WWE Raw March 17 Results, Winners, Grades, and Analysis

WWE Raw on January 17 delivered an unforgettable night filled with drama, action, and surprises. John Cena made a shocking return after his heel turn. In the ring, there were intense battles, including Bron Breakker defending his Intercontinental Championship in a high-energy match against Finn Balor and Penta overcoming Ludwig Kaiser in a brutal No Holds Barred contest. Catch WWE Raw March 17 Results, Winners, Grades, and Analysis.

John Cena’s Heel Turn Soldified

John Cena made a striking return to WWE Raw, presenting a new, emotionally charged persona. His entrance was met with overwhelming “John Cena sucks!” chants, and Cena took to the mic, reflecting on 25 years of being mistreated by fans. He spoke of feeling like a puppet, always trying to please the crowd, but it was never enough. Cena described his career as a toxic relationship, constantly changing for the fans but receiving nothing in return. He expressed frustration with both his supporters and detractors, labeling them all as contributors to his emotional burnout.

The crowd’s chants of “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” only proved his point that no matter what he did, it would never satisfy them. Cena ended his rant by stating he no longer cared about the fans and was walking away for good. Cody Rhodes interrupted Cena’s tirade, offering a different perspective. Rhodes acknowledged that Cena had endured a lot from the fans but also reminded him that the same fans had supported him through thick and thin.

Cody questioned Cena’s new attitude and challenged him, stating that if this is the version of Cena we see at WrestleMania, he would be ready to take him down. He boldly proclaimed that if Cena brought his whiny persona to the grand stage, he would retire it for good. As Cody left, the crowd sang his name, and Cena, still expressionless, dropped the mic and exited the ring, leaving his controversial remarks hanging in the air.

Cena’s heel turn marked a major shift in his character, pushing fans to reconsider their long-held perceptions of the superstar. The emotional rant brought a raw vulnerability to Cena, but it was clear that he was no longer interested in winning over the fans. Cody Rhodes’ challenge added more fuel to the fire, setting up an intriguing potential match at WrestleMania 41. The tension between the two grew, leaving the WWE Universe eagerly awaiting the next chapter of this fiery storyline.

Grade A+

Analysis

We all have waited for more than two decades for Cena to turn to the dark side. It happened at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 when he joined hands with the Rock. Cena solidified his anti-Fans persona with his brilliant mic skills in this segment. Cody Rhodes is still to get their hands on John. Overall, it was a great presentation of Cena’s character.

Penta vs Ludwig Kaiser (No Holds Barred Match)

The match between Ludwig Kaiser and Penta kicked off with an intense exchange of hard right hands in the center of the ring. Penta quickly gained the upper hand, ducking a lariat and using his agility to clothesline Kaiser out of the ring. Outside, the action became more chaotic as Penta launched himself over the barricade with a tijeras that sent Kaiser crashing into the apron.

The two continued to brawl, with Kaiser grabbing chairs and using them to wear down Penta, even launching a “California Roll” through the announce desk. As they returned from the break, Kaiser began to tear at Penta’s mask, but Penta fought back with a diving crossbody, building momentum. Despite Kaiser’s attempts to control the match, including a brutal exchange on the outside and choking Penta with a chair, Penta’s resilience shone through.

The match reached a dramatic climax when Penta hit a Van Daminator, countering Kaiser’s attempt for a DDT, and securing a thrilling victory in this high-stakes, no-holds-barred contest.

Winner: Penta

Grade B+

Analysis

Penta is over with the crowd. His moves are smooth and exciting. Kaiser is also brilliant as a heel. WWE must give him some kind of reward in the future for all the work he has done in the last year. It looked like Penta will now move to the title picture with Intercontinental champion Bron Breakker.

Dakota Kai vs Ivy Nile

The match between Dakota Kai and Ivy Nile started off strong, with both competitors showing their determination. Ivy took control early with a German suplex, but Dakota quickly countered, gaining the upper hand with powerful strikes and a rolling elbow. The fight became more intense as Gable interfered, distracting Nile long enough for Kai to capitalize on her momentary distraction. Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio rushed to ringside to help balance the scales, chasing Chad Gable through the crowd.

Despite the chaos, Dakota Kai managed to take advantage of Ivy’s focus being pulled, hitting her with a big boot and securing the win with her GTK finisher. The match showed off both women’s strengths, but Dakota’s timing and interference from the outside made the difference in this hard-fought contest.

Winner: Dakota Kai

Grade C+

Analysis

This was a pretty decent match. Both superstars got some TV time in recent week and they got the benefit from it. Kai needs a singles push now because she is the only women in the group who richly deserves it.

Contract Signing for Women’s World Championship

The contract signing for the WWE Women’s World Championship began with Bianca Belair and IYO SKY already in the ring, with Adam Pearce presiding over the event. IYO started by asserting her dominance as champion, claiming she would still hold the title after WrestleMania. The crowd cheered, chanting, “You deserve it,” as she signed the contract.

Bianca responded with respect but made it clear she wasn’t going to let IYO get away with her disrespectful actions again. She confidently declared her intention to win the title and signed the contract herself. However, things took an unexpected turn when Rhea Ripley entered the scene. She confronted Bianca and IYO, expressing her frustration over IYO’s earlier slap and stating that she wouldn’t just sit back like Bianca had. As tensions escalated, Adam Pearce tried to keep the situation under control, but things quickly broke down.

IYO and Bianca brawled, with Rhea overpowering them both and delivering a powerful powerbomb to IYO, sending her crashing into Bianca through the table. To everyone’s surprise, Rhea picked up the contract and signed it, leaving Pearce to chase after her as she exited, further complicating the title picture heading into WrestleMania.

Grade B

Analysis

Iyo Sky vs Rhea Ripley vs Bianca Belair is one of the biggest feuds heading into WrestleMania. Rhea Ripley signed the contract instead of Sky, and Belair is not a shock to WWE fans. WWE is considering this from Elimination Chamber when both Sky and Ripley appeared on the show. The story will revolve around the physicality of all these women instead of their promos.

Jey Uso vs Austin Theory

Jey Uso kicked off his match with a promo, revealing his doubts and determination, saying he traveled across the world to face Austin Theory. Tensions escalated when Gunther confronted Jey backstage, nearly causing a brawl before Adam Pearce intervened with security. After the break, the match began with both competitors exchanging hard-hitting moves. In the end, Jey Uso secured a victory by pinfall after hitting a spear, leaving Theory down for the count.

After the match, Jey Uso’s momentum continued as he delivered a superkick to Grayson Waller, knocking him off the apron. However, Gunther wasn’t far behind, arriving to confront Uso. The two powerhouse wrestlers clashed when Gunther applied the Gojira Clutch, but Jey fought his way out of it. To add insult to injury, Jey snatched the Intercontinental Championship belt from Gunther and posed with it in the turnbuckles. He threw the belt back to Gunther, showcasing his defiance and making a bold statement heading into their inevitable showdown.

Winner: Jey Uso

Grade C+

Analysis

This segment was almost a repeat of last week. WWE did all the things in this feud and no exciting thing isleft now. WWE must separate them for a week to refresh their characters and rivalry. It seems that Waller and Theory have no future now so they must break up.

Creed Brothers (Brutus & Julius Creed) vs. Latino World Order (Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio)

The match between the Latino World Order (Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio) and the Creed Brothers (Brutus & Julius Creed) kicked off with Dragon Lee taking on Julius. Lee quickly gained control with a series of kicks and a dive before landing a crossbody on Julius for a near fall. Brutus attempted to block the tag, but Julius took over with a hard lariat, and the action spilled into a commercial break. After returning, Rey Mysterio was on fire, delivering a satellite tijeras to Julius and following it up with mounted punches in the corner.

The fight intensified when Rey managed to escape a powerbomb attempt and hit Julius with a DDT. Dragon Lee and Brutus continued their exchange outside the ring, with Mysterio finishing things off with a 619 and a springboard splash to secure the win for the Latino World Order. Just as the Latino World Order celebrated their victory, a masked man appeared out of nowhere, attacking Rey Mysterio with a flying headbutt.

The masked figure continued his assault by German suplexing Dragon Lee and then launching Mysterio into Lee with another suplex. The mysterious man, who appeared to be wearing a tracksuit (and was clearly not Chad Gable), climbed the ropes and delivered a devastating diving headbutt to cap off the chaotic post-match brawl. This surprise attack added a new layer of mystery and tension, leaving fans wondering who the masked assailant could be.

Winner: LWO

Grade C

Analysis

The mystery around the masked attacker is still unresolved. There is a strong chance that it will be Chad Gable. The match was good but not outstanding. WWE must make this feud exciting before any team loses momentum.

Seth Rollins Promo

Seth Rollins took the mic and allowed the Brussels crowd to sing along to his theme song for an extended period, fully embracing the energy of the moment. Once the singing died down, Rollins greeted the fans and welcomed them to “Monday Night Rollins.” He acknowledged the “CM Punk!” chants and explained that while he’d talk about CM Punk, he first wanted to focus on Roman Reigns.

Seth isn’t upset that Roman sought revenge on him, but he criticizes Roman for still relying on others, like the Wiseman, to come up with a plan instead of figuring things out on his own. Rollins then shifted gears, calling CM Punk the “luckiest loser” for narrowly escaping his wrath in their previous encounter. He claimed that if he had a few more seconds in the cage, he would’ve ended Punk’s dreams of making it to WrestleMania, cleaning up Roman’s mess in the process.

As the promo progressed, Rollins hinted at some big plans for SmackDown, teasing the arrival of his two “favorite people.” He expressed his excitement for the upcoming show but reminded the fans that tonight was all about them in Brussels. Wrapping up, he encouraged the crowd to sing him out, leaving fans hyped for the next match while teasing future developments in his ongoing feuds.

Grade B

Analysis

Roman Reigns returned on Last week’s WWE Raw, where he attacked Rollins and Punk. Seth Rollins will make this feud alive with his presence every week. He called out Roman for his actions. Rollins wanted his contemporaries to retire. This will be an exciting feud.

Bron Breakker (c) vs. Finn Balor (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

Bron Breakker defended his WWE Intercontinental Championship against Finn Balor in a hard-fought battle that showcased both men’s resilience. The match began with Balor working over Breakker with a side headlock, but Bron powered up, tossing him to the floor. Balor quickly countered with a Sling Blade, leading to a commercial break. After returning, the action picked up, with both competitors exchanging big moves. Breakker blocked a punch and returned fire with powerful right hands, while Balor responded with a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall.

As the match progressed, Breakker nailed Balor with a backbody drop and a diving lariat off the apron. Balor then hit his signature Coup de Grace, but Bron avoided it, continuing his onslaught. The match took a turn when Carlito and Dominik Mysterio interfered, with Dominik accidentally costing Balor an opportunity by crotching him in the turnbuckles. Despite the interference, Breakker fought back, taking down both Mysterio and Carlito with devastating spears. After a series of impactful moves, including an avalanche Frankensteiner, Breakker delivered a spear to secure the victory and retain his championship.

After the match, the chaos continued as Dominik Mysterio and Carlito attacked Breakker. Mysterio snatched the Intercontinental Championship, but before they could capitalize, Penta arrived to even the odds. Penta delivered superkicks to both Dominik and Carlito, sending them packing. Breaker, however, wasn’t done and took out Carlito with another spear. As the two stared each other down, Penta shoved the title back into Breakker’s chest, throwing up his signature “Cero Miedo” gesture, setting the stage for a potential clash between the two in the future. The night ended with both men standing face-to-face, hinting at a fiery rivalry to come.

Winner: Bron Breakker

Grade A-

Analysis

The Judgment Day will soon breakup. Finn Balor suffered a loss and Dom is one for the culprits. The more exciting story is Bron Breakker vs Penta, who’s seeds are already sown. WWE is directing his fans to a Penta vs Breakker feud. The match was great as Finn Balor is a veteran who always deliver in the ring.