WWE Raw live results: Cody Rhodes and John Cena in Scotland
Date: March 24, 2025
Location: The OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland
The Big Takeaway —
John Cena plans to ruin wrestling for everyone by taking the WWE Championship belt home with him and retiring with it. Cody Rhodes did not take Cena seriously last week, but he did this week, calling him more dangerous than ever. However, Rhodes planned on retiring Cena at WrestleMania. The two men will have another face-to-face next week in London.
Rhea Ripley will face IYO SKY for the Women’s World title next week, with Bianca Belair as special referee.
The Intercontinental title main event ended in a DQ when Judgment Day interfered.
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Show Recap —
CM Punk, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez, Lyra Valkyria, Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio, Penta, and Bron Breakker were shown arriving at the arena in Glasgow. Punk and Penta got big reactions.
Pat McAfee is back on commentary with Michael Cole.
John Cena and Cody Rhodes segment
John Cena entered and was loudly booed. He knew the crowd was ready to do their worst because he turned the spotlight on them. They knew that he could pick them out individually and rip them to shreds. No one was safe, not even that clueless kid from last week. His poor, pathetic face was everywhere. WWE even posted it—and the fans all loved it. The crowd loudly chanted, “F*ck you, Cena,” and it was censored.
Cena would tell the truth, while the best idea the fans had was to use profanity. They meme’d a defenceless kid getting destroyed, so he didn’t need to single out anyone tonight because they were all horrible people. Instead, they would all pay for the abuse they put him through.
He listened to their lies and their noise for 25 years. He didn’t waste time being mean like them; he paid attention. The crowd chanted, “Shut the f*ck up.” He said he has been learning from the fans and testing them all this time. They told him everything about themselves, but they didn’t know anything about him.
Their lives were sad. This (being fans) was the best it would get for them. But they have been nothing but an experiment for him. Rats in a cage. Pick out any moment in his career, and he could tell them what he learned about them.
When he bled, they thought he was tough. When he spoke, they were inspired. When he was edgy, they were excited. When he was vanilla, they were bored. When he spoke in rhythmic tones, they said, “What.” (They were indeed chanting “What” at this moment.)
They would always tell him everything about themselves because they wanted so desperately to matter. The most important thing they told him was in April 2005, when he gave them the WWE spinner championship.
They ate him alive for it. He turned their belt into a toy, and they didn’t like that because the championship wasn’t a toy. He disrespected tradition. That was the biggest mistake they made. They told him what meant most to them. And now that he knew that, he was going to ruin wrestling.
He was going to ruin wrestling for every fan, wrestler—for everyone. At WrestleMania, he would make history by winning a 17th championship. He would force them to forget about the fun-machine Ric Flair, and they would forever say the name John Cena. Even worse, he would win the title—the centre of every superstar and fan in his business—and he would retire with it. “I am taking it home with me.”
He was leaving them to make a brand new toy belt because the real one was coming home with him. “I will be the last real champion in WWE. Revenge is best served cold, and I pay you back by ripping your heart out and forcing you to watch as I just walk away with your memories, with your traditions, and your dreams. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Cody Rhodes entered. The fans sang his name. Rhodes told Cena he couldn’t take the belt away from the fans without taking it from him first. Rhodes could see that Cena was being sincere. Cena was angry and dangerous, but he made a massive mistake. The mistake was not that Cena hit him with the belt in Toronto; it was saying what he just said to these fans.
Rhodes said Cena should know how hard he had to fight just to hold this belt one time. Cena thought the timeline of professional wrestling hung in the balance because of his vanity. Rhodes laid the belt down and told Cena he could try taking it right now.
Cena acted for a moment like he might fight Rhodes, but he left the ring instead.
Rhodes told Cena that his psychotic need to take the belt did not outweigh their (Rhodes and the fans) need to keep it. The champ was standing in the middle of the ring while Cena walked away empty-handed. That is how Cena would walk away at WrestleMania, and that is how he would walk away from WWE.
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There was a video package for Bron Breakker vs. Penta tonight.
Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso defeated Austin Theory & Grayson Waller (9:15)
Jey Uso initially entered alone but was quickly joined by Jimmy in the aisle. Cole exclaimed, “Wait, wait, wait! Look who’s here! Jey’s brother!” He didn’t actually say Jimmy’s name. (Jimmy entering separately would’ve felt like a bigger moment, but they might’ve wanted to keep the focus on Jey since he’s the main eventer.)
Cole said this was the first time The Usos teamed up (just the two of them) in a year and a half when they beat Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa.
A-Town Down Under got the heat on Jimmy when Theory made a blind tag and clocked him with a running forearm. After a break, Waller rolled into the ring and into a Samoan drop by Jimmy. Cole somehow thought this was a slingblade by Waller. (It’s sometimes difficult to judge a person’s offence or move, but this was not one of those times.)
Jey tagged in, but A-Town Down Under teamed up on him. Jimmy tagged back in, and they hit Waller with an alley-oop. Jimmy hoisted up Waller into a spear by Jey before The Usos hit Theory with a 1-D for the pinfall win.
— Gunther knocked Jimmy off the top rope as he celebrated. Jey superkicked Gunther and set up for a spear, but he literally tripped and fell. He went for the spear anyway but Gunther tackled him down. Gunther hammered away with elbows, but Jimmy ran him off with a steel chair.
I don’t know if they did this trip spot on purpose or not, but this was not a good look for Jey, regardless. (Update: It looks like the spot was done deliberately, and they’ll be using it to build Jey back up in the coming weeks.)
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There was a big video package for “El Grande Americo” (Chad Gable), who hailed from the “Gulf of America.” I suppose this video was a nice idea, except for all the AI they used to make it.
Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio told Adam Pearce that the person in the video was clearly Chad Gable. (Because they used AI, the wrestler didn’t actually look like Gable.)
Gable showed up and said they were wrong. He was also sick and had a doctor’s note, so he wouldn’t be able to compete today. Pearce said the note was legit. (Even though he was obviously faking it.) Gable suggested that Dragon Lee face El Grande Americo instead. Dragon Lee accepted. Rey looked at Gable and said, “You’re a real jackass.” (That was funny.)
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Richard Gadd of Baby Reindeer (on Netflix) was in the audience.
Lyra Valkyria defeated Raquel Rodriguez (w/Liv Morgan) to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (8:23)
Rodriguez booted Valkyria out of mid-air to take control ahead of a break. She hit a jackhammer following the break for two. Valkyria countered a suplex into a DDT, but Morgan placed Rodriguez’s foot on the rope to break up the cover.
Valkyria dropkicked Morgan moments later and countered Rodriguez’ Tejana Bomb attempt into a victory roll for the pinfall win.
— Morgan and Rodriguez attacked Valkyria after the match. I guess Bayley was waiting behind the stage because her music hit immediately, and she ran out to clear the ring with Valkyria. Bayley gave Valkyria her IC title belt, and they posed together.
This match was just fine. The crowd liked Valkyria.
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The New Day (who last appeared on Raw three weeks ago when they beat Rey and Dragon Lee) cut a promo during commercials. They ran down the locals before proclaiming they would win the tag team titles at WrestleMania.
There was a video package of Triple H beating The Rock at SummerSlam 1998 in a ladder match for the IC title. This was meant to hype HHH going into the Hall of Fame, but it also put over the importance of the IC title, which is on the line tonight.
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Jey sat alone in the back when he was joined by Jimmy. Jimmy wondered what was going on with Jey the last few weeks. He could see Jey was in his own head. Jey hit dives perfectly for 15 years before last week. Last week’s dive became a meme and a joke. Then he went out there tonight and slipped. If he kept going like this, he wouldn’t win at Mania.
Jey bluntly said he knew that. He said he couldn’t beat Gunther and was 3-0 against him (he meant to say 0-3). Jimmy said that this Jey could not beat Gunther. Jimmy hyped him up and said he needed to see the Right Hand Man Jey Uso, the one who became the Main Event Jey Uso. The one who won the Royal Rumble. That’s the Uce he needs.
Jimmy found Gunther around the corner and challenged him to a match on Raw next week. Gunther said sure and suggested he didn’t slip and fall like his brother. Jimmy slapped him hard in the face.
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Women’s World Title segment
Adam Pearce was in the ring with the contract for Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair at WrestleMania for the title. He said Rhea Ripely signed her name on it, too, but that did not mean she was getting a title shot at Mania. The crowd booed.
Pearce said he’s been trying to assign Ripley’s title rematch for weeks, but in the meantime, Belair won the Elimination Chamber and earned the title match at Mania. Ripley, meanwhile, only wanted the title rematch on her terms.
He was about to make an announcement but was interrupted by Sky. Sky didn’t care about contracts and was happy to take on both Belair and Ripley because she was the Women’s World Champion.
Belair interrupted next. Belair was not about to let Ripley headbutt her way into this match because she didn’t earn it.
Ripley interrupted and said, “Honestly, I don’t give a damn about WrestleMania.” She didn’t care who she had to face to get her title back. She wanted her rematch. Pearce was annoyed because now she suddenly wanted the match. Belair said Ripley has already waited three weeks, she can wait another three weeks.
Once again, Ripley and Belair argued while Sky tried to interject, but Ripley shoved her aside. Sky was about to go after them again, but Pearce stepped in. Pearce was pissed and announced that Ripley would get her title rematch against Sky next week. The winner would face Belair at WrestleMania.
As Ripley and Belair argued again, Sky wiped out Ripley with a DDT. The crowd booed as Belair set up Sky for a KOD. Sky avoided it and gave Ripley a hurricanrana outside the ring. However, Belair gave Sky a KOD to send her out of the ring and onto Ripley. Belair stood tall with the belts.
This was another weak segment to set up whatever match they’re doing at Mania.
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Dom approached Penta backstage. Before Penta could say anything, Dom told him to think about his offer and maybe he would walk away as IC champion tonight.
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Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods told Pearce they were demanding a world tag title shot at Mania. He said no. He wanted them to prove they earned a shot first. They left.
Belair, perhaps suffering from amnesia, entered next and asked Pearce who she was facing at Mania. Pearce said she would find out next week after the title match. He also announced that she would be the special referee. She said she didn’t know how to be a referee, and he told her to figure it out. (Now everyone is coming off poorly in this feud.)
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El Grande Americo (Chad Gable) defeated Dragon Lee (8:55)
Gable (wrestling in a mask) hit Dragon Lee with an exploder off the apron ahead of a break. They exchanged chops after the break until Dragon Lee hit a snap German suplex and superkick. Dragon Lee sprinted at Gable, but Gable launched him with an overhead suplex into the corner. The crowd chanted, “Olé.” Dragon Lee avoided a moonsault and hit a Liger Bomb for two.
With Gable dangling upside down in the corner, Dragon Lee set up for a double foot stomp, but Gable sat up and ripped Lee’s mask off. Dragon Lee frantically covered his face while Gable applied an ankle lock. Dragon Lee struggled for a moment but he couldn’t get the ropes while also covering his face, so he tapped out.
This was pretty fun for the time they had, and the finish got a ton of heat.
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There was a video package for CM Punk/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins.
CM Punk segment
Punk entered to a big reaction. He said he was not in a good mood, but it was hard to be pissed off when you enter to a reaction like that. He was tired and jetlagged. He hasn’t slept well the last few days, thanks mostly to the uncertainty around his road to WrestleMania.
He had a match at Mania, “but what I want, I’m not getting—or am I?”
He wanted to win the Rumble, but he didn’t. He needed to win the Chamber, but the more things changed, the more things stayed the same. “I work with children.” He said Seth Rollins was the world champion of being a piss-baby, and Rollins screwed him at the Chamber.
For Rollins and Reigns, it was clearly personal, but for him, it was just business. The two men who stood in his way from getting what he wanted had to go.
Rollins has been crying since Punk returned because the shadow he cast over him belittled everything Rollins was about. Reigns seemed to be taking it personally because he realized his wise man wasn’t just his wise man.
It would be business for Punk on Smackdown, too, because they were having a contract signing. Some fans booed, and Punk acknowledged it. He knew they wanted it tonight, and so did he. He wanted his hands on the contract to see if this match would get him closer to what he wanted or if it would just be another rug-pull from the powers that be.
Punk reminded Rollins and Reigns that they had never beaten him without the other’s help. Punk also said, “I brought you into this business. I cannot wait to be the man who takes you both out of it.” Punk called himself the best in the world and dropped the mic.
(Cole reminded us that Punk brought The Shield to WWE.)
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Next week on Raw in London, England (airing at 3 pm ET/12 pm PT):
- Logan Paul calls out AJ Styles
- Gunther vs. Jimmy Uso (non-title)
- Cody Rhodes and John Cena face-to-face
- Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship
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Cathy Kelley asked Bron Breakker if he was worried that Penta might have help from Judgment Day tonight. Bron didn’t seem worried about it. He would retain the title because the dogs were barking in Glasgow.
Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker defeated Penta via disqualification (11:25)
They were having a strong match until the finish.
Penta used a hurricanrana to send Bron into the ropes. To set up the next spot, Bron was actually supposed to be on the other side of the ring, so he “stumbled” to the other side as Penta posed, which looked pretty awkward. This led to Bron hitting a leaping clothesline off the apron and over the announce table.
Dom and Carlito wandered out during a break.
Bron and Penta traded strikes until Penta hit a superkick, bulldog, and backstabber for two. Bron blocked a Canadian Destroyer and hit a military press gutbuster for two. Penta hit a superkick and enziguri and used a hurricanrana to yank Bron off the middle rope. Penta followed with a flip dive and Canadian Destroyer for two. Bron followed later with a Frankensteiner for a nearfall.
Bron set up for a spear, but Dom distracted the referee. Carlito tried to interfere, so Bron pulled him into the ring and speared him. Dom chop-blocked Bron in front of the referee for the DQ.
Bron went after Dom, but Finn Bálor attacked him with a chair. Bálor seemed like he was pissed with Dom, but he handed Dom the chair.
Dom hit Bron with the chair before handing it to Penta. Bálor didn’t like that idea.
Penta teased that he might hit Bron, but instead, he chucked the chair at Dom and superkicked it in his face. Bálor decked Penta and hit Bron with the chair. Bálor laid out Penta with a Coup de Grace.
Raw ended with Bálor, Dom and Carlito standing tall.