Posted on 3/10/126 by Bob Magee
Show Recap —
Penta (wearing no makeup under his mask), Asuka and Kairi
Sane (with Iyo Sky looking on from the hallway), Oba Femi,
Rusev, and CM Punk were shown arriving at Climate Pledge
Arena in Seattle.
There was a long recap video of Seth Rollins attacking Paul
Heyman last week.
Adam Pearce was in the ring to start the show. Pearce said
he had some unfortunate business to attend to, and he called
out Seth Rollins. He figured Rollins was in the building
because he knew The Vision was.
At least a dozen masked men appeared ringside (and the crowd
chanted, “Holy shit” for some reason). They scampered around
the ring to cause confusion and, as Michael Cole stated,
played some sort of shell game. This was pointless. They all
left the ring to leave one man standing—Seth Rollins, of
course. Rollins works there, so I’m not sure why he went
through all this trouble. Even Pearce questioned why he did
this.
Pearce also questioned Rollins’ recent attacks on the
Vision, wondering what would happen once Rollins’ plan
didn’t work. Pearce reiterated that Rollins was not cleared,
and if the Vision got their hands on him, it would be the
end of Seth Rollins.
Logan Paul and Austin Theory, the remaining members of the
Vision, interrupted. They wanted to be the ones responsible
for Rollins’ end. They hit the apron, but the many masked
men entered the ring to guard Rollins. Rollins put his mask
back on as the others played their distraction game again,
allowing Rollins to escape. (This looked so silly.)
With Rollins gone, LA Knight marched out to attack Theory
and Paul. He was overwhelmed, so The Usos ran out to help
him out and clear the ring. The three babyfaces posed
together as the heels left.
(This was a nonsense segment. I understand Rollins being
elusive to escape The Vision at full strength, but they’re
down to their two least intimidating members.)
Cole announced there was no timetable for Heyman’s return.
Jackie Redmon caught up to the Usos, who seemed like they
were about to leave the arena already. They said they had
receipts for the Vision. Jey was red-hot, but Jimmy was more
even-keeled. Redmond asked about CM Punk’s comments to Roman
Reigns. Jey didn’t want to comment, and he was ready to go,
but Jimmy did have something he wanted to say. They made
their way back in the direction they came from.
********
Women’s Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s
Gauntlet Match
– Lyra Valkyria vs. IYO SKY
Valkyria dropped Sky off the top rope to take control ahead
of a break. Sky hit a flapjack as they returned and
continued with strikes, a butterfly backbreaker, and a
corner meteora. Valkyria came back with an enziguri, a
tornado DDT, and a high-angle fisherman’s suplex for two.
Sky countered a Nightwing with a double foot stomp, buzzsaw
kick to the head, and a moonsault for the pinfall win.
Match result: IYO SKY eliminated Lyra Valkyria (9:21)
– IYO SKY vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Rodriguez had control from the onset and hit a shoulder
tackle, which saw Sky take a great-looking bump. As in the
previous match, Sky was worked over throughout the entirety
of a commercial break. When they returned, Sky hit a
hurricanrana off the top and followed with a missile
dropkick.
Sky woke up the crowd by doing her pose. She hit the meteora
and went for a moonsault, but Liv Morgan appeared at
ringside to distract her, and Rodriguez knocked her off the
top.
Stephanie Vaquer ran out to attack Morgan all the way to the
back. Sky flew off the top and captured Rodriguez in a small
package for the pinfall win.
— Rodriguez was pissed, so she booted Sky out of the ring,
lawn-darted her into the ring post, and hit a Tejana Bomb
onto the edge of the ring.
Match result: IYO SKY eliminated Raquel Rodriguez (6:18)
– Ivy Nile vs. IYO SKY
Ivy Nile sprinted out and immediately covered Sky for the
surprise elimination.
The crowd liked Sky, so the Rodriguez post-match beat-down
and this elimination got a lot of heat.
Match result: Ivy Nile eliminated IYO SKY (0:05)
– Ivy Nile vs. Bayley
Bayley made the mistake of checking on Sky as she entered,
so Nile attacked her from behind and held control throughout
an early commercial break. Bayley fought back when they
returned with suplexes and a diving elbow drop for two. Nile
responded with a German suplex for two. With Nile seated on
the middle turnbuckle, Bayley ran up from behind and hit her
own German suplex for two.
Nile followed with an impressive delayed vertical suplex
(which got a round of applause) for two. Nile then hit a
superplex and a spinning Uranage, but Bayley fell out of the
ring. Nile went after her, so Bayley drove her into the ring
steps.
Bayley hit an elbow drop on the apron and followed with
Bayley-to-belly for the pinfall elimination.
Match result: Bayley eliminated Ivy Nile (9:10)
– Bayley vs. Asuka (w/ Kairi Sane)
This was the final match in the gauntlet.
As Asuka entered with Sane, Bayley immediately nailed her
with a suicide dive. (There was a great slow-motion replay
of this. Sane was posing for the camera as her friend got
wiped out behind her.) Despite the dive, they had to follow
their usual pattern. Sane distracted Bayley, and Asuka
kicked her in the head to take control ahead of an early
break.
Asuka had control through the break, but when they returned,
Bayley hit a sunset flip powerbomb into the bottom
turnbuckle for two. Asuka applied an ankle lock, but as
Bayley got close to the rope, Asuka dropped into a cradle
for two. Bayley applied an ankle lock/leg lock of her own,
but Asuka got a rope break. Asuka hit an elevated knee, but
Bayley fought back with a running knee strike for two. Asuka
hit a series of strikes, which led to a two count. They
traded counters until Bayley hit a Bayley-to-belly for a
nearfall.
Asuka distracted the referee so that Sane could attack
Bayley outside the ring, but Valkyria flew in and dropkicked
Sane into the side of the ring. Bayley tried a diving elbow,
but Asuka countered into an Asuka Lock. Bayley countered
into a cover, but Asuka’s shoulders were up, so Bayley
picked her up and hit Rose Plant for the pinfall win.
Bayley is now the number one contender for AJ Lee’s IC
title. Bayley posed with Valkyria in the ring, while Asuka
confronted Sane outside of it.
Match result: Bayley eliminated Asuka to win the gauntlet
match (8:48)
********
There was a video package of Punk’s encounter with Reigns
last week.
Nattie cut a promo on the stage on Maxxine Dupri during a
break until she was attacked from behind by Dupri. Officials
pulled Dupri away, so Nattie popped up and decked her.
Danhausen approached Original Grande Americano (Chad Gable)
backstage. Danhausen was cheered. He tried to take
Americano’s mask to try it on, but Americano told him never
to touch a luchador’s mask. Americano wanted him to leave so
he could focus on his upcoming IC title match. Danhausen
didn’t appreciate being shooed away, so he cursed Gable (and
the crowd sang along). Gable was unconcerned with being
cursed.
********
Penta entered with his new IC title belt, and he cut a
strong promo. He thanked his family, his friends, the
company, and the fans. He thanked anyone who believed in
him. He also thanked himself because he believed he could
achieve the IC title. The title was not just for him; it was
for everyone who did not give up. He represented all of
them. He was their new IC champion, ready to make history.
He fired up and cut the rest of his promo in Spanish, and
the fans were into him.
El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) entered, but of course,
he is not Penta’s opponent. Penta was hot over this, but he
invited El Grande into the ring anyway.
Cole wasn’t sure what was going on because Penta was
supposed to face Gable Americano, but Corey Graves said this
could be because of Danhausen’s curse.
Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) vs. El Grande
Americano (Ludwig Kaiser)
This started during a break, and they went to another break
minutes later. So the first 9 minutes or so included about 5
minutes of commercials.
I mentioned last week that Dominik Mysterio tied Penta’s
mask to the bottom rope, a spot they always seem to do
exclusively during commercial breaks. Well, sure enough,
Americano did the spot during a break again.
Penta fought back after the break, hitting a flip dive and
flying crossbody for two. Americano responded with a
spinebuster for two. Penta hit a superkick, but Americano
countered a Destroyer attempt into a Finlay roll for two.
Americano came off the middle rope, but Penta caught him
with a Codebreaker and followed with a Canadian Destroyer
for the decisive pinfall win.
Match result: Penta defeated El Grande Americano to retain
the Intercontinental Championship (12:10)
********
Stephanie Vaquer cut a pre-taped promo on Liv Morgan (which
included subtitles, as she went back and forth between
English and Spanish). Vaquer said she knew how good Morgan
was and how hard she had trained since being signed at 20.
But she hated Morgan’s stupid laugh and that she was too
ignorant to use her skills. Morgan hid behind a trashy man
and sent her friends to do her dirty work. Morgan claimed
Vaquer came from “mud huts,” but she was proud of where she
came from.
Vaquer was forged from her experiences. They took different
roads to get there, but both had the skill to be there. The
difference was that Morgan became lazy. Morgan saw herself
as a cheap blonde and always took the easy way to win
championships. She would need to bring every trick to
WrestleMania because Vaquer would bring blood, sweat, and
her experience. Vaquer would continue to make history as
world champion.
They cut to Morgan backstage, pissed at Vaquer for saying
she hid behind her friends. She was with JD McDonagh and
Rodriguez, and she told Rodriguez she would help her get
back in the title picture. Dom stormed in and asked if
they’d seen Finn Bálor. They said no, but McDonagh went to
look for him.
********
Danhausen entered during a break. He was universally
cheered. (Doing this during a break was likely a test to see
how the fans would react.) Danhausen handed out t-shirts
and did his catchphrase. (The t-shirts were probably also a
backup plan in case he got booed. I think they’re in the
clear now.)
********
José Valenzuela was in the front row, as were Mike Morris
and Ernest Jones of the Super Bowl Champion Seattle
Seahawks.
Dominik Mysterio and Finn Bálor segment
Dom entered with Morgan and Rodriguez. He was upset about
losing the IC title. He wanted a rematch and thought he
should still be champion, but he wasn’t because of Finn
Bálor. Dom didn’t want to do this in public, but Bálor was
making him.
Bálor entered with McDonagh. Dom asked where the hell he’s
been. Dom hoped Bálor was there to tell him that he got him
an IC title rematch.
Bálor said Dom was right. If it weren’t for him, Dom would
still be IC champion. For that, Bálor was sorry. Bálor was
just trying to help and teach him a lesson. Judgment Day was
a family, and they’d always have Dom’s back.
Bálor knew Dom wanted to be the greatest Mysterio of all-
time, but he had to learn to fight his own battles. Bálor
has been trying to guide him for two years, but the more he
did that, the more he realized Dom’s dad was right. “Maybe
you are just a spoiled little prick.” (I think he said
“prick” anyway. They censored it. Since when is “prick” a
swear?)
Dom shoved Bálor, so Bálor dropped him with a Pelé Kick.
Bálor was about to pummel Dom, but McDonagh pulled him off
to calm him down. Dom tried to sneak attack, so Bálor hit
him with a slingblade.
Bálor set up for a running dropkick, but McDonagh levelled
him with a clothesline. (This was meant to be a shocking
moment with JD turning on his long-time friend, and the
crowd reacted as such, but Cole sure didn’t.)
The entire Judgment Day (Dom, Morgan, Rodriguez and JD) put
the boots to Bálor before Dom grabbed the bell hammer. Bálor
tried to fight back, but Dom clocked him with the hammer.
McDonagh held Bálor down against the rope allowing Dom to
hit a 619, as the crowd told Dom that he sucked. Dom hit a
frog splash. McDonagh placed a steel chair on Bálor, and Dom
hit another frog splash.
(This was a good, simple angle. Bálor is finally a babyface
and finally out of Judgment Day.)
********
Backstage, Pearce put over Je’Von Evans’ performance in the
Elimination Chamber and saw big things for him in 2026.
Evans said he wouldn’t let him down. Pearce told him to
enjoy the week, and Evans was pleasantly surprised to hear
he had the whole week off.
Evans was approached by Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller.
Waller tried confronting him, but Kingston told Waller to
leave.
Kingston told Evans that they got off on the wrong foot.
Xavier Woods got injured, and Offset was out of line.
Kinston got offended and took it out on Evans. But the truth
was, Evans reminded him of himself.
Kingston became WWE Champion and thought Evans could do the
same. Evans just needed the right team behind him. Evans was
about to turn him down, but Kingston told him to think about
it. Kingston offered a handshake. Evans didn’t shake his
hand, but did say he’d think about it.
********
Redmond interviewed Bayley about her IC title match next
week. Bayley thanked Valkyria for having her back earlier.
She called AJ Lee a legend, and if it wasn’t for her, a lot
of them wouldn’t be there now. The IC title was one she’s
wanted to win since it was created. Bayley also offered
Valkyria a shot if she won.
Oba Femi vs. Rusev
Femi was in control until Rusev kicked him off the apron,
drove him into the ring post, and hit a spinning heel kick
that sent Femi into the announce table. Rusev hit a Machka
kick in the ring, but Femi exploded out of the corner with
an uppercut. Femi followed with a biel and Fall from Grace
for the pinfall win.
This was all this needed to be.
Match result: Oba Femi defeated Rusev (3:07)
********
Next week on Raw in San Antonio:
Brock Lesnar appears (presumably without Paul Heyman)
AJ Lee (c) vs. Bayley for the Women’s Intercontinental
Championship
Original El Grande Americano vs. El Grande Americano
Roman Reigns appears
********
Main event segment with CM Punk and The Usos
Punk entered to a big reaction. He signed autographs and
shook hands with fans during a break. He gave a shout-out to
the Seahawks.
Punk admitted he wasn’t sure how the fans would react to
him. He thought some of them would be mad at him. Some
people were upset about things he said last week. One thing
in particular was categorized as disrespectful.
He knew Roman Reigns never respected him. But Punk would
force him to respect the position he held. Championships
were made to find out who the best were. The best go on to
defend their championships. This title, in particular, was
created because Reigns shunned his championship
responsibilities and refused to defend his title.
Punk defended his title because he was proud of it, and the
fans deserved a fighting champion. When Punk defended the
title, he levelled up the competition. If you faced him, you
had to level up physically and verbally. Otherwise, he would
leave you dumbfounded and slack-jawed like Reigns was last
week. Unfortunately, Punk lowered himself to Reigns’ level,
and it’s been on his mind all week.
The Usos entered. Jey was red hot and told Punk to apologize
right now. Punk asked why Reigns was still sending his
cousins to do his heavy-lifting. Jey said they came out
there on their own and told him again to apologize.
Jimmy said this had nothing to do with Reigns and everything
to do with respect. Jimmy told “Phil” that he respected him
because he spoke from his mind and ran right through his
obstacles. Jimmy said Punk called himself the voice of the
voiceless, and he could talk trash about Reigns all he
wanted, but he disrespected their late uncle, who had no
voice. Jimmy told Punk to apologize.
Punk said Jimmy was right. Sika didn’t have a voice. Punk
wasn’t spiritual, but he knew the Usos were. He asked if
they believed Sika could hear them now. Jimmy said yes. Punk
hoped he could hear this.
Punk said he was friends with the Usos, and he went back a
long way with their family. He respected Sika, but didn’t
know him as well as he knew Afa. When he lived in
Philadelphia, he would drive to Allentown, Pennsylvania, to
wrestle. He wouldn’t say he wrestled for free. Afa was
generous enough to give him gas money, food or a roof over
his head if needed. But Punk was really paid in knowledge,
sitting under the Wild Samoan’s learning tree. It was a
thrill to sit in the back of a pick-up truck with Samu and
have him drop knowledge.
Everyone in their family showed him respect—except for that
one son of a bitch. If the Usos believed that Sika could
hear and see this, then Sika could also see what a lying,
conniving, backstabbing, manipulative, gaslighting,
egotistical, narcissistic, plastic, politician his son Roman
is.
Jey got in Punk’s face and reminded him that this wasn’t
about Reigns. He told Punk to apologize. (Some fans chanted,
“Say ‘you’re sorry.’”)
Punk shook each of their hands and said, “I’m sorry. I’m
sorry Roman Reigns treated the two of you and the rest of
his family in the Bloodline like garbage for years and never
once came out here publicly to apologize for the way he
treated his ‘family’ that he loves.”
Punk was sorry that Reigns disrespected one of his mentors,
Dusty Rhodes, when he called him irrelevant and was somehow
not on the hook for apologizing, but Punk somehow was. He
was sorry that Reigns had tricked everyone into thinking
that he gave a single damn about any of them or any of this.
Because if Reigns did care about them or the people or him
or the business, Punk would be talking to him right now
instead of his young boys.
Punk shoved the mic into Jey’s chest, so Jey shoved him
back. Punk was about to return the favour, but Jimmy dropped
him with a right hand. Punk sat up and watched as Jimmy and
Jey left the ring.