Raw Deal - Raw recap for March 31, 2025

John Cena heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Before he can say anything, he is soo joined by "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Cody soon gets the "Daddy Cool"-style chant, then Cody stops Cena before he can talk, says everyone has heard Cena talk for the last two weeks, then asks where they can start and where Cena can start making fun of him, whether it is his time as Stardust, his neck tattoo, being booed in AEW or grasping with the idea that "Superman is really dead," then says Cena's words have not matched his actions and that Cena has lied to the fans. He says that he knows Cena, even after having ridden with him at one point, and that he cared about the fans as well as him, then tells him to answer the question "Why?" Cena says he will not reduce himself and punch down to Cody's level just to protect him, and instead of "cooking" him, he will bury him like he buried everyone else. Cena says that everyone has accused him of burying talent, then says that he is talent and that he buries medocrity. He says he does not care about anything about Cody, saying Cody has manipulated his way to the top and that his ego has outlasted his ability, and all Cody has done is ride the coattails of his success, then says that he has been so great that WWE has handed the heartbeat of the company to his chauffeur. He calls Cody a slimy pickpocket who thinks he can run the kingdom because he stole the blueprint, and for that, Cody disgusts him. He calls Cody "undeniable but still underwhelming" and says he tried to drive it into his skull that he had to be authentic, as the pans can see through phoniness, yet Cody is too perfect, too polished and too rehearsed, and he relies on lazy gimmicks to get by. Cena says that Cody is just like the Pied Piper, as all he has done is find a way to make a catchy tune trick everyone into loving mediocrity; without his music and entrance, there is not much to look at except a thick pinstripe suit. Cena says that Cody could walk him out here in silence and he could still body him before his first breath, then states Cody is nothing like him and also nothing like himself, as he is afraid to show who he is; instead, we get a generic mix of every Superstar that Cody has ever loved or TV show he has ever watched into one huge blob that makes him look like a sixteen-year-old taking acting lessons yet is still afraid of public speaking. Cena tells Cody that the one thing he has shown is that someone mediocre wearing something meaningful is enough these days to trick the fans, that he has worked too hard to make the suit a symbol of mastery only for "a paint-by-numbers, sociopathic nepo baby" who is so into himself that he had his wrestling gimmick tattooed for the world to see parading around in it, and that Cody's tattoo exposes himself as a common fan. He says that after WrestleMania, it will be great for Cody to buy the toy belt that the fans buy and become their champion, as he will take the real championship home while Cody is exposed as "an errand boy who got lucky." Cody says Cena may be right and that he may be chosen, but he was chosen by the fans and asks Cena if he can say the same before asking if it was really "one guy in an office who is not here anymore who we do not talk about." Cody says that he is a professional wrestler like his father before him, and if anyone is "a company creation," it is Cena and not him. He also says he does not fear Cena because "[he] has more dick in [his] promos than [he does] in [his] jorts," and while Cena wants to mock his appearance, he "hangs out with Zac Efron and wishes he was sixteen." He says Cena has thrown a softball, saying that Cena only created a lot of disenfranchised fans who made it easy for him to pack up and go elsewhere, and that Cena did not leave WWE better than he found it. He says two of them are in the ring, but between the two of them, only one of them sold out to The Rock. Cody says Cena is still his hero, but he is also "a piece of shit." Cena says that just like all the fans, Cody's mind is "full of feces, but not facts," and that he has worked a hundred time harder than Cody and that not once was he protected from an audience or a Superstar, present company included, taking their best shot at him, and that every time he steps into the ring, it is a challenge to every arena to every Superstar dumb enough to walk up that ramp and take their strongest swing at him to see if they are worthy of putting him int he ground, and that no one has been worthy, so he has decided to do it himself. Cena says he has never left and has always been here, because no matter what, he finds a way to make it great, while Cody had to leave because he realized that at best, he could not wipe his ass. Cena says he makes empires for billionaires while Cody steals money from their kids, then tells Cody he will see him at WrestleMania. Cody reminds Cena as he leaves that the whole time he has been here, not once has an audience told him "You can't wrestle." Cena gets back in the ring, and both men have a brief standoff before Cena smirks, pretends to turn away, and goes for a cheap shot only for Cody to grab him for the Cross Rhodes and hit him with it.

Before the next match, General Manager Adam Pearce tells The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) that they will earn their tag team title shot against New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne), who have not been seen since last July due to Tyler Bate suffering a torn pec.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) beat New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne) to earn a shot at the World Tag Team Championships. After the match, Cathy Kelley interviews The New Day in the entryway. Woods says they deserve a tag team title shot and that they want it now, and Kofi says that did exactly what they said they woudl and that they want what they are owed. The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) show up and have a staredown with The New Day.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso is met by "Main Event" Jey Uso, who says he would feel better if he was out at the ring with him. Jimmy says the world has been doubting him, but tonight, he is closing out that noise. He says Gunther is a big deal, but so are they, and that Gunther is a beatable man and that they will both beat him. Jey tells Jimmy to be careful.

Singer-songwriter Kate Nash, actor Charlie Brooker, UFC welterweight fighter Michael "Venom" Page, and singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi.

Gunther beats Jimmy Uso by submission with a sleeper hold. After the match, Gunther gets back in the ring and puts Jimmy in another sleeper hold, then "Main Event" Jey Uso runs to the ring to make the save. Jey and Gunther brawl, and Gunther runs away through the crowd.

After the commercial break, Jimmy Uso is being helped back to the back when Gunther comes back and attacks Jimmy and Jey from behind. Officials and security show up as Gunther attacks Jey, but Gunther starts attacking security. He then grabs a zip tie from security and ties Jey's right wrist to the middle rope, then grabs Jimmy Uso and throws him at the announce table. Gunther taunts Jey with the World Heavyweight Championship, saying this is as close as he will get to it because he is out of his league, then hits Jimmy Uso with it when Jimmy tries to get back in the ring. Jimmy is busted open when he tries to get back in the ring again, and Gunther grabs Jimmy and starts beating him down again before tossing him to Jey, kicking Jey away from Jimmy and putting Jimmy in another sleeper hold while Jey is forced to watch from just inches away. Officials get in the ring, and Gunther lets go before celebrating what he has done.

Backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez meet with the rest of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, Carlito). Liv notices that Finn and Dominik have buried the hatchet, and Finn says they can focus on bringing gold back to the clubhouse by showing Penta and Bron Breakker that they are a well-oiled machine and that he will bring home the Intercontinental Championship. Afterwards, Liv and Raquel Rodriguez try to come up with a gameplan for Lyra Valkyria.

The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio) beat Penta and Bron Breakker after Breakker inadvertently hits Penta with a Spear meant for Finn Balor.

Backstage, Chad Gable meets with General Manager Adam Pearce, who sings El Grande Americano's praises before Adam Pearce mentions that he has heard that Gable is still not feeling well. Gable provides another doctor's note, but finds out that next week's show is in Gable's hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gable says he will get better by the time WWE is back on American soil, but Pearce says he has already made arrangements ofr El Grande Americano to appear next week. Gable runs into Alpha Academy (Otis Akira Tozawa, Maxxine Dupri) on his way out, with Otis calling Gable a clown and Gable calling Otis an idiot. Maxxine Dupri then meets with Pearce over opportunities in the tag team division as well as some ideas that she has with Natalya.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Bron Breakker when Penta confronts Breakker for hitting him with a Spear. Officials quickly step between them.

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles is in the ring. Style she has been waiting patiently in the back for Logan Paul to call him out, and that he is tired of waiting. He then calls Logan out, telling him that if he has anything to say to his face, then he had better say it now. Logan Paul shows up and says Styles would not understand, as nobody has the fame and good looks that he has, and that everyone is on his time. As he says this, he is being booed out of the building, and Logan says that if he wants everyone to wait, they will do as they are told because they are sheep. Logan then says he has had a change of heart about Styles as the fans tell him to "shut the fuck up," as he is "a girl dad" now and he is trying to teach his daughter the art of forgiveness, and that he forgives what he did to him at Madison Square Garden, but he does not forget. Styles says he has a daughter and that he forgives Logan Paul for "being the biggest douchebag to ever step foot in a WWE ring." He says Logan brags about his success and his money when the fans only care about what Logan is willing to sacrifice in the ring for them, and that while Logan has all the talent in the world, talent will only get him so far. He then asks Logan what he will do with that talent. Logan says he would ask Styles for advice, but he does not take advice from anyone he does not want to trade places with. Styles tells Logan not to let his mouth write a check that his ass cannot cash, which Logan takes as a threat before stating that he is done talking and that he does not fight for free as London, England cannot afford him and after Styles states that he already has his gear on. Logan then says Styles wants a big money match with him, then tells him to set his sights on WrestleMania before going for a cheap shot. Styles catches the attempted kick to the gut and goes for Styles Clash only for Logan to escape. Styles and Logan go at it on the outside, but when Styles goes for a Phenomenal Forearm, Logan crotches him with the middle rope before planting him with a Paulveriser in the middle of the ring.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Lyra Valkyria. Lyra thanks Bayley for the assist last week, but when it comes to the Women's Intercontinental Championship, she has to be able to stand on her own two feet. She says Bayley is the only person to beat her since she won the title, and now she must prove that she can beat her in a rematch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship.

Backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez welcome back a victorious Finn Balor and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio. Finn brags about their victory and says that he has some momentum going into WrestleMania, then looks about getting an Intercontinental Championship match. After Finn leaves, Liv tells Dominik that Finn says that he won when Dominik was just as instrumental in the victory and that Finn wants to piggyback off of that, then says she will talk with General Manager Adam Pearce as soon as he is done.

Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky for the Women's World Championship ends in a double disqualification. Iyo Sky retains the Women's World Championship. During the match, Rhea Ripley inadvertently kicks Bianca Belair in the face and boots her out of the ring, which leaves no referee when Rhea hits Iyo Sky with the Riptide immediately afterwards. Rhea gets angry at Bianca and tells her to get in the ring to make the count, but Iyo Sky kicks out after Bianca gets back in. Rhea gets angry at Bianca, and Bianca drags Rhea away from Iyo . Rhea strikes Bianca in the face, then Iyo Sky goes for a missile drop kick only to inadvertently hit Bianca and send her tumbling out of the ring again. Bianca calls for the bell, and the match ends in a double disqualification. After the match, Rhea goes after Bianca, and both women brawl before Iyo hits them both with amoonsault. This turns into a three-way brawl inside the ring, which ends with Rhea laying both Bianca and Iyo with a Riptide to each woman. Rhea then hits Bianca with an avalanche Riptide from the second rope to end the show.

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