Date: March 16, 2026
Location: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX
The Big Takeaway —
For the third straight week, Raw concluded with a talking segment to build the CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns match. Feuds are meant to build as they go, but this was the least interesting segment so far.
On the positive side, Oba Femi laid out Brock Lesnar, and the two men will face off at WrestleMania.
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Show Recap —
CM Punk and AJ Lee, Maxxine Dupri (with Alpha Academy), Judgment Day, and Stephanie Vaquer were shown at the arena earlier today.
Lucky us, over a dozen masked men swarmed ringside, led by Seth Rollins, who entered the ring. (Even Michael Cole stated, “Not this again.”) Rollins initially wore a mask, but removed it once he entered.
Rollins said he created the Vision, and he would be the one to kill it. He didn’t care if you were on the shelf like Bron Breakker, or a hanger-on like Austin Theory and Logan Paul—if you stood next to Paul Heyman, you should consider yourself marked for death. (That was a hint for what was coming.)
Rollins mentioned that he had the satisfaction of wrapping a chair around Heyman and stomping his fat head on the mat. At that point, a very dishevelled Heyman walked on to the stage.
The San Antonio crowd chanted, “F—k you, Heyman.” Rollins said he made a lot of mistakes in his life, but letting Heyman into his inner circle was the worst one. Rollins would make Heyman pay for his betrayal every day until he was gone from the business. Rollins would cut him out like the cancer he was.
Heyman said Rollins F’d with him, so he would F with Rollins. He repeated, “F.A.F.O.” until he ended with “F5.”
Brock Lesnar entered. Five masked men entered the ring to protect the babyface Rollins, while the others guarded ringside. Lesnar suplexed a bunch of them and shrieked at a handful of others who all ran to safety. Lesnar suplexed and F5’d the remaining masked men who greeted him in the ring. After Lesnar disposed of them, he faced off with Rollins.
However, the lights went out, and Oba Femi entered. Lesnar backed into a corner with his guard up as Rollins gleefully watched on. After Femi entered the ring, Rollins slowly walked up beside Lesnar, but he bailed from the ring when Lesnar turned his attention to him.
With Rollins out of the ring, Lesnar turned to Femi, but Femi hoisted him up and nailed him with a sit-out powerbomb. The crowd went nuts for this spot, and Cole yelled, “Holy sh-t!” (which was censored). Femi put his boot on Lesnar’s chest and pointed at the sign.
(Femi came across great here. He was cheered in his entrance, when he laid out Lesnar, and when he pointed at the sign. Veteran viewers would know that Lesnar is more than happy to sell for people when necessary, and he sold big time here for Femi.
However, everything else with Rollins was so stupid. I don’t know why he’s hiding in the shadows if he isn’t fired or suspended. He could just come out to his music like a normal person. He also hid behind all the masked men and bailed from the ring when confronted by Lesnar. Maybe we’ll find out Femi’s involvement here was all part of Rollins’ master plan, but he still comes across like a coward.)
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There was a replay of El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) winning the Rey del Reyes fatal four-way match, thanks in part to interference by Rayo and Bravo, who handcuffed Original Americano (Chad Gable) to a railing in the crowd. Kaiser was wildly cheered when he won. They would not get that kind of reaction tonight.
El Grande Americano (w/ Bravo & Rayo Americano) vs. Original El Grande Americano
Cole said this was their first singles match, which isn’t true when you consider their actual identities.
This followed the usual pattern. After a break, Gable had the match won, but Bravo and Rayo distracted the referee. As Gable dealt with Rayo outside the ring, Bravo placed a metal plate in Kaiser’s mask while the ref was distracted. Gable hit a diving headbutt, but he hit Kaiser’s loaded mask and was knocked out, so Kaiser rolled into a cover for the win.
They used a close-up angle when Gable executed the headbutt, and it showed that he completely missed, so the finish stunk. This whole thing stinks.
Match result: El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) defeated Original El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) (9:55)
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Today is 3:16 Day, so Cole announced that WrestleMania tickets are 31.6% off today.
Roman Reigns arrived, and he was approached by Jimmy and Jey Uso. Reigns was happy about how they handled Punk last week. Reigns looked into the camera and told his whole family that they all should be offended by what Punk said about his father. He invited the family and cousins to deal with Punk before and after Mania, but on that weekend, Punk belonged to him.
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Danhausen handed out t-shirts during a break. Cole announced a sold-out crowd of 15,236.
Liv Morgan promo
There was a video package of Judgment Day turning on Finn Bálor. They censored the word “prick” again.
Liv Morgan cut a pre-taped promo on Bálor. She said this was her plan since she joined Judgment Day. Bálor was never in charge. He was on borrowed time and just didn’t know it. Morgan knew when Bálor was lying and scheming, and it was a pleasure watching him fall from grace.
Bálor couldn’t hang with them anymore because he got soft. He was a pathetic, washed-up loser. They took a page right out of his playbook when they laid him out. JD McDonagh was finally free from Bálor holding him back. Daddy Dom was still AAA Mega Champion and would regain his Intercontinental Championship.
Raquel Rodriguez was a future champion, and at WrestleMania, Morgan would be the new Women’s World Champion. Morgan didn’t hide behind her family’s back like Vaquer claimed—they had her back. Without Finn, they were better than ever.
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The Usos were with Reigns in the locker room. Jey was surprised that Reigns didn’t drop Punk after he said what he said. Jimmy brought up Punk’s comment about Reigns being a part-timer.
Reigns said that none of them saw their fathers much when they were kids. But with his kids, it would be different. The whole world could call him a part-timer if they wanted, he didn’t care. As long as his wife and kids knew he was a full-time father. That was his legacy. That was the biggest flex any superstar could ever say.
Jimmy was happy to hear this, but Jey still wanted an apology from Punk. Reigns said he didn’t need an apology, but thought the Usos did, so he said he would go get them one. Reigns said, “I mean, what’s the worst that can happen, CM Punk beat me up?” They all laughed at this, and Reigns left.
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Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (c) vs. Bayley
After a break, Lee hit a bulldog counter and a standing sliced bread, but Bayley responded with a single leg crab and knee strike. Bayley yanked Lee off the top rope and hit a Bayley-to-belly for a nearfall. They traded strikes until Lee hit a shining wizard. Bayley countered a Black Widow with a side slam and went for a flying elbow drop, but Lee moved out of the way. Lee applied the Black Widow, and Bayley tapped out.
— Bayley hugged Lee during commercials.
Match result: AJ Lee defeated Bayley to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (10:40)
This was ok. It was laid out well enough, and the crowd got into Lee prevailing in the end.
*******
In the back, McDonagh yelled at Adam Pearce for giving away Dom’s IC title match. Pearce said he didn’t give it away—Dom wasn’t cleared. As they argued, Penta appeared, and the production team suddenly cut the background crowd noise. Penta did his pose in McDonagh’s face and thanked Pearce. Penta walked away, and they turned the crowd noise back on. That was weird.
Becky Lynch attacks AJ Lee
AJ Lee continued to celebrate during commercials. As they returned from break, Becky Lynch attacked her from behind. Lynch tossed her into the barricades and booted her repeatedly. The highlight of this was a young fan trying to reason with Lynch, and Lynch screaming at her in response. The little girl held her hand up as if to tell Lynch to calm down. As officials checked on Lee, Lynch decked her with the IC title belt.
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Penta entered to a good response. He wanted to be a fighting champion and told Pearce to pick anyone, because he would always be ready. Penta continued in Spanish, and fans chanted his name. He advised his opponent to be ready.
Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) vs. Dragon Lee
They started with a handshake. They went back-and-forth early on until Dragon Lee hit a flip dive, but Penta came right back with one of his own. After a break, they traded chops and strikes until Penta planted Dragon with a superkick. Dragon hit a superkick of his own and a Styles Clash for a two count. Penta followed with a Penta Driver for two.
With Dragon on the apron, Penta tried a leaping spearingboard move, but Dragon caught him with a mid-air superkick. With Penta seated on the announce table, Dragon hit an awesome-looking suicide flip dive, knocking them both over the table. Dragon followed with Operation Dragon in the ring for a nearfall.
Dragon went for a hidden blade, but Penta ducked and hit a crazy Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win. (They went so fast on the Destroyer, Dragon popped to his feet, bounced off the ropes and collapsed.)
Match result: Penta defeated Dragon Lee to retain the Intercontinental Championship (12:40)
This was fun, and the last few minutes were particularly great.
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Theory and Paul approached Heyman backstage. Theory said Lesnar would take care of Femi, while they would take care of Rollins. Heyman said that was the worst thing they could do. Rollins’ game plan was divide and conquer. It was the art of distraction.
Heyman said Rollins hit him with a chair and curb-stomped him, but Rollins received no punishment because the Vision had no more power. They needed titles (championships). He said they needed to win the tag titles from The Usos, and then he could position them to get singles titles. Their focus should be The Usos.
Theory and Paul were on board with this. Paul also planned on getting LA Knight.
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Maxxine Dupri vs. Nattie
Dupri hit a fireman’s suplex and showed aggression by dropping her straps and hitting an elevated leg drop. Nattie kicked out, and Dupri acted shocked that a leg drop would only yield a two count. Nattie came back with a discus clothesline and a Sharpshooter for the submission win.
Match result: Nattie defeated Maxxine Dupri (4:17)
This was nothing, and the fans did not care.
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Randy Orton interview
They advertised throughout the night that Cole would interview Randy Orton. They cut to the announcers, and Cole introduced Orton, who appeared on the screen via a very grainy, low-quality video.
Orton was on the phone with someone, so Cole and the audience had to wait. Orton told this mystery person he was happy to see them a couple of weeks ago, and agreed with them that it was about time for him to do what he did (turn heel). He told the person he appreciated what they were doing, but told them he had to get to the interview.
Orton told Cole that he had changed his mind. He wasn’t doing an interview tonight. Orton said he had a conversation with someone who had a brain. They said something profound to him. Something that made him think about his life. Something that made him think about who he was and what he was. They made him understand why he did what he did to Cody Rhodes.
Orton told Cole, “I’m a killer,” and “wrestling has more than one royal family.” The feed cut.
Orton will be on Friday’s SmackDown.
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Je’Von Evan approached Dragon Lee backstage. Evans was excited about Dragon’s performance earlier, but they were interrupted by Kofi Kingston. Kingston was less friendly than he was last week. He said there were people on this roster who could lift Evans up, while others were “Dragon” (dragging) him down. Evans gave Kingston an answer: “No.” Evans left.
Grayson Waller told Kingston he didn’t know what he saw in Evans. Kingston heard people say that about Waller.
Kingston and Waller were accosted by Danhausen, who proposed the idea of him replacing Xavier Woods. Danhausen mentioned Booty O’s, and they reminded him that Booty O’s were from ten years ago. They declined.
Danhausen didn’t appreciate being turned down, so he put his curse. He was about to point at Kingston, but Kingston quickly dodged behind Waller, so Waller wound up cursed. Danhausen vanished.
(Evans, by the way, has not wrestled since Elimination Chamber last month. That’s if you exclude one Main Event match against Dragon Lee. Incidentally, they hinted at Evans and Lee becoming a team.)
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Non-title match: Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez (w/ Liv Morgan)
Vaquer went on offence, but distracted herself by peering at Morgan, who was just standing there. That allowed Rodriguez to grab her and lawn-dart her into the ring post. Vaquer fought back after a break and hit Devil’s Kiss.
Morgan leaped onto the apron, so Iyo Sky ran out to her music to chase away Morgan. Sky’s help went for naught as Rodriguez tackled her over the announce table. (That was all for Sky tonight.) Vaquer dove off the apron to wipe out Rodriguez before chucking Morgan into the timekeeper’s area.
Back in the ring, Rodriguez went for a Tejana Bomb, but Vaquer countered into a cradle for the pinfall win.
Match result: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Raquel Rodriguez (10:10)
I would have liked to see a more decisive win from Vaquer here. Rodriguez has improved a lot, and they clearly want to protect her, but that wasn’t necessary here against the world champion.
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Bayley loudly complained to Lyra Valkyria backstage, so Valkyria loudly told her to stop yelling at her. Valkyria said she wanted to see Bayley get to WrestleMania more than anything, and that they would do it together. They were approached by Asuka and Kairi Sane. Asuka blamed them for costing her a shot at the IC title, and she would never forget. She left.
(Theory checked on Dupri in the background of this segment.)
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Official for WrestleMania: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar.
Next week on Raw in Boston:
- Brock Lesnar appears
- The Usos vs. Austin Theory & Logan Paul
(I don’t think they said if next week’s match would be for the tag titles or not.)
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LA Knight approached Jimmy and Jey backstage. Knight asked about them getting cozy with Roman Reigns again. Jimmy said it was family business. Jey told him to mind his business.
Knight said no. He could appreciate family business, but he could not appreciate the Bloodline coming back. The three of them were on the same page regarding the Vision, but he could not be on the same page if that meant the return of the Bloodline. Knight bumped fists with Jimmy, but Jey did not return the favour.
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Roman Reigns and CM Punk main event segment
Reigns told San Antonio to acknowledge him. They did. They chanted “OTC,” and Reigns said “they” could hear that backstage. They (Punk) knew whose show this was. Reigns was in the beginning, the middle, and the end. Reigns said the fans should forgive Phil for getting confused and thinking this was his show.
Reigns invited Phil to the ring. Punk entered. Reigns greeted him by saying, “Welcome to my ring. Welcome to my main event.”
Punk said Reigns kept using his government name like it was meant to be an insult. His friends and family were allowed to Phil. Maybe Punk would call Reigns ‘Titty Tiaki’ or whatever his real name was, but Punk didn’t obsess over him or read his Wikipedia page. Punk certainly wouldn’t call him “Joe” because that would be insulting to a real Samoan, whom he loved very much. Reigns suggested he call Joe, who would remind him who his Tribal Chief was.
Punk heard Reigns earlier say he was sending all the Samoans after him. Reigns said he was only telling them to do what they gotta do. Punk said the only thing they would do is high-five him. Just like everyone in San Antonio was. Punk said it felt great to be alive on a Monday Night in San Antonio, and the fans chanted his name, but they followed soon after by signing Reigns’ name.
Punk was surprised that Reigns hadn’t taken a swing at him yet. Reigns said he wasn’t surprised to hear that, because he was on everyone’s mind all the time. They were in the main event, but the truth was, Punk on his own hasn’t main evented anything all year, not even the European tour.
Punk said he called for Reigns last week, but he was too chickenshit to show up, so he sent his cousins instead. Punk was a habitual line stepper, which is why the fans loved him, and Reigns didn’t. Jimmy and Jey handled their business last week. Punk admitted he deserved it. It was the right message, but the wrong messenger. Punk wondered who the real Tribal Chief was.
Reigns wasn’t impressed and asked the fans if this (Punk’s promo) was really what they cheer for. Reigns has heard these Tribal Chief accusations for five years. Reigns called Punk trite and redundant. He mentioned Punk calling him a part-timer, but Reigns advised him to talk to the real top players about that, including his wife. Reigns told him to stop wasting his time until he came up with something that actually fazed him.
Reigns went to leave the ring, but Punk blocked him. Reigns tried to go around him, so Punk left the ring to cut him off. Punk said it was his show, and it wasn’t time to go yet. Punk said WrestleMania would be Reigns’ last main event. Punk would hoist him up over his beautiful head of hair, bring him crashing back down to earth, drop him on his knee and split his ego in two on the grandest stage of them all.
Reigns called him delusional. Punk was great on the mic and at the mental games, but he couldn’t faze him. Reigns was the most successful superstar Punk has ever faced. When the talking was done, Punk couldn’t do the walking. Punk wasn’t stronger than him or faster than him. The title around Punk’s waist was an embarrassment. Punk was a try-hard who made the rest of them look terrible, “because at the end of the day, you’re old.”
That was enough to set off Punk, who dropped Reigns with a right hand. Officials ran down to settle down Punk, as Reigns looked up and laughed at him. They got Punk out of the ring as the show ended.
(As mentioned above, this wasn’t terribly interesting. Not all of these segments need to be home runs, but they kind of do when they insist on main-eventing the show with it. Reigns went on about Punk being trite and redundant, but Reigns himself repeatedly said the same stuff about being the real reason they were in the main event, and used the trite “your wife” remark.)
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[The show was dedicated to the memory of Davey Coates.]
