays on Tubi in the United States and internationally on YouTube…
Footage aired from last week’s Raw of the segments that set up Jimmy Uso’s match with Gunther, including the stiff slap that Jimmy gave the World Heavyweight Champion…
Backstage, Jey Uso told Jimmy Uso that he’d feel a lot better if he was in Jimmy’s corner. Jimmy said Gunther is just a man who is beatable. Jimmy said he would beat Gunther tonight and then Jey would beat him to become World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania. Jimmy told Jey not to worry. “I hear you, just be careful” a concerned Jey told his brother… [C]
Powell’s POV: Gunther is about play Ivan Drago to Jimmy’s Apollo Creed. Well, minus the whole death thing. Sorry about that spoiler, CM Punk.
Highlights aired of Triple H beating Cactus Jack to promote Triple H headlining the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Cole also acknowledged the “WWE Immortal Moment” induction of the Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin classic. Cole said that he and McAfee will host the Hall of Fame ceremony…
Kate Nash of the Netflix GLOW series was in the crowd. They showed UFC fighter Michael “Venom” Page and listed actor Charlie Brooker’s graphic initially. They switched it to the correct graphic for Page. Brooker was then shown with his correct name graphic. Singer Lewis Capaldi was shown in the crowd again after he also appeared at Friday’s Smackdown…
A WWE referee was shown giving Bianca Belair some tips in the backstage area while Cole mentioned that Belair has never worked as a referee before…
Jimmy Uso was in the ring. Gunther’s entrance was televised…
2. World Heavyweight Champion Gunther vs. Jimmy Uso in a non-title match. Gunther dropped Jimmy with a big boot to the head during the opening minute. Gunther tossed Jimmy to the floor and ran him into the barricade. Gunther blasted Jimmy with a chop.
[Hour Two] Gunther set up for a powerbomb, but Jimmy backdropped him. Jimmy returned to the ring. Gunther tried to follow, but Jimmy punched him off the apron. Jimmy hit a suicide dive and then rolled Gunther back inside the ring. Jimmy went up top and went for an Uso Splash, but Gunther put his knees up.
Gunther went up top, but Jimmy cut him off. Jimmy superplexed Gunther and then followed up with an Uso Splash for a near fall. Gunther rolled to ringside. Jimmy jumped from the ring steps and was chopped by Gunther, who then dumped him on the apron. Gunther hit a short-arm clothesline at ringside. [C]
Gunther dropkicked Jimmy and then followed up with a powerbomb. Gunther could have pinned Jimmy, but he picked him up instead. Cole grumbled about Gunther claiming to be a sportsman. Gunther drilled Jimmy with another clothesline and covered him before picking him up when the referee’s count reached two. Gunther put Jimmy in a sleeper until the referee called for the bell.
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defeated Jimmy Uso in 8:40 in a non-title match.
Cole said he fears more and more for Jey Uso with each passing week. Gunther teased leaving the ring and then reapplied the sleeper hold. Jey Uso’s entrance music hit. Jey ran to the ring and tackled Gunther, who went to ringside. Jey followed and threw some punches until Gunther escaped through the crowd. Jey entered the ring and checked on Jimmy… [C]
Powell’s POV: Meh. The match was fine and it played out as one would expect given the circumstances, but I expected Gunther to give Jimmy more of a ruthless beatdown than he did. By the way, thanks to Sweet Lu in the comment section for correcting me on my Clubber Lang/Ivan Drago mistake, which I corrected above.
Jey and a trainer were helping Jimmy approach the entrance aisle when Gunther hit them from behind. Gunther ran Jey into the ring steps. Gunther picked up Jey and chopped him. Gunther set up for a move, but he released Jey to beat up a couple of meddling security guards. Gunther ran Jimmy into the ring post.
Gunther zip tied Jey’s right arm to the second rope while Jey was standing on the floor. Gunther picked up Jimmy and ran him into the barricade. Gunther kicked Jey and then grabbed his title belt and entered the ring. Jey entered the ring with his arm still tied to the rope. Gunther taunted him by holding the title belt out of his reach. Gunther told Jey that he’s not in his league.
Jimmy climbed onto the apron. Gunther spotted him and slammed the title belt over his head. Gunther continued to jaw at Jey and taunt him with the belt. A bloody Jimmy crawled into the ring. Gunther grabbed Jimmy and showed his crimson mask to Jey. Gunther powerbombed Jimmy and then threw punches at him. Gunther threw more punches at Jimmy and put him in the sleeper hold again. Adam Pearce entered the ring with a group of producers and yelled at Gunther, who was covered in Jimmy’s blood as he held up the title belt…
Powell’s POV: Now that’s more like it! Cole earned an assist for doing a really nice job of expressing outrage on commentary.
A video package recapped the Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins contract signing for their Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 41…
The broadcast team hyped Pat McAfee’s Big Night AHT event and noted that over 1,000 tickets will be available to purchase on Wednesday…
Highlights aired of The Judgment Day laying out Bron Breakker and Penta…
Backstage, Finn Balor was talking with Dominik Mysterio and Carlito when Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez arrived. Liv said it looked like Balor and Dom buried the hatchet. Balor said that brothers fight like cats and dogs, but they always make up. Balor condescendingly told Rodriguez he was sorry about her loss to Lyra Valkyria last week. He told her not to worry because he will bring home the Intercontinental Title. Rodriguez flashed a smile and then looked angry once Balor and Dom left. Carlito stayed with the women until they told him to go away…
Penta made his entrance for a tag team match… [C] Cole hyped Stephanie’s Places for Wednesday. A sneak peak of her chat with Cody Rhodes at Center Stage in Atlanta was shown…
Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker was in the ring and appeared to be bickering with Penta before they shook hands. Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio made their entrance with Carlito. A graphic for WWE Backlash in St. Louis included the images of John Cena and Randy Orton…
3. Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker and Penta vs. Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio (w/Carlito). Penta took Dom down with a huracanrana and then Breakker tagged in. Breakker slammed Dom. Breakker scooped him up again, but Dom slipped away and tagged out. Balor went for a leapfrog, but Breakker countered into a powerslam. Both heels were sent to ringside. Breakker held the top rope down while Penta performed a flip dive onto them. [C]
Penta went for a late Panama Sunrise on Balor, but Dom broke it up. Breakker went for a spear on Balor, but ended up taking out Penta accidentally. Balor tossed Breakker to ringside. Dom dropkicked Breakker through the ropes. Balor hit Penta with a Coup de Grace and then pinned him. Cole noted that this was Penta’s first pinfall loss in WWE.
Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio beat Bron Breakker and Penta in 9:00.
Backstage, Chad Gable told Adam Pearce that El Grande Americano was a great signing. Gable had a doctor’s note to get him out of a match. Pearce said it’s a shame that Gable won’t be ready for Raw in Minneapolis next week. Gable said it’s his hometown and he’d be good. Pearce told him there’s nothing more important than his health and he’d already made arrangements for Americano to compete instead.
“Alpha Academy” Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri showed up. “Clowns,” Gable said while looking at Dupri. Gable looked at Otis and called him an idiot before walking away. Dupri said she’d been talking with Natalya and they have some ideas about the tag team division…
Cole hyped Undertaker’s one-man show… Iyo Sky was shown talking with Dakota Kai… [C]
Cathy Kelley was about to interview Bron Breakker in the backstage area, but Penta showed up and yelled at Breakker. Producers quickly separated the two…
AJ Styles was in the ring wrapping up his entrance. Styles took the mic and lowered it when the fans started chanting his name. Styles said he’d been waiting patiently backstage. He recalled Logan Paul saying he was going to call him out. He told him to come say whatever he had to say to his face.
Logan Paul made his entrance. McAfee plugged the Paul American reality show streaming on Max. Paul was booed loudly. He told Styles that he’s a girl dad and wants to teach his daughter forgiveness, so he forgives him for what he did to him at Madison Square Garden. Styles said he forgives Paul for being the biggest douchebag to enter WWE.
Paul said he doesn’t fight for free and London can’t afford him. Paul said everyone in London is broke and then pointed at fans and said they’re broke. He said one fan probably spent his life savings on a front row seat and now he was calling him poor. Paul told Styles to set his sights higher and then pointed at the WrestleMania sign.
Paul threw a kick that Styles stuffed. Styles threw punches at Paul, who escaped to ringside when Styles went for a Styles Clash. Styles went to ringside and slammed Paul’s head on the broadcast table. Styles rolled Paul back inside the ring and followed, but Paul pulled the middle rope into Styles’ groin. Paul hit the Paulverizer on Styles and then exited the ring…
Powell’s POV: A pretty basic build to the expected WrestleMania match. The most notable aspect of the segment was that Paul had mega heat.
[Hour Three] Backstage, Jackie Redmond spoke with Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria, who thanked Bayley for having her back with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Valkyria said she has to make it clear that she can stand on her own two feet. Valkyria said Bayley is the only person who beat her since she won the title and it’s driving her crazy. Valkyria said they would have a rematch for the Intercontinental Title on next week’s Raw. The crowd sang the Bayley song…
Cole hyped WrestleMania After Dark, which prompted Cole to do a “Staying Alive” dance… They recapped
Cole hyped next week’s Raw in Minneapolis as the PENULTIMATE edition before WrestleMania and listed the following matches and segments: Lyra Valkyria vs. Bayley for the Intercontinental Championship, El Grande Americano in action, and Seth Rollins returns…
Bianca Belair made her entrance for the main event… [C] Rhea Ripley made her entrance, and then Iyo Sky’s entrance followed. Cole hyped Finn Balor as the guest on Tuesday’s Raw Recap show…
4. Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship with Bianca Belair as special referee. Alicia Taylor delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Sky threw a light dropkick at Ripley, who bounced off the ropes and put Sky down with a clothesline. [C]
Sky went for a Poision Rana while Ripley was standing on the middle rope, but Ripley stuffed it. Ripley put Sky on her shoulders and went for a Samoan Drop, but apparently Sky turned it into a crucifix bomb and got a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Sky went for a top rope crossbody block, but Ripley headbutted her and then covered her for a near fall of her own. Ripley set up for her finisher, but Sky countered into a guillotine. Ripley powered out of that and hit a Razor’s Edge. Ripley drilled Sky with a running knee strike and then covered her for a near fall. Ripley protested Belair’s count. Cole said it was a good count and it appeared that Ripley was just getting frustrated.
Ripley set up Sky for a Riptide, but Sky slipped behind her and rolled her into a pin for a two count. Ripley threw a kick at Sky, who moved, causing Ripley’s kick to hit Belair and knock her out of the ring. Ripley hit Sky with a Riptide and got a visual pinfall while Belair was down at ringside. Ripley looked down at Belair and told her to count.
Belair entered the ring and counted the pin, but Sky kicked out. Belair stumbled around the ring and sold Ripley’s kick while holding up two fingers. Ripley barked at Belair and pointed at the WWE logo on her top. Sky grabbed Ripley. Ripley and Sky were tied up in the ropes. Belair pulled Ripley off Sky. Ripley slapped Belair. Sky went for a missile dropkick that Ripley avoided and it took out Belair. Ripley hit Sky. Belair called for the bell.
Iyo Sky fought Rhea Ripley to a double disqualification in 14:45 to retain the Women’s World Championship.
Afterward, Ripley went to ringside and hit Belair, who fought back. Ripley and Belair traded punches until Sky hit them with a dive from the ring. Sky got Ripley in the ring and threw punches at her until Belair pulled her off and worked her over. Ripley pulled Belair off Sky and then put Belair down with a Riptide. Ripley picked up Sky and gave her the Riptide.
Ripley stood tall while Cole said the problem is that Ripley still isn’t going to WrestleMania. A “one more time” chant broke out as Ripley was leaving. Ripley stopped and listened to the crowd. Ripley pulled Belair up to the middle rope and then hit the Riptide on her. Ripley jawed at Belair and then walked over to Sky and did the same. Ripley picked up the title belt and held it above her head while Cole said it’s still scheduled to be Sky vs. Belair at WrestleMania. The executive producer credits were shown while Cole said thanks for three weeks in Europe before adding that he’d see everyone in Minnesota…
Powell’s POV: A well worked main event, but I found myself struggling to take the match seriously because I assumed there would be a cheap finish. I’m still not a fan of the decision to take the title off Ripley to presumably set up a Triple Threat match for WrestleMania.
Overall, the show peaked with the John Cena and Cody Rhodes segment. There are two episodes of Raw left before WrestleMania. It’s odd that they didn’t make more matches official, but they definitely set the table for some additional matches during this episode. I will have more to say during my same day/night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Dragon, not Clubber
Drago.
Damn auto correct
Creed, not Crews
They kicked off Jey’s intro music early oops.
The favor is Punk challenging Cena or Rhodes.
I think it’s more likely that the favor is Heyman walking Punk down the aisle and being in his corner instead of the OTCs.
We’ll see,but that doesn’t seem like a good enough favor to me.
Fans singing the Bayley song and she’s not even there.
Lol
What is the Bayley song and why do they say it?
Not sure of the name of it actually,but some of the lyrics are Heeeeeyyyy we want some Bayley…I think.
https://genius.com/Bruce-channel-hey-baby-lyrics
It’s official the triple threat is night 1 main event as expected,but as I said earlier Punk might be in the night 2 main event as well.
Jason I know you love that word PENULTIMATE
Jason, you didn’t post “REF BUMP!!!” when Ripley kicked Bianca :'(
Yeah, okay I was wrong. The triple threat main events night one and not night two. I was fooled and it wasn’t even April 1. But a main is a main, and I agree with McGuire’s Mondays. Thank you, AEW! And I’ll add – in true DX style – SUCK IT!!!
Rhea screwed Rhea.
They really made Rhea’s character out to be a heelish, sore loser whiner with this storyline. They could have teased Bianca and Iyo, and just had Rhea interrupt the contract signing and say, “I never got my rematch, and I want it at WM.”
It dix not have to be complicated or out-of-character.