WWE Raw live results: Roman Reigns appears

Date: March 20, 2023
Location: Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO 

Show Recap —

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn entered.

They aired replays from SmackDown recapping the events that led to their reunion (including Cody Rhodes watching it unfold on a monitor).

The crowd loudly chanted for Sami so Owens said, “sounds like they like you.” The crowd then loudly chanted for Owens and Zayn responded, “sounds like they like you too, pal.” Owens jokingly said the fans only did that to make him feel better.

Zayn said he realized he made a mistake when he tried to treat their reunion like a business transaction and he should have known they needed to do this as brothers.

Owens said he has been Zayn’s biggest fan over their entire careers — whether they were together or not. It was frustrating seeing Zayn being held under Roman Reigns’ thumb when he was better than all of them. The Bloodline knew it and the fans knew it. Owens knew it was time to get over everything and take down the Bloodline together.

Zayn said they knew what was next and they gawked at the WrestleMania sign until the Usos interrupted.

Jey called Zayn a backstabber and they said they would just backstab each other. Zayn said we all knew Jey’s dream to turn his back on Reigns. Jimmy thought it was funny that they were looking at the sign because nothing would happen at WrestleMania.

Owens said they were all thinking the same thing. The Uso brothers against Owens and his brother Sami at WrestleMania for the tag team titles. The crowd chanted “Yes.”

Jimmy said that wasn’t happening but Jey liked the idea because it was their chance to finally put Owens and Zayn in the dirt. Jimmy agreed, so Jey accepted the match.

Jey didn’t want to wait so the Usos went after them. A brawl broke out and Owens superkicked Jey but before Zayn could hit a Helluva Kick, Jimmy pulled Jey out of the ring.

Jimmy grabbed a chair as officials ran out. Before anything else could transpire, Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman were shown arriving at the building. 

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United States Champion Austin Theory defeated Montez Ford in a non-title match (8:54)

Ford took most of the match but Theory picked up the win. One of these men looked like an up-and-coming main eventer.

Ford knocked Theory over the barricade and proceeded to sit down and pose with two happy fans. Ford even looked into the camera and cut to commercial break right on time.

Ford hit a flying crossbody, clotheslines, back elbow, belly-to-back suplex and standing moonsault. Ford then spiked Theory with a DDT and followed with a big flip dive. However, Theory avoided a frog splash before hitting a rolling dropkick and A-Town Down for the pinfall win.

— Theory said John Cena didn’t believe in him now but, “at WrestleMania — you will.”

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Bloodline segment

The Usos approached Reigns in his locker room. Reigns said they weren’t off to a good start tonight. Jimmy said nothing could hurt him more than being torn from his brother and having to sit there and answer to it like it was his fault.

Reigns gave him a look before Jimmy said he would never forgive Zayn for this. (They made it seem like he was pissed at Reigns, but he turned his anger on Zayn.) Jimmy said they would get Owens and Zayn at Mania. Reigns agreed. Reigns sent everyone out of the room — except for Jey.

After a break, Reigns said he hasn’t seen or heard from Jey in a while and yet Jey was suddenly back making decisions. But in order to make decisions, you needed to be in the Bloodline. Reigns wondered if Jey was still in the family. Jey said, “I’m with you. I’m Bloodline, Uce.” Reigns acted content with that answer and just as Jey was about to leave, Reigns added, “I love you.”

Heyman awkwardly rejoined the frame which drew some laughs from the crowd. Reigns assured Heyman that he received the answer he was looking for. Heyman seemed worried.

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Byron Saxton tried interviewing Adam Pearce but they were interrupted by Chelsea Green. Green wanted matching gear for her tag partner Carmella but because Pearce couldn’t make that happen, Green wanted to team with her new partner Piper Niven instead. Green also wanted to be in the tag team showcase match at Mania and demanded Pearce make it happen or else she’d complain on social media. She left.  

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There was a video package for Brock Lesnar vs. Omos. They ran down Lesnar’s size and his accomplishments in both WWE and UFC, while Omos’ bit was basically about how tall he is.

Omos (w/MVP) defeated Mustafa Ali (1:00)

Omos won with a tree slam.

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The Miz approached Logan Paul in the back and tried sucking up to him but Paul just blew him off and kept walking. 

[SECOND HOUR]

Impaulsive TV with Logan Paul 

Paul said he didn’t need to be here because of all the money he earned but he was here anyway because he loved WWE and yet the fans rejected him. There were only two people in the crowd who liked him: his dad who he dragged to St. Louis, and the one fan with a “Drink Prime” sign.

The fans didn’t respect him despite his talents and despite the number of superstars that he’s beaten up. He didn’t bother inviting any celebrity friends on his show because he knew none of them would want to come to St. Louis and they leave fans than the Rams did.

Paul looked forward to beating Seth Rollins on his birthday at WrestleMania (April 1) but acknowledged that the match itself would be great because Rollins was top three in the business. He wasn’t worried about winning because he and his brother agreed that you couldn’t take a guy named “Seth” seriously. Seths were nice guys.

Paul showed a replay of himself knocking out Rollins last week. He played it over and over and added cartoonish sound effects and a clown emoji over Rollins’ face. He tried to keep going but the replays stopped and his mic cut out.

Rollins was shown in the production truck pushing buttons. Rollins started his own music and made his way to the ring. Paul kept telling the fans to shut up as they sang his song and noted that they must be tone-deaf.

Instead of doing his usual act, Rollins — wearing a leopard print suit — decked Paul and tackled him onto the announce desk. Rollins went to the top and tried a dive but Paul was helped off the table by two guards and Rollins wiped out the guards by mistake. The misstep allowed Paul to drop Rollins with a right hand once again.

Paul was really good here. The crowd booed him as he spoke and he got plenty of loud “What” chants.

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They showed a clip from last week’s NXT of Grayson Waller attacking Johnny Gargano at his house.

Dominik Mysterio (w/Damian Priest) defeated Johnny Gargano (10:40)

Gargano hit a dive but Dom took control after driving Gargano’s injured ribs into the steel steps and barricade. After a break, Gargano countered out of the three amigos and came back with a spear for two.

Dom tried begging off before yanking Gargano into the turnbuckle. Dom tried a cover with his feet on the rope but the ref caught him and Gargano followed with a superkick for a nearfall. Gargano ducked a 619 before hitting a clothesline, lawn dart and superkick for two.

They battled on the top rope until Dom dropped Gargano and followed with a frog splash on Gargano’s back (and injured ribs) for the clean pinfall win.

— Dom informed his good-for-nothing father that he would stop at nothing to get a match against him at Mania. Dom knew that the entire Mysterio family would be at Smackdown on Friday — the same family that blocked his number and kicked him out of the group chat. He didn’t care because the Judgment Day group chat was better. Dom’s plan was to get his mom to convince Rey to accept the match because his balls were in her purse.

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Heyman told the Usos that they were given the night off by Reigns and they were welcome to go to the jet where their seafood spread was waiting. However, Heyman called back Sikoa because Reigns wanted to speak to him.

Edge cut a pre-taped promo in a dark room with candles. Edge cut a serious promo but the surprisingly poor production of this video was distracting. Edge spoke about how dangerous he was inside Hell and in Cell and told Bálor to leave “Finn” at home — because he wanted the Demon.

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Rhea Ripley promo 

Ripley said Charlotte Flair claimed to be the leader of the division but you needed to respect others to be a leader. Charlotte could never respect her because she made Charlotte question herself.

Ripley kept getting up when she got knocked down while Charlotte tried to keep people down but Charlotte’s time was up. It was time to go home where Charlotte meant nothing because, without WWE, she was nothing.

Ripley didn’t care about Charlotte’s insecurities and didn’t care if Charlotte respected her. Ripley planned on becoming champion and the biggest star in WWE. “I don’t need you to respect me, but you will fear me.”

Damage CTRL interrupted. Bayley said Ripley should’ve asked her for advice considering she beat Charlotte at her first WrestleMania. Ripley dismissed Bayley so Bayley threatened her. Ripley invited them to fight and Bayley accepted since she was the only one in her gear. Pearce was watching in the back and made it official.

(There might have been a good promo in here somewhere by Ripley but it fell flat and took too long to get to the point.)

Rhea Ripley defeated Bayley (w/Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) (10:50)

Bayley tried cheating with her friends so Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus and Lita entered (to Lynch’s music) which led to break.

[THIRD HOUR]

Bayley hit a Bayley-to-belly but Ripley kicked out at one. Bayley hit another but Ripley countered with a slam of her own. Bayley came back right back with a PK. Ripley booted Bayley and applied a standing inverted cloverleaf but Bayley got a rope break. Damage CTRL helped Bayley get the rope so Ripley went after Kai.

The distraction allowed Bayley to drop Ripley over the rope so Lita and Stratus took out Kai and SKY while Lynch backed Bayley back into the ring. Bayley turned around into a Rip-tide and Ripley picked up the pinfall win.

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Chad Gable found Otis getting a manicure in the back. Gable let him know that he got them into the fatal four-way tag match at Mania. Gable had a match against Ricochet tonight and he needed Otis at his side because Ricochet would have Braun Strowman by his.

Maxxine Dupri showed up and wanted Otis to accompany her to a photo shoot or whatever. Gable pleaded with Otis to come with him. Otis looked at them back and forth before deciding to go with Gable. Dupri wasn’t happy. 

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They announced Andy Kaufman for the 2023 Hall of Fame.

Ricochet (w/Braun Strowman) defeated Chad Gable (w/Otis) (10:38)

There seemed to be some miscommunication early on which led to Gable effectively bodyslamming Ricochet off the top, which was likely not the plan, and Gable followed with a flying clothesline ahead of a break.

Ricochet dodged a moonsault and hit a rolling dropkick as the crowd got into it (thanks in part to Strowman’s cheerleading). Ricochet followed with a springboard clothesline and running shooting star press for two.

They traded cradles until Gable hit a cliffhanger DDT for two. Gable applied an ankle lock but Ricochet slipped out and hit a superkick and knee strike but Gable came right back with a dragon suplex for two.

Otis cheered on Gable but Dupri came out and took Otis to the back. This distracted Gable which allowed Ricochet to hit a Destino and a shooting star press for the pinfall win. This was fun while it lasted.

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Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair & Asuka defeated Piper Niven & Chelsea Green (6:44)

Corey Graves mentioned that every year ahead of WrestleMania, two opponents are forced to tag and it never ends well.

Belair and Asuka cleared the ring and they went to break 50 seconds into the match. Belair ran wild on Niven after the break but when Asuka tried a running hip attack, Niven moved and Asuka almost hit Belair. Belair caught her and shoved her off and they got into an argument.

Belair saw Niven coming so she shoved Asuka out of the way to protect her. Belair then used the ropes to aid her in hitting Niven with a KOD which got a big pop from the crowd.

— Asuka, who took exception to being shoved, attacked Belair after the match and laid her out. The crowd liked Belair but they only lightly booed when Asuka attacked.

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There was a Snickers commercial with AJ Styles and Bron Breakker (which included Styles doing some Steiner math).

Next week on Raw: Weigh-in with Lesnar and Omos.

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Roman Reigns-Cody Rhodes main event segment

Reigns entered with Heyman and Sikoa. Reigns told St. Louis to acknowledge him. They did.

Cody Rhodes entered. The crowd chanted for Cody.

Rhodes knew what Reigns wanted to talk about: Reigns’ warning to stay out of Bloodline business. Rhodes knew that Reigns had a Cody Rhodes problem and he wanted to hear it from Reigns: what was the problem? Heyman tried to respond but Rhodes told him to step back because he was talking to Reigns.

Reigns said Rhodes wasn’t the problem. What Rhodes represented was the problem. Rhodes was like their fathers and what they used to be: professional wrestlers. Reigns has become a megastar while Rhodes talked about what he planned on doing at Mania — but he wasn’t going to do it.

Rhodes played Stardust but he ran away. Rhodes started his own promotion that he couldn’t get over in so he ran away. Rhodes got over when he returned to WWE but his body gave up on him and he tore his pec. Rhodes talked about winning the title but he wasn’t going to so would run again like a bitch.

Rhodes said Reigns’ story was true. But Rhodes wasn’t ashamed he left because now, everyone in every locker room was making more money.

Rhodes was offended by Reigns’ comment that their fathers were merely wrestlers. Rhodes started in WWE at 20 years old and wanted to be a superstar, but maybe deep down he really was just a violent wrestler who loves the taste of blood in his mouth.

Rhodes didn’t want to hear about his father again because if he did he would vomit. Dusty wasn’t coming back to hit a bionic elbow and his brother worked elsewhere. “The only thing you’re going to see at WrestleMania is me.” Rhodes said his mother would tell him to knock this boy out and hit him again for good measure.

Rhodes warned Reigns what was coming at WrestleMania. Rhodes would remind Reigns what it was like to lose again. Jey, Jimmy and Sikoa would all leave him, and Heyman would become the advocate again. Reigns would be a man without a family, a Roman with no more reigns, and a chief without a tribe.

(Rhodes also mentioned to Sikoa that he knew what it was like to flank the champion and informed Sikoa that he wasn’t ready yet.)

Reigns couldn’t muster a response so he left with Heyman. Sikoa stayed back to get in Rhodes’ face but he went to leave too. Rhodes told him again that he wasn’t ready so Sikoa went to give him a Samoan spike but Rhodes booted his arm. Sikoa didn’t back down but Reigns held him back. Reigns talked him down as the crowd chanted “you’re not ready” at Sikoa. 

(If you didn’t see this, it might read like an odd ending, but Rhodes basically gave Sikoa a reason to think about leaving Reigns along with Jimmy and Jey.)