WWE Raw featured Cody Rhodes answering The Rock’s latest taunts, particularly “Mixtape Rock,” who has been on fire cutting profanity laced promos on social media. Raw also advertised qualifying matches for the six-team tag team Ladder Match at WrestleMania 40 as DIY faced The Creed Brothers, The New Day faced Alpha Academy and Awesome Truth faced Indus Sher.
Raw’s main event pitted Becky Lynch against enemy of the incels Nia Jax in a Last Woman Standing Match.
Last week’s broadcast of WWE Raw garnered 1.751 million viewers.
WWE Raw Results on March 18, 2024
- DIY def. The Creed Brothers | WrestleMania 40 Tag Team Title Qualifier
- Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell def. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
- Ricochet def. Dominik Mysterio
- Awesome Truth def. Indus Sher | WrestleMania 40 Tag Team Qualifier
- The New Day Def. Alpha Academy | WrestleMania 40 Tag Team Qualifier
- Becky Lynch Def. Nia Jax | Last Woman Standing
WWE Raw Ratings
- March 11, 2024 | 1.751 million
- March 4, 2024 | 1.649 million
- February 26, 2024 | 1.738 million
- February 19, 2024 | 1.870 million
- February 12, 2024 | 1.747 million
WWE Raw Ticket Sales
- WWE Raw Venue: PNC Arena (Raleigh, N.C.)
- WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 12,572
- WWE Raw Tickets Available: 198
Why Triple H Hates Tony Khan (PWB)
WWE Raw Winners And Grades
Jey And Jimmy Uso Open WWE Raw
Pat McAfee almost fell out of his seat yeeting during Jey Uso’s entrance.
Jey Uso admitted that he missed Jimmy Uso and he wanted things to go back to the way they were. Jimmy rebuffed Jey, saying it was Jey’s idea to leave The Bloodline, and Jey was the one who benefitted for his decision.
Cody Rhodes (minus Pharaoh, whom he came to the building with) made the save as Jimmy and Solo attacked Jey.
Opening Segment Grade: A-
DIY Def. The Creed Brothers
Michael Cole may have given away the finish of this match by saying DIY has never competed at WrestleMania despite all their accolades in wrestling. DIY had also been feuding with The Judgment Day, and it would be a good message to the locker room to book them for WrestleMania over the newcomer Creed Brothers.
Much of the commentary early on was spent putting over The Creed Brothers, namely Julius and his accolades as a top-ranked wrestler at Duke University. By this time next year, Julius will almost undoubtedly be in a huge WrestleMania program.
The Creed Brothers shined in this match with an excellent sequence featuring tandem suplexes and standing moonsaults.
Julius slapped an ankle lock on Tommaso Ciampa, and when he went to do his one-armed power bomb spot, he Johnny Gargano slipped out of his hands so he had to abandon the ankle lock and hit a two-handed power bomb. It still looked impressive.
The Creeds continued to draw “oohs” and “ahs” as they threw Gargano into Ciampa for a nearfall to another huge pop.
The finish to this match was a great sequence of nearfalls, rollups and a superkick from Gargano. This was one of the bet tag team matches of a young 2024.
DIY vs. Creed Brothers Grade: A
LeRae And Hartwell Def. Chance And Carter
WWE recapped Candice’s dead-brother promo against Maxxine last week.
Candice LeRae continued to act like a heel, aggressively unloading on Kayden Carter. After Katana Chance (kayfabe) suffered a leg injury, Indi Hartwell was conflicted while LeRae wasted no time tagging in, pouncing on Chance and submitting her with a half-crab. Hilarious.
LeRae and Hartwell vs. Chance and Carter Grade: C+
Cody Rhodes Appears Live
Fans have been encouraged to bring their signs to shows of late, and while some signs definitely look like they were planted, there were more signs in the crowd than usual.
Cody was cheered by the North Carolina fans, and booed The Rock when he noted that Rock wasn’t there.
Cody Rhodes mentioned some of his favorite heels, including Ric Flair and Bobby Heenan. He then said he doesn’t think The Rock isn’t a heel, he’s an a—hole.
Cody Rhodes called The Rock out for crying behind the scenes the whole time.
Rock shaded Roman Reigns by saying Rock is the only person he’ll ever stand across who is a Mt. Rushmore wrestler. Rhodes then called Dwayne a terrible salesman, a carny succubus and a whiny b—h.
Rhodes said he had nothing but respect for The Rock’s mom, but Mama Rhodes (who beat up an undercover cop at a Willie Nelson concert) ain’t afraid of The Rock.
Fans gasped when Cody Rhodes said he may not finish his story. He freaking better,
Rhodes spat in the face of Rock’s double standard by saying Rock suffers from “little dick syndrome.”
After calling Roman Reigns The Rock’s side chick, he was interrupted by Paul Heyman.
Paul Heyman promised Roman Reigns would be alone this Friday on SmackDown and Rhodes should do the same. Heyman’s promo was longwinded, and Rhodes said if he didn’t get to the point he’d go full Homelander and rip Heyman’s throat out.
Cody Rhodes Segment Grade: A
Ricochet Def. Dominik Mysterio
Michael Cole showed Mat McAfee on the “Pat-a-strator” as he almost fell off the table while “yeeting all over himself.”
Pat McAfee said that Dominik Mysterio, who just got married, would get booed at his own wedding.
Fans chanted “Ricochet” coming out of the break, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out his girlfriend Samantha Irvin got on the mic to lead those chants while off air.
Ricochet defeated Mysterio, and Irvin couldn’t even finish Ricochet’s name as JD McDonagh pounced on him. With two wins over The Judgment Day, Ricochet may make a late push for a WrestleMania spot.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Ricochet Grade: B
Sami Zayn-GUNTHER WrestleMania Contract Signing
In a great a backstage exchange between Sami Zayn and Chad Gable, a heelish Gable told Zayn “you can’t beat GUNTHER.”
GUNTHER mocked Sami Zayn for dressing like the “rest of these bums here in the crowd,” and Zayn cut a spirited promo on GUNTHER saying he believed he could beat GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Championship.
With Chad Gable figured into this storyline, I have a fleeting feeling that he may cost Zayn the Intercontinental Championship.
Sami Zayn vs. GUNTHER Contract Signing Grade: B-
Awesome Truth Def. Indus Sher
R-Truth saw Indus Sher backstage and said he felt bad for whomever had to face them. This suggested Truth and The Miz would have some fluke victory.
After a remixed version of R-Truth’s theme song, Truth scored a fluke pin over Veer (whom Pat McAfee called the “Million Dollar Arm”). This means all four members of Regeneration-X are in the WrestleMania 40 Tag Team Ladder Match.
Backstage, Gable reiterated he did not believe Sami Zayn could beat GUNTHER because Zayn won’t be able to get by as a punch underdog.
In a vignette, CM Punk said he’d be at WrestleMania 40 because you can’t spell Philadelphia without Phil. I’m guessing he’ll be announced as the host next week in Chicago.
Awesome Truth vs. Indus Sher Grade: C
Seth Rollins And Drew McIntyre Face-To-Face
Seth Rollins interrupted Drew McIntyre’s entrance wearing a suit that made him look like a homeless Riddler.
Rollins disingenuously introduced himself as a spotlight junkie, garnering chants of “spotlight junkie.” Rollins then went on to cut a promo that totally made him sound like a spotlight junkie.
Rollins said on Night 1 he was going to take The Rock and his sidechick (Roman Reigns) and make them his b—hes.
Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre Segment Grade: B
The New Day Def. Alpha Academy
Otis received huge reactions for his gyrations even though The New Day was more over.
Otis “stomached” Xavier Woods in the face, a commonplace spot which received a replay due to how strong McAfee put it over.
Akira Tozawa has a 68 rating on WWE 2K24, and Pat McAfee suggested Tozawa can work his way to a better ratings through his real-life matches. I’m not sure that’s how it works.
Woods won the match for New Day with a springboard elbow drop.
The Rock will be on WWE Raw for the go-home show of WrestleMania on April 1.
New Day vs. Alpha Academy Grade: B-
Becky Lynch Def. Nia Jax
Becky Lynch and Nia Jax wasted no time taking advantage of the Last Woman Standing stipulation as Jax hit Lynch with a Samoan Drop on a sea of chairs. Fans still chanted “we want tables.”
Lynch could be heard calling spots as Jax was striking her with a kendo stick. Fans went wild when Lynch absconded with the stick and unloaded on Jax.
Nia Jax hit a Samoan Drop through a table followed by an Annihilator, but Lynch was able to barely survive by sliding out of the ring. Lynch then fought back and hit a Manhandle Slam through two tables for a “nearfall.” Lynch won with a legdrop through the announce table a in a very satisfying main event.
Rhea Ripley walked out to confront Lynch and fans chanted “Mami” as Raw went off the air.