This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Brussels, Belgium! Finn Balor challenges Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Championship. John Cena and Cody Rhodes meet for the first time since Elimination Chamber Dakota Kai battled Ivy Nile, and more.
We break it all down in this week’s WWE Raw recap!
We Hear From John Cena
John Cena comes out to his regular theme song, but chooses to walk, instead of run to the ring. The crowd erupts in dueling “Let’s go Cena” and “Cena sucks” chants while Cena stands in the ring. Cena says is the victim of an abusive relationship for the last 25 years. Cena calls out the WWE Universe for expecting him to smile all these years. He says he is not a heel, nor a babyface, but a human being. Cena says he won a lot, but it wasn’t enough for the crowd. Still, he gave away everything he possibly could, but it still wasn’t enough. Cena recalls making his retirement announcement, which he says the crowd ruined.
The Brussels then crowd sings “goodbye” to him. He says the WWE Universe should be ashamed of themselves for taking everything and for being selfish. Cena says no one asked how he was doing. He further says the crowd’s time is up, while his time is now. Cena says the only thing the fans get is how awful they’ve been for 25 years to him. The crowd begins chanting “We want Cody.” Cena says they continue to prove his point that they are awful people. Cena says his supporters are just as bad as the haters because they steal his personal moments and time. Cena says the invisible joke is tired as well. Cena says he is the definition or perseverance, and everyone knows it. He claims that the crowd doesn’t support him, but they use him as an excuse for their pathetic lives. Cena says he’s breaking up with the fans, and they know they’re wrong.
Cody Rhodes’s music hits, prompting the crowd to erupt in cheers. He tells Cena that the fans have given him their best for 25 years because he was special. Cena begins to speak again, but Rhodes cuts him off. He asks Cena who he is now. Rhodes tells him to find the old Cena because he wants to face him at WrestleMania, not the whiny b**** before him. Rhodes heads to back with cheers, whereas Cena retreats to a thunderous sea of boos.
No Holds Barred: Ludwig Kaiser vs. Penta
Penta sends Kaiser flying into the apron with a hurricanrana. Penta follows up with a dropkick and a dive. Kaiser and Penta climb up onto the announce table. They exchange chops. Kaiser plants Penta with a rolling driver on the table.
Back from break, Penta drops Kaiser onto the announce table back-first. The action returns to the ring, with Kaiser clocking Penta with a big right hand. Kaiser and Penta trade blows again. Kaiser throws Penta to the mat for a near fall. Kaiser tells Penta that he will fear him. Kaiser slams a chair against Penta’s back, then wedges it in the corner against his neck. Penta pushes the chair away. Penta hyperextends Kaiser’s elbow. Penta picks up the chair. Kaiser begs him not to swing it, then takes it from his hand. Penta, however, connects with a kick, then slams the chair against him. Penta lands a Mexican Destroyer on the chair and a Penta Driver for the win.
Winner: Penta
After the match, Penta declares his interest in the Intercontinental Championship.
Backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez wish Finn Balor good luck in his title match tonight. Balor then thanks Dominik Mysterio for getting him the match. Dominik asks Balor about adding Penta to the Judgment Day. Balor yells at Dominik for going behind his back. He then questions the choice of Penta and calls Dominik a “snake.”
Dakota Kai vs. Ivy Nile (w/ Chad Gable & Creed Brothers)
Nile lands a German suplex. Kai rolls her up for a two count, then runs over Nile with a clothesline. She connects with a big kick in the corner, then a knee, which drops Nile off the apron. Gable hops up on the apron, providing a distraction. Nile capitalizes with a near fall on Kai. Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio run down to ringside to take out the Creed Brothers. They then chase after Gable through the crowd. Meanwhile, Kai catches Nile with a kick and GTK for the win.
Winner: Dakota Kai
IYO SKY & Bianca Belair WrestleMania Contract Signing
SKY tells Belair she will not disrespect her again. SKY asserts that she will still be the WWE Women’s World Champion after WrestleMania as well. Belair says she has all the respect in the world for SKY, but she isn’t going to let her get her hands on her again. Belair foresees herself as the new champion coming out of WrestleMania. WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce prompts Belair and SKY to sign their contract. Before they can, Rhea Ripley’s music hits.
Ripley asks how Belair can stand there like nothing ever happened last week and the week before. Ripley says she’s out here to watch. She then headbutts Belair and slams SKY onto Belair. Much to Pearce’s dismay, Ripley signs the WrestleMania contract and heads to the back with it.
Backstage, Jey Uso tries to fight Gunther, but security separate them.
Jey Uso vs. Austin Theory (w/ Grayson Waller)
Waller hops up onto the apron, briefly distracting Uso. Theory fires off right hands in the corner, then gloats. Uso and Theory collide with a crossbody. Uso pins Theory for the win.
Winner: Jey Uso
After the match, Uso hits Waller with a superkick. He then wipes out Theory and Waller with a dive to the outside. Gunther sneaks up behind Uso and applies the sleeper hold. Uso breaks out of it and lands a series of right hands. Uso sends Gunther flying out of the ring, with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in hand.
Backstage, Adam Pearce tells Rhea Ripley she cannot just write her name on the contract. Ripley demands he let her in the WrestleMania match. Bianca Belair attacks Ripley. IYO SKY comes into the frame as well. She and Belair shove each other. Ripley throws SKY against a wall, then strikes Belair.
Creed Brothers vs. Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee
Lee sends Julius into the corner, then wipes him out with a suicide dive. Lee leaps off the top rope. Julius takes him down with a sliding lariat.
Back from break, Rey takes down Julius with a hurricanrana. He fires off right hands in the corner. Julius and Brutus double team Rey. Rey spikes Julius with a DDT. Rey sets up for a 619 on Julius and hits it. He follows up with a splash for the win.
Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee
After the match, Chad Gable (in a lucha mask) attacks both Rey and Lee with German suplexes. Gable goes up top and lands a flying headbutt on Lee.
We Hear From Seth Rollins
Rollins says Roman Reigns still doesn’t have a plan, so he still needs his Architect to do it for him. Rollins calls CM Punk the luckiest loser on the planet because he evaded a career-ending stomp from him last week. Rollins says now he is left to clean up Reigns’ mess. Rollins says he will put Reigns in his place along the way. He then points out that Reigns and Punk will be on SmackDown this Friday. Rollins suggests he make a trip to SmackDown as well. Rollins then prompts the crowd to sing his song as WWE prepares for the main event.
Backstage, AJ Styles says Logan Paul doesn’t belong on their roster. Karrion Kross interrupts him. Kross suggests that Styles isn’t mad at Paul, but rather himself. Styles says he sees what Kross is trying to do, and it isn’t working.
Intercontinental Title: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Finn Balor
Balor kicks Breakker in the corner, then applies a headlock. Balor sends Breakker over the top rope and to the outside. Breakker clotheslines him in the corner, then sends Balor over the top. Breakker charges in, but Balor cuts him off with a sling blade.
Back from break, Balor drops Breakker with a side Russian leg sweep. Balor taunts Breakker with a series of light kicks. Breakker fires off right hands, then drops him onto the mat. Breakker follows up with a powerslam. Dominik Mysterio and Carlito come down to ringside. Balor rolls up Breakker off the distraction. Breakker kicks out. Balor chops Breakker. Breakker responds with a running shoulder tackle. Balor rolls to the outside. Breakker sends both of them crashing over the announce table.
Breakker dumps Balor back into the ring. Balor blocks a spear with a sling blade, then follows up with a dropkick. Balor goes up top. He looks for a Coup De Grace, but Breakker rolls out of the way. Breakker slams him to the mat for a near fall. Balor and Breakker go up top. As Carlito distracts the referee, Dominik drags Breakker off the top. Balor falls down in the process. Breakker regains his footing to hit a Frankensteiner and a spear for the win.
Winner (And Still): Bron Breakker
After the match, Dominik and Carlito attack Breakker. Dominik grabs the IC Title. Penta runs down to even the odds for Breakker. Breakker connects with a spear to Carlito. Penta and Breakker stare down, with Breakker holding up his title.