WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 18
The intense rivalry between Becky Lynch and Nia Jax culminated Monday night on WWE Raw from Raleigh, North Carolina in a Last Woman Standing match.
Would The Man continue to build momentum on the Road to WrestleMania 40 and a date with women's world champion Rhea Ripley or would The Irresistible Force put a damper on her opponent's run toward Philadelphia?
Find out with this recap of the March 18 episode, which also featured the latest qualifiers for the Six-Pack Tag Team ladder match at The Show of Shows and the contract signing for intercontinental champion Gunther and Sami Zayn's clash on April 6-7.
Match Card
1 of 12Announced in advance of Monday's show:
- Last Man Standing match: Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
- Six-Pack Tag Team Qualifier ladder match: Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. Indus Sher (Veer Mahaan and Sanga)
- Six-Pack Tag Team Qualifier ladder match: DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Creed Brothers
- Six-Pack Tag Team Qualifier ladder match: Alpha Academy (Otis and Akira Tozawa) vs. The New Day (Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston)
- Contract signing for the Intercontinental Championship match between Sami Zayn and Gunther at WrestleMania 40
Jey Uso Calls Out Jimmy Uso
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Jey Uso kicked off Monday's Raw and wasted little time calling out his brother, Jimmy, just days after a match between them at WrestleMania 40 was made official.
Jimmy joined his brother in the ring, and after a few disrespectful words, found himself on the receiving end of a hard right hand from his twin. A distraction from Solo Sikoa allowed the heel to retaliate and set the stage for a two-on-one beatdown.
Cody Rhodes made the save, though, and stood tall alongside Jey to close out the opening segment.
This was great. The Usos are telling a story easy enough to understand, with great passion from both, and a crowd that is eating it all up.
Their match at WrestleMania 40 may face questions about their in-ring chemistry together, but all of the other pieces are set for a classic.
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Jey told his brother that he still misses him, no matter the bad blood between them.
- Jimmy took credit for everything big that Jey has ever accomplished.
- "No, the biggest moment of my career, my dream match, will be at WrestleMania 40, me versus you, when I knock the Yeet out of your ass."
DIY vs. The Creed Brothers
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Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano are heading to WrestleMania for the first time in their WWE careers following DIY's victory over Julius and Brutus Creed Monday night.
The win came in an action-packed in-ring opener that built gradually before unleashing a series of near-falls and false finishes, culminating with a roll-up that cashed the former NXT world champions' tickets to Philadelphia.
Even in defeat, the Creeds impressed, looking every bit the equals of their celebrated opponents while showcasing the physicality and athleticism that has defined their young careers. They are destined for great things in WWE, even if they will have to wait until after 'Mania to experience them.
Ciampa and Gargano will now advance to the biggest event of the year, where they will be one of five challengers to The Judgment Day's Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship in a Six-Pack Tag Team ladder match.
Result
DIY defeated The Creed Brothers
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Backstage, Paul Heyman caught up with Raw general manager Adam Pearce and teased that he had official business on the show later in the night and it would be unexpected.
- The innovative offense of the Creeds is always fun to watch. They work hard to keep their in-ring work fresh and lean on their athleticism to do it.
- Julius delivered a vertical suplex from his knees and then his feet, all while holding Ciampa perfectly vertical.
Katana Chance and Kayden Carter vs. Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae
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Candice LeRae's new attitude and commitment to winning matches at all costs reared its head again Monday when she teamed with Indi Hartwell to defeat former women's tag team champions Kayden Carter and Katana Chance.
LeRae mocked an apparent injury to Chance's knee and slammed the limb into the ring post before submitting her for the win.
The new LeRae is a welcome change of pace. The Poison Pixie has wandered aimlessly almost since returning to WWE, and this is the first real indication that there is a plan for her in the women's division.
Hartwell's hesitance to fully embrace the actions of her teammate and mentor suggests a split may be in the future, but this is a great and fresh direction for a performer who has long felt like she had more to offer.
Result
LeRae and Hartwell defeated Chance and Carter
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- The intensity and disregard for her opponent's well-being from LeRae was most notable here.
Cody Rhodes Responds To The Rock
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Cody Rhodes saw The Rock's concert shtick from Friday's SmackDown and raised him a seething promo in which he talked backstage politics, how unfazed his mother was by his rival's threats, and he blasted The Great One with some emphatic statements.
The handcuffs were off and this American Nightmare, sporting a black suit that represented the darker, more serious tone of his words, was the most engaging of this build to WrestleMania yet.
Paul Heyman interrupted the proceedings and laid down the challenge to Rhodes: Roman Reigns will show up Friday night for their face-to-face alone, but the two-time men's Royal Rumble winner must also arrive alone.
Rhodes accepted and wrapped up the best promo segment to date ahead of the two WrestleMania main events pitting him against The Bloodline.
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
- "Rock, I don't think you're a heel. I think you're an a--hole," Rhodes said.
- "Don't think for two seconds that this locker room needs you more than you need it."
- "This is the same lady who hopped off her chair at a Willie Nelson concert and beat the hell out of an undercover cop. She isn't afraid of you," he said of his mother's reaction to The Rock.
- "Is it going to be big Dwayne energy or just LDS: little d--k syndrome?"
- "At WrestleMania, I think you're just Roman's side chick."
- "You have referred to yourself as 'The Final Boss'. Kudos to [former WWE head writer] Brian Gewirtz for that nickname"
- "I'm about to go full Homelander and rip your throat out. Get to the point," Rhodes told Heyman.
Ricochet vs. Dominik Mysterio
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Ricochet squared off with Dominik Mysterio in a match made during a backstage segment in which Damian Priest, Finn Bálor and Rhea Ripley all chastised JD McDonagh for failing to beat The One and Only in last week's gauntlet match.
Dirty Dom would suffer the same fate as his teammate after failing to capitalize on McDonagh's interference. Ricochet downed the second-generation star with the Recoil and scored the pinfall victory.
This was a nice showcase for Ricochet and should lead to an interesting reaction from the leaders of The Judgment Day as they take exception to the failures of McDonagh and Mysterio of late.
Could we be preparing to revisit a potential breakup of the most dominant faction on Raw?
Result
Ricochet defeated Mysterio
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Backstage, Jey Uso offered to be Rhodes' backup on SmackDown if he changes his mind about showing up alone.
- Ricochet is levels above many of the wrestlers he shares the ring, and one has to wonder when we will finally see him get that sustained push befitting his talents.
Sami Zayn and Gunther Sign WrestleMania Contract
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Sami Zayn will challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40, and they signed the contract for the match Monday night.
Zayn reiterated that people have questioned his ability to be a champion throughout his career and reminded fans that The Usos probably thought he could never be the guy to end their historic tag title reign a year ago, too.
But he did.
He vowed to dethrone Gunther, who dismissed him in response, promising his dreams would face an unfortunate reality in Philadelphia and telling him that deep down, he knew he could not win.
This was a strong in-ring promo segment, with fiery mic work from Zayn and overconfidence from Gunther that The Underdog from the Underground will look to use against him at WrestleMania.
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
- "You sit there with that smug look on your face, and it's really starting to p--s me off," Zayn told The Ring General.
- "If you were to be honest to yourself, you don't believe you can beat me," Gunther said.
- "At WrestleMania, your dreams will meet reality," the champion warned.
The Awesome Truth vs. Indus Sher
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The Miz and R-Truth will be one of five teams to challenge undisputed WWE tag team champions The Judgment Day at WrestleMania after their victory over Indus Sher.
Veer Mahaan and Sanga dominated the action, overpowering Miz until a hot tag to Truth sparked the babyface comeback.
An errant elbow from Mahaan to Truth sent him backward onto Sanga, who had just endured a Truth Detector/Skull-Crushing Finale combo, for the fluke pin.
It would have been nice to see the babyfaces score a decisive win, especially since there was no reason to protect Indus Sher here, but the nature of the victory at least fits the comedic presentation of Truth, so it was consistent if nothing else.
Result
Awesome Truth defeated Indus Sher
Grade
C
Top Moments and Takeaways
- The Miz rapped with Truth on their way to the ring, recalling the early days of Awesome Truth over a decade ago.
Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre Promo
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World heavyweight champion Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre came face-to-face in the center of the ring ahead of their WrestleMania 40 clash.
Rollins admitted to being a spotlight junkie, telling his No. 1 contender that every time he steps through the ropes, it is his fix. He brought up his tag team match, with Cody Rhodes against The Rock and Roman Reigns, which The Scottish Warrior took exception to.
He questioned why the focus could not be on them and the world title rather than Rollins' need to involve himself in something that did not concern him.
The Visionary said McIntyre has wanted the spotlight since he won a WrestleMania main event in front of an empty arena and then proceeded to fumble the ball. Rollins thrives under the bright lights and will do so in Philadelphia.
This was great back-and-forth that saw Rollins drop the gimmicky mic work and get serious as he continued to play mind games with his challenger. This was exactly what this feud needed with weeks still remaining in the build to the title bout.
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
- "My name is Seth 'Freakin' Rollins and I'm...I'm a spotlight junkie," the world champion said, playing up McIntyre's claims from a week ago.
- "Why can't that be the reason we're getting the biggest spotlight?" McIntyre asked Rollins, questioning why the attention has to be on The Visionary's match with The Rock and Roman Reigns instead of them and their hard work.
- "That's the difference between you and me: When the lights are brightest, I shine," Rollins said.
The New Day vs. Alpha Academy
10 of 12
The New Day's Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are headed to WrestleMania following their victory over Alpha Academy's Akira Tozawa and Otis.
Kingston and Woods overcame the bowling ball-like offense of Otis, fighting through the punishment caused by his power to secure the win.
The victory returns Kingston to The Showcase of the Immortals, the site of the greatest triumph in his career, a WWE Championship victory over Daniel Bryan in 2019.
It would be fair to say that, as great as New Day are, the momentum is not quite on their side as it was on that night, making the likelihood of a repeat of KofiMania fairly low.
Result
The New Day defeated Alpha Academy
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Otis exploded into the match and wore out Woods and Kingston with his power. He's a big man who does the most with what he has and continues to be among the more entertaining watches in the company.
- Kingston delivered a tornado DDT to take Otis out of the equation, allowing Woods to deliver a sit-out powerbomb to Tozawa and finish him off with a tightrope elbow drop for the win.
Last Woman Standing Match: Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax
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Becky Lynch settled her rivalry with Nia Jax Monday, defeating her in a Last Woman Standing match.
The Man took big bumps and suffered tremendous punishment at the hands of The Irresistible Force. She was driven through tables, slammed into chairs and endured a banzai drop, but she fought through the pain to stay in the match.
Ultimately, Lynch showed the extent to which she was willing to go to defeat Jax, diving off a ladder and driving her through the announce table with a leg drop to score the victory.
This was a fun, weapon-filled brawl that allowed The Man to wrap up the loose end that was the Jax feud before shifting her focus to Rhea Ripley, who closed out the show by making her way to the ring and confronting her rival face-to-face.
That match may not be in one of the main event positions on the WrestleMania card, but it will have the crowd heat and fervor around it to be one.
Result
Lynch defeated Jax
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Michael Cole noted on commentary that Lynch passed her test Sunday to become an American citizen. Congratulations to The Man.
- Lynch and Jax's battle with a stubborn table at ringside proved to be more amusing than it should have been.
- The heel delivered a wicked Samoan Drop onto steel chairs.
- Lynch blinded Jax with a fire extinguisher, turning the tide of the match in her favor. For a moment, that is, as The Irresistible Force caught her charging in and delivered a Samoan Drop through a table.
- The Man delivered a Manhandle Slam off the apron and through a table but still could not keep Jax down.
Overall Grade
12 of 12A strong main event, plus a great tag team match between DIY and The Creed Brothers coupled with stellar promo segments involving Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre, helped make this Raw an easy thumbs-up.
Most everything served a purpose. The creative was focused, and we saw great performances from Rhodes and Rollins in particular.
The WWE product remains hot, and the fans have helped elevate the overall quality of Raw and SmackDown. This was no different.
Next week, the flagship heads to Chicago and will include a special appearance from CM Punk. Expect more of the same then.
Grade: B+
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