WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From March 10
The intensely personal feud between CM Punk and Seth Rollins wrote its latest chapter as WWE returned to the mecca of professional wrestling, Madison Square Garden, Monday night for Raw on Netflix.
The steel cage match between the two rivals headlined a packed episode that also featured men's Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso in action for the first time since his triumph on Feb. 1, as well as AJ Styles calling out Logan Paul.
What went down in the main event and what did it mean for this road to WrestleMania in Las Vegas on April 19-20?
Find out with this recap, complete with live grades and analysis for every match and segment.
Match Card
1 of 9
Announced in advance of Monday's show were:
* Steel Cage match: CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
* Tornado Tag Team match: Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee vs. The New Day
* Jey Uso vs. Grayson Waller
* AJ Styles calls out Logan Paul
Jey Uso vs. Grayson Waller
2 of 9
The product of a backstage confrontation that devolved into physicality a week ago, Jey Uso battled Grayson Waller to kick off Monday's show.
Waller was game, producing one of his better singles performances in recent memory as he overwhelmed Uso and cut him off at multiple points.
However, the men's Rumble winner overcame a distraction by Austin Theory and superkicked him off the apron before flattening Waller with a Spear for the win.
Uso weathered a post-match attack by A-Town Down Under, only to fall prey to a Sleeper from Gunther, who stood tall to close out the segment, much to the dismay of the fans in MSG.
This was a hot, energetic way to open the show.
Even if there was little chance of Waller actually winning, he still showed out. Uso won, and Gunther got some retribution after weeks of his WrestleMania opponent getting one over on him. This all worked.
Result
Uso defeated Waller
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* They say if a Superstar can get over in New York, they can get over anywhere. If Monday is any indication, Uso is over with the WWE Universe. As over as any other Superstar in the company.
* Waller recognized the spotlight this match had and really shined here, approaching the contest with tremendous energy and never giving Uso a chance to fully recover.
Logan Paul Calls Out AJ Styles
3 of 9
We are no closer to an AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul match at WrestleMania 41 after the events of Monday's show, but it does appear as if that is the direction things are heading.
Paul hit the ring, insulted the fans in New York, offered his services to The Rock and attempted to get comedian Andrew Schulz to admit he was there to see the social media megastar.
Instead, Schulz declined, telling Paul no one was there to see him. When the former United States champion threatened him, Styles made the save and delivered a Phenomenal Forearm to send The Maverick scurrying to the floor.
This was fine for what it was, which was the latest chapter in a rivalry that will likely culminate on April 19-20 at WrestleMania in Las Vegas.
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* WWE is now selling "I Hate Logan Paul" shirts. It might prove to be the best-selling piece of merchandise in the YouTuber's run with the company if the deafening jeers directed his way were any indication.
* "Dwayne, The Rock, The Final Boss...whatever we're calling you now...consider my soul for sale," Paul said, potentially laying the groundwork for a story development in the near future.
* Styles absolutely rocked Paul with the Phenomenal Forearm.
Tornado Tag Team Match: Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee vs. The New Day
4 of 9
Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee wasted little time taking the fight to The New Day, leaving Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods reeling early in their Tornado Tag Team match.
The heels seized control during the break, though, when they downed their rivals.
The action picked up in the second half and the crowd invested in it. As Lee and Mysterio rolled, a masked man (quite obviously Chad Gable) came from out of nowhere to attack the Hall of Famer and leave him laying following a delayed German suplex.
The New Day capitalized to score the victory, despite a hobbled Woods, and inched closer to a tag team title opportunity.
This was a tale of two matches as it started slow and struggled to get the crowd into it early, but everything post-commercial break was a hit, culminating with the Gable run-in that should lead to a high-profile match against Mysterio at some point on this road to WrestleMania.
Result
The New Day defeated LWO
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* "Why'd you have to do that? In front of Kevin McAllister," Pat McAfee said on commentary in regard to Woods and Kingston's actions, which occurred just feet from Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin at ringside.
* Lee delivered a hurricanrana that sent Woods onto table that did not initially break, leaving the latter nursing a clearly banged-up back for the rest of the match.
* "Who was that?" McAfee screamed in reference to the masked man who attacked Mysterio, despite everyone knowing that it was Chad Gable, thanks in large part to the American Made logo on the mask.
* A (likely) disingenuous Dominik Mysterio informed Finn Bálor that he got him an Intercontinental Championship match with Bron Breakker before flashing an ominous look at Liv Morgan, suggesting The Judgment Day is headed for an implosion.
Cody Rhodes Promo
5 of 9
Undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes entered MSG to a thunderous ovation, with fans singing along to his "Kingdom" entrance music.
With his eye still bruised from the attack by John Cena and cheap shot by rapper Travis Scott, Rhodes told the fans that their former hero no longer thought it pertinent to be there for Raw though he would grace the WWE Universe with his presence next week in Brussels.
The American Nightmare ended an impassioned promo by vowing Cena's 17th world title will not happen and he will prove to the former franchise star who the team captain is now.
This was more mic excellence from the most captivating talker in WWE today. Rhodes laid out the story, hyped next week's show in Belgium and continued to set the scene for the biggest match of the year.
It was short and to the point and, more importantly, it got Rhodes back in front of the Raw audience, one that has been missing the top star in the industry on Monday nights.
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
* The champion revealed he and Cena will be in the same building for the first time since Elimination Chamber next Monday night in Brussels as Raw goes international.
* Rhodes said "17 does not happen" and he will defeat his hero at WrestleMania and Cena will find out that he is the captain now.
Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez
6 of 9
Bayley and Raquel Rodriguez squared off with a future shot at Lyra Valkyria's Women's Intercontinental Championship up for grabs.
Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio accompanied Rodriguez, who dominated the action throughout the commercial break.
The Role Model fought her way back into the contest, downing her larger opponent and delivering a "Macho Man" Randy Savage-esque top rope elbow drop for two.
However, distractions by Morgan and Mysterio took Bayley's attention away from Rodriguez and allowed Big Mami Cool to send her into the commentary table, then finish her off moments later with the Tejada Bomb.
The match was fine but the crowd struggled to get into this, thanks in large part to a lack of interest in Rodriguez's one-dimensional character and a Bayley they have seen lose more than win of late.
Rodriguez vs. Valkyria will make for an interesting contest, as will the outcome. Does WWE dare book the heel to go over and set up a scenario in which Morgan chases individual gold of her own?
Result
Rodriguez defeated Bayley
Grade
C
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Bayley has been one of the workhorses of WWE over the last year. Her efforts are undeniable and she really should be even more celebrated than she is.
* Rodriguez desperately needs something more than a size advantage to endear her to fans, either as a heel or a babyface. She simply isn't clicking as is.
* In a pre-taped video hyping his Intercontinental Championship match against Bálor next week, Breakker called himself "the title picture." It was a killer line.
Michael Cole Interviews Iyo Sky
7 of 9
After the stunning conclusion of last week's show saw Iyo Sky upset Rhea Ripley to win the Women's World Championship, Michael Cole welcomed her to the squared circle for an interview.
The Genius of the Sky expressed her gratitude for the fans' support and her excitement to head to WrestleMania as champion.
Cole brought out Bianca Belair, who will challenge Sky for the gold at WrestleMania 41. The EST of WWE apologized if Ripley felt disrespected by her last week but she wasn't going to let Mami or anyone put hands on her without a receipt.
This brought out the former champion and a war of words ensued. Ripley and Belair both disrespected Sky, shoving her out of the way as they continued their bickering. The champion responded by slapping both and storming off.
If it wasn't apparent before that we are headed toward a Triple Threat in Las Vegas by now, it sure was after this segment.
Sky being the disrespected underdog in comparison to the more prominently featured women is the right call.
That Belair could not offer up a valid reason for her being ringside other than the fact that she won the women's Elimination Chamber match only adds credence to the idea she was there to ensure her quest for gold did not have to go through Ripley.
And that she is perhaps more manipulative and cunning than she lets on.
This was a strong segment that did not outright confirm the suspicions of a three-way dance but inched the program ever so closely in that direction.
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Belair entered the arena more subdued and less flashy, a woman still reeling from the drama of the last week. Or perhaps someone who wants the empathy of the audience as she continues to present herself as a victim in the middle of the Jade Cargill-Naomi feud.
* Ripley's suspicions suggest she may be the woman to expose whatever skeletons are in The EST's closet.
Steel Cage Match: CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
8 of 9
The rivalry between CM Punk and Seth Rollins reignited Monday night in a brilliant steel cage match that kept fans on the edge of their collective seat and seeped with emotion.
The competitors traded finishers, with neither able to keep the other down. Rollins warned Punk that if he wanted WWE, he would have to earn it and take it from him.
Punk nearly did but Rollins fended off defeat. Late, he delivered a super stomp and GTS of his own, only for Roman Reigns to come from out of nowhere and pull The Visionary from the ring and to the floor, inadvertently delivering him the victory before obliterating him with a vicious beatdown.
Back in the ring, Paul Heyman checked on Punk, which led The Tribal Chief to attack The Best in the World and stand tall to close out the show.
For the second, consecutive segment on this show, it became readily apparent that a Triple Threat at WrestleMania is incoming. With the intersecting stories, it makes sense. Adding Heyman and his allegiances to the equation only further enhances the support for the contest.
The show-ending angle made for a great cliffhanger and should have fans tuning in next week to see what comes of it.
Result
Rollins defeated Punk
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
* The crowd was 70-30 in favor of Punk early but things grew closer, with dueling chants for each man.
* Back from the break, Punk sent The Visionary head-first into the cage with a hurricanrana, then added a GTS but was unable to follow up.
* The Second City Saint taunted Rollins with the option to walk out the cage door, to which The Visionary responded by flipping him the bird; a nice callback to earlier in the match when Rollins offered his opponent the same.
* Rollins delivered a superplex from the top of the cage that Big Boss Man and Hulk Hogan would be proud of. YouTube it.
* Punk scored a second GTS, but Rollins kicked out at two in a great false finish.
* Rollins with a great callback to the Elimination Chamber, using the same STF Cena had used against Punk to win the same-titled men's match.
Overall Grade
9 of 9
The road to WrestleMania always hits differently, with a greater sense of creative urgency at this time of year. This was no different, with feuds furthered and the bigger picture clearer than it had been previously.
Punk, Rollins and Reigns appear destined to dance on the grand stage, as do Sky, Ripley and Belair. Rhodes set the stage for a monumental night next week in Belgium with the return of Cena. Uso and Gunther have unfinished business, and The Judgment Day hangs by a thread as Mysterio appears to be manipulating Bálor.
There are any number of story threads to invest in and be excited for, such is the case when WWE's biggest show of the year approaches.
Grade: A
