Raw Deal - Raw recap for March 17, 2025

John Cena heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Compared to the last twenty years, Cena is in far less of a jovial mood on his way to the ring and is a lot more stoic and emotionless. After seemingly endless chants of "Let's Go Cena, Cena Sucks," and "You sold out," Cena goes between cutting a promo and leaving the ring before ultimately doing the former. Cena then says that whenever one is properly grounded in life, they should not have to look outside themselves for approval. He then says the fans are making this so easy for him as they continue to boo him, as for 25 years, he has been the victim of an abusive relationship. He tells the fans that they have lost their time to talk as they boo him again, and when they take the floor, all they do is be hurtful and abusive and bully him into being their puppet and doing it with a smile on their face. He then says "No more!" before the fans chant "Fuck you, Cena!" Cena sarcastically thanks the fans for their class before declaring he is neither face nor heel, but a human being, and that the fans have been awful to him. He says it has been "the same damn noise" for 25 years and that when he showed up, the fans made it known that they hated him and unworthy of their attention, and while he changed himself hoping the fans would like him, it was not enough after it stopped working, and all he could do was "win and win and win," and the fans hated that. He spent the next ten years of his life trying to give away everything he could, and it still was not enough. Cena says that in his final moments, he could have walked away, so he announced his retirement at the end of 2025 in a move that had never been done before, and when he tried to get along with the fans one last time, they ruined it like they did everyting else, because like every other time, it was never enough. The fans then sing Na Na Hey Hey (The Goodbye Song), making it clear that they want hi to go away, and Cena then says "Each one of these idiots are proving my point with every breath" before stating that it is never enough and that the fans should be ashamed of themselves, as all they ever do is take and only care about themselves. Cena says he put his values on the line to make a very important choice in his life, but the fans only cared about what they got out of him. He says the fans never asked him about how he felt, and it was just "What do we get?" He tells the fans they get nothing except what they have earned, and what they have earned is nothing. He tells the fans they do not get a new look because they dress like him, as he does not dress like the fans, and that they do not get new music because it is his vocals on the song while their time is up and his time is now. He says all the fans get is a long look in the mirror to see how awful they have been to him for the last 25 years. When the fans that they want "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, Cena says the fans want "their shiny new toy" in Cody because they are putting him out to pasture, and that they have proven once again with every breath that they are awful people. He states that nobody is safe and no one can hide, especially the ones that he can pick out in the crowd and identify very easily as the "Let's Go Cena" fans who support him, then says that the "Cena Sucks jackoffs" have proven themselves to be awful, as have the "Let's Go Cena people." He says the fans claim to support him, but asks the fans what they have ever done except steal his personal moments, steal his time, and make him into a toy and "a stupid invisible joke for the last 15 years" that they still think is funny when it is really pathetic. Cena then calls the fans "pathetic," and states that they are not ready to be part of an uncomfortable conversation before he proclaims that the fans wear his merchandise to feel good rather than for support him, and that they wear words like "Hustle, Loyalty and Respect" and "Never Gives Up" while he lives them everyday as the dictionary definition of "perserverance." He then says that the fans do not support him; instead, they use him as an excuse for a pathetic failure of their lives, as all they have done for the last 25 years is sit on their asses and watch him be great. He says "no more," and says that the relationship with the fans is toxic and dysfunctional. Cena then declares that he is breaking up with the fans, and that he is done, whether the fans like it or not, as he does not need them, he does not care about them, and they do not matter to him. Cena states there is nothing they can say or do because they know he is right and they are wrong. Suddenly, Cody shows up, gets in the ring and receives the "Cody Rhodes" chant to the tune of Daddy Cool, then says everyone, including himself, was willing to hear Cena out. He says the fans may have given Cena their worst, but they also gave their best, and they did it because Cena was special, because he could take it, and because he could carry it. Cena says "Look, kid..." but Cody makes it clear he will not that, and demands he be addressed as the WWE Champion. Cody then asks Cena "Who the hell are you?" and wants to know where the Cena everyone knows is, as he was excited at the prospect of going week-to-week and face-to-face with Cena only to get what he is looking at now, and tells Cena that if this is what he gets at WrestleMania, he will run it over and retire it early. He then tells Cena to find himself as this is what he wants to face and not "this whiny bitch." Cody then leaves, and Cena follows suit after Cody is in the back. As Cena leaves, the fans sing Na Na Hey Hey (The Goodbye Song) again and wave goodbye at him.

We look back on Ricky Steamboat vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the WWF Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 3.

Before the next match, Ludwig Kaiser states that he stands in an historical moment as well get rid of Penta for good in a no-holds barred match. He says Penta claims to have no fear, but after he absolutely destroys him, nobody will remember Penta's name while he becomes the fastest-rising star in WWE as Penta learns what fear means.

Penta beats Ludwig Kaiser in a no-holds barred match. After the match, Cathy Kelley interviews Penta in the entryway. When asked what is next for him, Penta thanks the fans in Brussels, Belgium for their support before stating that he wants the Intercontinental Championship and that he does not care what he has to do to get it.

Backstage, Finn Balor meets up with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, who wish him luck in his Intercontinental Championship match tonight. Finn does likewise for their upcoming matches, and says Jade Cargill will be another stop on the Liv Morgan revenge tour. "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio shows up, and Finn thanks Dominik for getting him the match tonight. Dominik says he has been talking to some people and that he has an idea, and that ever since they lost JD McDonagh, they also lost some muscle, and entertains the idea of adding Penta to The Judgment Day. Finn takes this as an act of betrayal and calls Dominik a snake. Dominik says he had no idea Penta would declare for the Intercontinental Championship after Finn leaves, and Carlito responds with "You don't watch the show, do ya?"

Dakota Kai beats Ivy Nile. During the match, Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio show up and attack The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) before chasing Chad Gable through the crowd. The distraction allows Dakota Kai to get the win on a distracted Ivy Nile with the GTK.

General Manager Adam Pearce moderates a contract signing between Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky for the World Women's Championship at WrestleMania 41. Iyo Sky says Bianca will not disrespect her again, as will nobody else, as she is Women's World Champion, and after WrestleMania, she will still be champion. She then signs the contract. Bianca says she has all the respect for Iyo, but last week, she gave her a pass as what happened was her fault. She says that she will not let Iyo put her hands on her again and that she will find out exactly who she is at WrestleMania when she becomes champion, then signs the contract. As Pearce thanks Iyo and Bianca for being professional during the contract signing, Rhea Ripley arrives, and Pearce demands referees head to the ring. Ripley makes it known she will not take the recent disrespect and states Bianca has no business being in her championship match, then says she will take a page out of Bianca's playbook and watch. This leads to Rhea and Bianca arguing, and when Iyo gets in the middle, Bianca shoves Iyo again only for Rhea to headbutt Bianca and powerbomb Iyo into Bianca onto the table. Rhea then eyes the contract, grabs the pen inside and signs it before walking off with the contract and forcing Pearce to chase her to the back.

Backstage, "Main Event" Jey Uso says he has not been himself and has been doubting himself, so he flew halfway across the world to whup somebody's ass: Austin Theory. He then says it is him and Gunther at WrestleMania when he shocks the world and becomes World Heavyweight Championship. Gunther suddenly gets in Jey Uso's face, and General Manager Adam Pearce and security gets between them. Gunther then says he talked to Jimmy Uso on Friday and says that Jimmy is as dumb as Jey. Gunther is shoved away while Jey tells Gunther he will see him at WrestleMania before heading to the ring.

"Main Event" Jey Uso quickly beats Austin Theory. (The match is quickly savaged by the fans, due to the match taking only 29 seconds because of time constraints as well as being rushed to the point that Jey Uso's tope suicida did not get enough distance and his Spear being confused for a cross body on English commentary.) After the match, Grayson Waller gets in the ring only to get superkicked in the face before taking both him and Theory out with a dive. Suddenly, Gunther shows up and puts Jey in a sleeper, but Jey rams Gunther's head int the top turnbuckle before brawling with him, ripping the World Heavyweight Championship from his waist and tricking Gunther into tumbling out of the ring. He then tosses the World Heavyweight title back to Gunther.

We see a video package for Finn Balor vs. Bron Breakker for the WWE Intercontinental Championship later tonight.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce tells Rhea Ripley that he simply cannot sign her name on the contract, and demands the contract. Rhea demands she be put in the title match, then she is attacked by Bianca Belair. Iyo Sky jumps in and attacks Rhea, then Iyo and Bianca fight over who gets a piece of Rhea. Iyo punches Bianca, then Rhea attacks them both. Adam Pearce returns and breaks up the brawl.

The Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) beat American Made (Julius and Brutus Creed). After the match, The Latino World Order is attacked by someone in an "American Made" luchador mask before he is chased away by security again. Once again, it is strongly believed to be Chad Gable.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins heads to the ring. He is not mad that Roman Reigns came back for revenge, because he would have done the same thing, then says that the real problem is that after all these years, Roman still cannot come up with a plan and needs an architect to do it for him. He also states that Roman forgot about one detail: CM Punk, who he calls "the luckiest loser on the face of the planet." Rollins says that if he had just a few more seconds in the Elimination Chamber, he would have hit Punk with The Stomp and not only end his championship dreams, but put his career on ice and ended "the CM Punk problem" once and for all. He then says it is just like the good old days again and that he has to clean up Roman Reigns' mess, and he will put Roman in his place along the way. Rollins then mentions that both Roman and Punk will be in the same place at the same time on SmackDown, and while he wishes they were he, he will not let them have all the fun. He entertains showing up at SmackDown and putting himself between both men, then thanks the fans in Brussels, Belgium for their support before letting them sing his theme song one more time before he heads to SmackDown in Italy.

Backstage, Cathy Kelly interviews "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles. Styles takes in the fans' chants for him, then says Logan Paul does not belong on the wwe roster. Karrion Kross and Scarlett show up, and Kross thinks that Styles is not mad at Logan Paul, but at himself, as it took seventeen years to get to WWE and find validation, and wants him to find respect for Logan Paul for doing everything Styles has done in record time. Styles says he knows what Kross is doing and that it will not work, then walks away. Kross whispers to Scarlett "I think it's working."

Bron Breakker and Penta have a brief staredown backstage as Breakker heads to the ring for the main event.

Bron Breakker retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Finn Balor. During the match, Carlito and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio show up initially to distract Breakker, but Carlito distracts the referee so that Dominik can shove Breakker off the top rope near the end of the match. This inadvertently causes Finn Balor to lose balance and land crotch-first on the top turnbuckle, and Breakker makes both Dominik and Carlito pay before hitting Finn with the Frankensteiner followed by the Spear to win and retain. After the match, Carlito and Dominik attack Breakker, but as Dominik grabs the Intercontinental Championship to use it as a weapon, Penta runs into the ring and fights both Dominik and Carlito. Breakker hits Carlito with a Spear before Penta takes the Intercontinental Championship and hands it to Breakker. Breakker and Penta have a staredown in the middle of the ring to end the show.

Here's the highlights for tonight's show!

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