WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From March 23

The road to WrestleMania 42 rolled through Boston Monday night as WWE presented another explosive episode of Raw, headlined by appearances from Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Becky Lynch.

What went down when those four Superstars took to the squared circle Monday night, their paths to WrestleMania on center stage for the WWE Universe to see?

Find out with this recap of the March 23 broadcast, which also featured a high-stakes bout pitting The Usos against The Vision.

Match Card

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Announced for Monday's show were:

CM Punk and Roman Reigns under the same roof

Becky Lynch promo

Brock Lesnar promo

The Usos vs. Logan Paul and Austin Theory

Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. The Kabuki Warriors

Je'Von Evans vs. Grayson Waller

Intercontinental Championship Match: Penta (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio

Brock Lesnar Promo

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Last Time in Action: Brock Lesnar lost the Royal Rumble Match (Royal Rumble, January 31)

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On the heels of a shocking attack at the hands of his now-WrestleMania opponent Oba Femi, Brock Lesnar took to the squared circle to kick off Monday's show.

Paul Heyman claimed the "over-hyped ruler" Femi took advantage of the fact that Lesnar had combated a dozen masked men and laid him out. He was defiant in his denouncement of the idea that Femi would be the star to slay The Beast, reminding the audience that not even John Cena or AJ Styles could.

Femi entered the arena and once again stood across the ring from Lesnar. A brawl ensued and The Conqueror attempted an F-5. The former NXT champion wiggled free and dumped the future Hall of Famer over the top rope and to the floor. The heels retreated and Femi stood tall for the second week in a row.

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Grade

B

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Top Takeaways

Lesnar's new "FAF5" shirt is suitably badass.

Despite the defiance in his voice, Heyman sounded shaken, as if he understood that Femi is every bit the threat to his client that the advocate had professed he was not. Little things like that add to the Hall of Famer's performance and set him apart from other talkers in the industry.

Lesnar is in overdrive when it comes to selling for Femi. Hopefully, that bleeds over to WrestleMania, and, win, lose, or draw, he puts The Ruler over as strongly as possible, because these first two weeks of this program have been as perfectly booked as it gets.

The Usos vs. The Vision

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Last Time in Action: The Usos and LA Knight lost to The Vision (Raw, February 16); Logan Paul lost the Elimination Chamber Match to Randy Orton (Elimination Chamber, February 28); Austin Theory lost to Jimmy Uso (Raw, March 2)

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The rivalry between The Usos and The Vision wrote its latest chapter Monday night when the two teams clashed in no-title action.

The match was a fairly standard contest, interrupted by a commercial break, that culminated with a late-match appearance by LA Knight. Just as Logan Paul and Austin Theory appeared poised to steal a win from Jimmy and Jey, The Megastar prevented Paul from utilizing brass knuckles. Jey Uso picked the weapon up and clocked Theory with it, drawing the disqualification.

Still fuming, Uso rocked Paul with it to send an emphatic message: the former world champion is done playing.

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Result

Paul and Theory defeated The Usos via disqualification

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Grade

C+

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Top Takeaways

Jey has been noticeably less YEET-y since Roman Reigns returned and The Bloodline has been featured more prominently, as if the cheap shot from The OTC to the former world champion in the Royal Rumble knocked some seriousness back into his cousin.

Michael Cole recapped Paul's weekend interactions with Tom Brady, in case there were any questions that the greatest quarterback in WWE history is potentially involved in WrestleMania plans.

And right on cue, Jey flashes a more serious, unhinged side of himself by leveling both Paul and Theory with brass knuckles, thus putting him and Jimmy in a position to have to defend their titles against The Vision at WrestleMania.

The segment did more to create intrigue in Jey and the next chapter of his story than to get fans to care about the 1,000th match featuring these two teams.

Becky Lynch Promo

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Last Time in Action: Becky Lynch lost to AJ Lee (Elimination Chamber, February 28)

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Becky Lynch took to the squared circle to address her attack on AJ Lee last week. She talked about legitimizing the Women's Intercontinental Championship, only for fans to cheer AJ Lee over her.

Lee eventually interrupted the proceedings, chasing Lynch out of the ring before issuing the foregone conclusion challenge: a match between the two at WrestleMania 42.

And just like that, another marquee match featuring the women's division was added to the biggest card of the year.

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Grade

B

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Top Takeaways

"I murdered the Divas Era!" What a line from Lynch. Justifiably, and thankfully, so.

Lee and Lynch feel like a match that needs a stipulation, but as it stands, it is still a star-studded contest between two of the most influential and important women in pro wrestling history.

This felt like more of the same, but Lynch is great, and this promo was the most intense Lee has delivered since she returned, elevating the quality despite the lack of creative effort.

Backstage, Jey Uso continued to tout protecting the family, going as far as to threaten LA Knight if he continues to talk down on Roman Reigns. Foreshadowing, anyone?

Je'Von Evans vs. Grayson Waller

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Last Time in Action: Je'Von Evans defeated Dragon Lee (Main Event, March 12); Grayson Waller defeated Shiloh Hill (Main Event, March 19)

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Je'Von Evans continued his recent string of success, defeating Grayson Waller in singles competition Monday night.

An Evans victory never appeared in doubt as The Young OG was clearly spotlighted, battling back into the match and delivering the damnedest super hurricanrana from the top rope, then finishing his stunned opponent off with an OG Cutter.

After the match, Kofi Kingston told Waller he was not going to get him disqualified, giving his associate a little tough love in the wake of his latest defeat.

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Result

Evans defeated Waller

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Grade

C+

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Top Takeaways

Kingston and Waller audibly bickered, lending credence to the idea that the Aussie could be splitting from New Day sooner rather than later.

Evans launched himself through the ropes with such speed and force that he nearly wiped himself out, as Waller had no chance to catch him.

The NXT export continued to impress and had the fans in Boston behind him as he rolled to another win. Evans is a star of the future, the type who will carry the company into its next generation. There was not much to this one, but Evans shone brightest, as he should have.

Paul Heyman Called Out Seth Rollins

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The Wise Man returned to the squared circle, where he addressed the recent issues he had with Seth "Freakin" Rollins.

Heyman suggested that Rollins come down and put him out of his misery, then said a man has to do what a man has to do as The Visionary appeared on the announce table.

From there, police officers appeared at ringside and escorted Rollins through the crowd as Heyman revealed he snitched and filed a restraining order against him. The Godfather of Extreme goaded The Architect into attacking him, speaking of his wife and daughter. Rollins bit, clocked the Hall of Famer, and exited the arena in handcuffs.

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Grade

B-

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Top Takeaways

Heyman was at his slimy best here, touching on topics he knew would fire Rollins up and get him to react exactly as he intended. It was great stuff from the ickiest, most despicable villain on the roster.

The Rollins-Heyman feud continues to feel like it is in a holding pattern until it is determined exactly who will be cleared when, and if a WrestleMania match-up is in the cards for The Visionary. Could Bron Breakker make it back in time?

Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. The Kabuki Warriors

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Last Time in Action: Lyra Valkyria and Asuka lost a No. 1 Contender's Gauntlet to Bayley (Raw, March 9); Bayley lost to AJ Lee (Raw, March 16); Kairi Sane lost to Tiffany Stratton (SmackDown, February 27)

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Bayley and Lyra Valkyria earned a big victory in their pursuit of a shot at the Women's Tag Team Championships, defeating Asuka and Kairi Sane in a momentum-building match-up Monday night.

A good, competitive match saw several near-falls down the stretch, with Bayley expressing frustration over her seeming inability to put The Empress of Tomorrow and The Pirate Princess away.

It led to the former world champion delivering a Bayley-to-Belly to Asuka on the commentary table, then an attempted elbow drop. Sane saved her partner, then took a baseball slide from Valkyria. Back in the ring, she succumbed to Nightwing as the babyfaces earned the win.

Afterwards, during an in-ring promo with Jackie Redmond, Bayley threw down the challenge for a match with Nia Jax and Lash Legend for a tag team title bout next week in Madison Square Garden.

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Result

Bayley and Valkyria defeated The Kabuki Warriors

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Grade

B

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Top Takeaways

It is a testament to the depth of the women's roster in 2026 that there is not a readily apparent path to WrestleMania 42 for any of the four extraordinarily talented wrestlers in this match.

Frustration is clearly setting in for Bayley and it definitely feels as though it is only a matter of time before she turns heel in pursuit of championship gold.

Sane as the subservient partner of Asuka, and the latter's treatment of her, will only result in a huge reaction when she finally stands up for herself and betrays the emotionally abusive Empress of Tomorrow.

Valkyria getting the win for the team despite Bayley's pressure-fueled frustration is a nice touch.

The two teams had tremendous in-ring chemistry, the pacing was good, the in-match storytelling worked, and the right team went over.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio

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Last Time in Action: Penta defeated Dragon Lee (Raw, March 16); Dominik Mysterio defeated El Hijo del Vikingo (AAA Rey de Reyes, March 14)

As Dominik Mysterio entered the arena, Stephanie Vaquer attacked Liv Morgan and a brawl between the women's world champion and her No. 1 contender broke out that spilled into the Gorilla Position.

Back from the break and the battle for the IC title finally took to the squared circle, a rematch pitting Mysterio against Penta. Dirty Dom jumped Penta during Alicia Taylor's ring introductions, taking the fight to the man who ended his Intercontinental Championship reign.

Mysterio controlled a large portion of the match, pushing Penta to the brink of losing his title. Late in the contest, though, he scaled the ropes for a frog splash but Finn Balor's music played and The Prince stepped through the curtain. He sent JD McDonagh flying into the production area, then watched as Penta rolled up Mysterio to win the match and retain his title.

After the match, Balor attacked Mysterio, then fended off McDonagh and stood tall to close the segment.

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Result

Penta defeated Mysterio to retain the title

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Grade

B+

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Top Takeaways

Iyo Sky as the voice of reason for Kairi Sane as she wrestles with her treatment at the hands of Asuka is a great option. There is history there dating back to Damage CTRL and beyond, and Sky is a big enough star to convince fans to buy into Sane's plight.

The match itself took a backseat, first to Vaquer's attack of Morgan, then to Balor's return. That is disappointing for Penta, who should mean more than he does right now, especially as champion and with WrestleMania on the horizon.

The reaction to Balor's return is promising and, based on the crowd's connection to Mysterio, theirs is a match that could be a sleeper candidate for one of the most anticipated matches on the WrestleMania card, if and when it is officially announced.

CM Punk and Roman Reigns Under One Roof

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Last Time in Action: CM Punk defeated Finn Balor (Elimination Chamber, February 28); Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble Match (Royal Rumble, January 31)

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CM Punk hit the ring to close out the show, ready for the latest face-to-face with Roman Reigns ahead of their WrestleMania 42 main event.

Punk shrugged off Jimmy Uso's warning to be careful tonight, with Jey on the warpath, claiming that not a single Samoan has even looked at him cross since Reigns declared open season on him last week.

The world champion brought up The OTC, calling him old last week, admitted he is not ashamed of his age, and even pledged to fight anyone who stepped to him, including Jey Uso. "What is he going to do, YEET me to death?"

Jey hit the ring, came face-to-face with Punk and threatened to fight "run it back on your old ass."

Jimmy interrupted and told his brother to lock in, especially with the tag team titles on the line next week. Jey expressed his anger with Punk talking about the family, then questioned where Reigns was. "He ain't even here! But I am!"

Cue The Tribal Chief, who made his quickest entrance in five years and joined the parties in the ring. He ordered the Usos out of the ring, to which Punk responded by saying the tag champs should stay because Reigns could use their help.

A Superman Punch followed and referees and producers hit the ring to break things up. Jey ordered Reigns to "smash him" and "get him!" He did, delivering a spear and powerbombing Punk through the announce table.

As Reigns made his way around the ring, cameras caught Punk laughing and stating, "I'm not the one who needs help," insinuating that his WrestleMania opponent did exactly what he wanted him to.

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Grade

A

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Top Takeaways

Punk calling out Reigns for dying his beard may not be Cena calling out Rock's promo lines on his wrist, but it was still a nice jab.

Jey Uso encouraging Reigns to further his assault on Punk was an interesting development. Could there be room for a WrestleMania follow-up in which Uso turns heel and becomes the ruthless, family-obsessed Tribal Chief that his cousin once was, and engages Reigns in the latest chapter of that rivalry?

Punk, as the antagonistic smartass, was great and will factor into his ability to manipulate Reigns' emotions and use them against him at WrestleMania.

This was not the verbally explosive segment that others have been, but it may have had the most substance of them all, with the Usos' involvement, Reigns snapping, and Punk laughing it off, despite his body being momentarily racked with pain.

MVP and Overall Grade

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Jey Uso was all over this show tonight, from knocking out The Vision to threatening LA Knight if he had any more disparaging remarks for Roman Reigns, to directly leading to The OTC's attack on CM Punk.

There was no YEETing, no pandering, and no clowning. He was at his unhinged best and the result was the most interesting thing he has done since winning the world title at last year's WrestleMania.

It remains to be seen where this latest story development takes him, but it is not a stretch to argue that he has been his family's protector and defender, a role typically reserved for Reigns. Considering the OTC is otherwise preoccupied with regaining his title, could a turn be in the works that would put them against each other?

Maybe, but even if it doesn't, a rejuvenated Jey Uso with a renewed seriousness and focus is welcome.

MVP: Uso

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This was the first episode of Raw where it felt like WWE Creative made a concentrated effort to heat things up ahead of WrestleMania 42, just four weeks out.

Not everything hit, but what did was noteworthy and added to the matches and programs that will culminate in Las Vegas on April 18 and 19.

There was little wasted time and the big segments that needed to succeed did. Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar tore the house down at the start of the show, AJ Lee and Becky Lynch set their date for WrestleMania, and both CM Punk and Paul Heyman goaded their enemies into doing exactly what they wanted them to (hmmmm...).

This was a good show and with Raw returning to Madison Square Garden next week, a great one may be on the horizon.

Grade: B+