WWE Raw
Forest National
Brussels, Belgium
March 17, 2025
Commentators: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
The European tour continues as the stars of Raw make their way to Brussels, Belgium for this special edition of Raw. I won't say Monday night since its being aired at 4 PM Eastern time in the United States. The big to do is John Cena and Cody Rhodes are both here and a confrontation is imminent. Ludwig Kaiser will face Penta.....NO HOLDS BARRED, Jey Uso takes on Austin Theory, Dakota Kai faces Ivy Nile and Finn Balor faces Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Championship. Let's get to it.
Michael Cole says this is the first live event in Belgium in WWE history. We're shown Finn Balor entering as well as Bron Breakker. Bianca Belair is here to sign the contract against Iyo Sky with Dakota Kai in tow. We'll be shown a highlight of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and CM Punk from last week after the cage match. The crowd goes nuts before anything happens and Michael Cole says we should give John Cena the benefit of the doubt as we go to a recap vignette of the Cena heel turn and Cody's recent responses. Here comes John Cena and he's dressed as he normally does with the ENTIRE arena chanting "John Cena suckssssssssss". Fans were speculating he'd be back to Basic Thuganomics but so far he's still coming out to My Time Is Now like nothing happened. Cena grabs a mic and now the arena plays "Let's go Cena/Cena sucks" before he says anything. After a full minute Cena drops the mic and goes to leave but stops when he's booed. The chant becomes "You sold out" and he fakes leaving again. Then he picks up the mic and says "When somrone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn't have to look outside themselves for approval." Cena says the fans are making it so easy for him as he's been a victim for 25 years of an abusive relationship. Cena tells the fans they've lost their time to talk and naturally they chant. Cena says the fans are to blame because all they have been is hurtful. All they are is abusive and bullied him into being his damn puppet, expecting him to smile no matter what. "NO MORE!" The crowd chants "Fuck you Cena" and he holds up the mic and nods his head and says "so very kind, thank you." Cena "I am not a babyface, I am not a heel, I'm a human being." He says the fans have been awful to him and its been the same noise for 25 years. He says when he first started they let him know real quick they hated him. He said he changed himself so that they liked him and he says it worked for a second, but then it wasn't enough. Cena then worked hard and started to win, and win, and win and the fans hated it. He goes on to say he spent the next 10 years trying to give away everything he possibly could and it wasn't enough. He says in his final moments he could walk away which causes the fans to cheer, which he acknowledges. Cena says he's actually walking away at the end of the year and tried one last time to get along with the fans and they ruined it, just like they ruin everything. Cena says for two seconds its great and its never enough, causing the crowd to chant "na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye". Cena "Each one of these idiots is proving my point with every breath." He says the fans should all be ashamed of themselves and all they ever do is take. They take and take and take and only care about themselves. "Not one of you sons of bitches asked me how I feel." Cena mocks the fans for saying "what do we get" and says they get nothing. Cena says they get what they earned and they get nothing. Cena then takes a shot at social media by saying they aren't getting a new look or a new song, their time is over and his time is finally now. Cena says the only thing they get is a long look in the mirror for being awful for 25 years. Cena then mocks Cody for being their shiny new toy because he's being put out to pasture. Cena then mocks the fans even wearing his shirts and saying "Let's go Cena" and baits them into the Let's Go Cena/Cena Sucks chant. Cena says the Cena Sucks jackoffs have already proven that they're awful people. He says his supporters are just as awful and asks people in the crowd wearing his shirts have ever done for him. He says all they ever do is steal from him, steal his personal moments and made him their personal toy. Cena says they've made him the butt of an "invisible" joke for 15 years and still think its funny. He thinks its pathetic and so are they. Cena says the truth is they don't wear it for support, they wear it to feel good. Cena says he lives hustle, loyalty and respect and they can only buy those words. He goes on to say he's the definition of perseverance and everyone in the arena knows it. He claims they don't support him, they use him for their pathetic failure of a life. He says the fans have sat on their asses for 25 years and watched him be great. Cena says "No more!" Cena points out a kid in the front row and says he and everyone else is a toxic, disfunctional relationship. The crowd tells him to shut the fuck up as the kid looks terrified. Cena says he's breaking up with the fans, they're dumped. He doesn't need nor care about them anymore and they don't matter. He says they can say and do anything because he knows he's right and they're wrong.
Here comes Cody Rhodes for the rebuttal. He gets a massive ovation on the way to the ring and while he's in the ring. The entire arena chants "Cody, Cody Rhodesssss" and Cena looks mortified. Cody holds up the WWE title and goes on to say everyone here was willing to hear Cena out, himself included. Cody says the fans have given John their worst but they also gave their best for 25 years. Cody says John could take it and carry it and before John can say "listen kid" Cody screams "ENOUGHHH!!" Cody says "its not kid, its WWE Champion". Cody asks "Who the hell are you?" Cody asks where the guy on the shirt is. Cody was excited to go to Wrestlemania with John Cena, not THIS. Cody says "THIS, better not show up at Wrestlemania." Cody says he'll run it over and run it out because it took its best shot & he's still standing. Cody says go find the real John Cena because he wants him at Wrestlemania, not this whiny bitch. Cody drops the mic and leaves as Cena stares a hole in him. The fans chant "Cody, Cody Rhodessss" as he shakes hands with them as he leaves. Cena waits for him to leave and he just drops the mic before leaving himself. The crowd chants "goodbye" again and Cena coldly walks to the back. That was an awesome segment as Cena has been begging to cut that promo for years. He had to take the worst abuse for years and never turned heel, until now. He really did give everything he have in one gruesome match after another where the fans chanted how much he sucked. Getting booed out of the Hammerstein Ballroom, his 2013-16 run where he was booed all the time and he had to smile through it. All that emotion came out and you could feel it. Cody asking where the real Cena is looks like a comic book when a hero turns villain. I just hope The Rock doesn't make himself the center of attention when this is clearly Cena's moment.
Cole on commentary apologizes for his upcoming language as he says Cena was a 16 time champ and a movie star because of the fans. He calls Cena an irrational prick and Graves has no answer for that. Graves says Cena believed it and we don't have to like it. We get a montage of Savage vs Steamboat at Wrestlemania 3 to hype our main event of Finn Balor vs Bron Breakker. On to our first match.
Match 1
Ludwig Kaiser vs Penta in No Holds Barred
ITS NO HOLDS BARRRRRREDDDDDDD!!! In other words, no DQ. Graves says Lucha Extremo is in Penta's wheelhouse as he makes his entrance. They slug it out to start and Penta slaps him down. Penta clotheslines him over the top rope, slides out and is heaves into the timekeeper's area. Penta runs across the barricade and hits a head scissors that sends Kaiser into the ring. Kaiser bails and grabs a couple of chairs from under the apron. Penta dropkicks him off the apron and hits a hilo to the floor. Penta rips the announce table apart and they slug it out on top of it. Kaiser hits a death valley driver onto the announce table as we got to break. Back from commercial, Kaiser rakes the face of Penta on the top rope. Penta hits a flying crossbody and kicks him in the butt. He drives Kaiser face first into the mat and hits a up and over backstabber. Penta covers for 1...2...no. Graves says Penta gets stronger the louder the fans get but he runs right into a enziguiri by Kaiser. Ludwig hits another death valley driver and covers for 1...2...no. Kaiser punches him outside the ring and sends him into the ring steps. Kaiser taunts the irate crowd and runs into a back drop onto the announce table. Penta throws Kaiser inside and they slug it out as the crowd chants for tables. They play "yay/boo" in the ring until Kaiser throws him down and hits a forearm to the back of the neck. Kaiser covers for 1...2....no. Kaiser "You will fear me, I will teach you what it means to fear." Kaiser grabs a chair and waffles Penta in the back with it. He tries to get Penta to quit but Penta refuses. Penta pushes the chair off of him and Kaiser goes for Sister Abigail. Penta reverses it into an arm-breaker. Kaiser begs off in the corner as Penta goes to hit him with the chair. Kaiser then rakes the eyes and picks up the chair only for Penta to superkick it back in his face. Penta cracks Kaiser in the back and does another superkick into the chair. Penta hops up on the second rope and hits a Mexican Destroyer on the chair. Penta hits the Penta Driver and covers for 1..2....3 to win the match. Not exactly as hardcore as the stipulation allowed them to be but sometimes just severe brutality doesn't need weapons. Still was entertaining to see.
Time of match: 13:53
Winner: Penta by pinfall
Cathy Kelley hits the entrance to interview Penta after the match and says we're on the road to Wrestlemania. Penta thanks the fans first then says the Intercontinental Championship. Penta says he'll do anything for it and caters to the fans. Well there's a Wrestlemania match, Penta vs Bron Breakker/Finn Balor? We cut to Dakota Kai preparing for her match with World Women's Champion Iyo Sky next to her. As she's walking, Karion Kross is talking to Dom Mysterio. Back from commercial Liv Morgan is telling Raquel Rodriguez that Dom Mysterio should have gotten the title shot and right on cue Finn Balor walks in. He wishes them luck in their matches and before he can say anything else, Dom Mysterio walks in. He thanks Dom for the match tonight but Dom says he has an idea. Dom says they lost JD and need a replacement. Finn angrily cuts him off and says "Who?" Dom says Penta. Finn gives him a tongue lashing for going behind his back to try to recruit the guy coming after "his" Intercontinental Championship. Finn calls him a snake and Dom turns around to see Carlito standing there. Dom says he didn't know Penta would do that and Carlito says "You don't watch the show do you?" On to the next match.
Match 2
Dakota Kai vs Ivy Nile (with Julius Creed, Brutus Creed and Chad Gable)
Chad runs in at the last second to join the Creed brothers who are wearing hilarious American flag overalls. Ivy is confused and Dakota attacks her at the bell. Dakota's Diamond Cutter is blocked and she runs right into a lariat. Ivy rains down right hands as Cole asks Chad where his lucha mask is. Cody gives Cole shit as Ivy hits a released german suplex and covers for 1...2...no. Dakota counters a suplex with a cradle for 1...2..no. Ivy's charges eats elbow and boot before Dakota hits a roaring elbow and a dropkick. Dakota boots Ivy in the corner and misses the second rope stomp, but still kicks her off the apron. Chad distracts Dakota long enough for Ivy to hit a tilt-a-whirl Rock Bottom, covering for 1...2...no. Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio suddenly hit the ring to even the odds a little. They take out the Creed brothers who haven't done anything yet. They then chase Gable away as well with Ivy Nile now virtually alone. Dakota hits a Helluva Kick in the corner and hits the GTK. She covers for 1..2....3 to win the match. Kind of a dumb match as Lucha Gable didn't pull the switcheroo so it was just Dakota beating Ivy in a quickie. It wasn't bad, just short and pointless.
Time of match: 2:49
Winner: Dakota Kai by pinfall
Here comes World Champion Iyo Sky immediately after the match ends but we go to commercial. Back from break, we get hype for Breakker/Balor later before Iyo is in the ring to sign the contract with Bianca Belair. Adam Pearce is the MC and he greets the crowd in French. Adam says he needs both signatures to make it official and the floor is theirs. Iyo says Bianca and Rhea Ripley will not disrespect her again. She goes on to say NO ONE will disrespect her again because she's the World Champ. Iyo says after Wrestlemania she'll still be the champion. She signs the contract and now its Bianca's turn. The crowd chants "You deserve it" as Bianca says she respects her. She says last week was on her but Iyo will not put hands on her again because she doesn't know her at all. Bianca says she's going to be the new champ and signs the contract to a chorus of boos. Adam says its official, Bianca vs Iyo and he thanks them for being professional....and right on cue here comes Rhea Ripley. Pearce calls for help and asks why she's out here. Rhea with a mic says she got slapped last week and unlike Bianca, she's going to do something about it. Bianca says she's got her Wrestlemania match to worry about and Rhea says that was going to be her match until Bianca ruined it. Rhea and Bianca trade barbs as Iyo whispers something to Adam Pearce. Iyo tries to intervene and once again Bianca piefaces her away, only for Rhea to headbutt Bianca onto the table. Rhea kicks Iyo and powerbombs her ontop of Bianca on top of the table. Rhea stalks Pearce as Graves says Rhea just destroyed both of them. Rhea then signs the contract to make it a triple threat. She walks off with the contract as Pearce chases after her.
The referees have to scrape Iyo and Bianca off the table as we cut to Jey Uso walking down graffiti covered steps. Jey says he's been doubting himself lately and he's going to beat Austin Theory tonight, then shock Gunther at Wrestlemania. Right on cue Gunther gets all up in his face forcing Adam Pearce and security to break it up. Jey "I'm gonna see you out there G" Jey Uso makes his entrance as the entire arena Yeets.
Match 3
Jey Uso vs Austin Theory (with Grayson Waller)
Uso took out Waller last week so next up is Theory. Theory attacks him at the bell and punches him in the corner before taunting the irate crowd. Jey goes up and over, avoids two shoulderblocks and spears Austin just like that. Uso covers for 1...2....3 to win the match. The spear was so high Cole thought it was a cross-body. Total squash and kind of surreal that the challenger is squashing competition while Gunther is going toe to toe with Axiom.
Time of match: 31 seconds
Winner: Uso by pinfall
Uso superkicks Waller immediately after and Jey goes for the hilo but trips on the top rope, landing half on the apron. Austin and Grayson sell it anyway. Uso gets back in the ring and here's Gunther for the obligatory sleeper. Uso is ready this time and fights out of it, ripping the title belt off Gunther. Gunther charges and Uso pulls the top rope down. Cole taunts Gunther as Uso poses with the belt. Uso throws the belt at Gunther as Cole says Jey might have a chance after all. Graves gives Cole shit for yeeting in front of Gunther and we cut to a Bron Breakker/Finn Balor vignette. They're really hyping this up as a classic match, good. Make the title seem important.
Back from break, we're shown a highlight of Rhea cleaning house and signing the contract. We cut to Adam Pearce yelling at Rhea Ripley like a disappointed dad and she's trying not to laugh. Adam wants the contract and she says only if he puts her in the match. Adam says no and walks off. Bianca runs up and starts wailing on Rhea but is pulled off by Iyo...who wails on Rhea. Bianca says she's mine and Iyo slugs her. Rhea throws Iyo into a door and Bianca into a crate. Pearce runs back and tells Rhea to get lost. Onto the next match.
Match 4
The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus) vs The LWO (Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio Jr)
Apparently this stems from last week where Lucha Gable interfered so Rey and Dragon get the Creeds this week. Julius hits a running knee to Lee as the bell rings but Dragon hits a hurracarana. Brutus runs in but gets superkicked for his trouble. Graves says that could have been Del Wilkes or Tom Brandi under the mask last week....which would be impressive since Del died four years ago. Lee hits a suicide dive onto Brutus on the floor and hits a top rope crossbody on Julius in the ring for 1..2...no. Julius hits a basement clothesline on Lee as we go to break. Rey gets the hot tag back from commercial who cleans out both Creeds. Rey hits a hurracarana on Julius and hits forearms in the corner and both Creeds toss Rey around like a football before Julius eats a tornado DDT as Lee hits a frankensteiner from the ring to the floor on Brutus. Julius jumps to the top rope but eats a top rope hurracarana. Rey hits 619 and drops a dime on Julius for 1...2...3 to win the match. The commercial break ruined it as the heels got heat on Lee but nobody saw it. Too bad.
Time of match: 5:47
Winners: Rey and Lee by pinfall
Lucha Gable attacks after the bell and hits a released German suplex on Lee after the bell. Rey rallies with forearms but he's also suplexed on top of Lee. Lucha Gable goes up to the top rope and hits a diving headbutt and is chased off by security. That was definitely not Gable, a top rope headbutt wasn't in his repertoire. Cole switches gears to show the highlight of Reigns/Rollins/Punk.
Speaking of Rollins, here he comes for a conference. The crowd sings his song for a solid minute after he gets in the ring. Seth "Welcome to monday night Rollins." He calls himself the revolutionary and visionary as the crowd chants again. Seth says its hard to be mad with everyone's voices serenading him. The fans then inexplicably chant CM Punk and Seth says they'll get to him later, but he wants to talk about Roman Reigns first. The crowd chants OTC and Rollins says he's not mad at Roman for what he did, because he would have done the same thing. Rollins says even with a wise man in his ear, he still has no answer for Rollins. Seth says Roman left one detail out, CM Punk. Seth calls Punk the luckiest loser on the face of the planet. Rollins says if he had a few more seconds, he would have stomped Punk out of Wrestlemania. He says he has to clean up Roman Reigns' mess again and the fans chant OTC. Seth says he'll put Roman in his place along the way and both Punk & Roman will be at Smackdown this Friday in Bologna, Italy. Rollins says he'll be at Smackdown this Friday as well. Rollins says that's happening on Friday, tonight he wants the fans to sing. He says we got one more match tonight for the Intercontinental Championship, so let's hear it. The crowd sings Rollins' theme as he leaves. Basically, he's going to be at Smackdown this Friday in Italy.
Cole informs us Raw will be in Glasgow, Scotland next Monday night. Lira Valkyria will defend the Women's IC strap against Raquel Rodriguez, CM Punk will be there and Jey Uso and a mystery partner takes on A-Town Down Under. Cody Rhodes & John Cena will both be there again. Back to Cathy Kelley who's with AJ Styles. Apparently AJ Styles went on a podcast trashing Logan Paul. The fans chant for Styles like they did in Paris last year and he cracks a smile. Suddenly Karrion Kross and Scarlett walk in. AJ doesn't want his help and Kross goes to leave, but AJ asks what he wants. Kross says he's not mad Logan Paul, he's mad at himself. Kross says it took 17 years to get to WWE and find validation, Logan Paul didn't take that long. AJ says Kross is just stirring the pot and it won't work. AJ walks off as Karrion tells Scarlett "I think its working."
Bron Breakker stares down Penta as he heads toward the ring. Finn Balor makes his entrance and Graves says Balor has never met a guy like Breakker before. Back from commercial, Breakker bumps fists with fans on the way to the ring as its on to the match.
Match 5
Finn Balor vs Bron Breakker for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Balor is on a cold streak and is slowly being thrown out of Judgment Day, but here's his chance to win some big gold. Bell's gone as Cole says Finn hasn't been IC champ in 6 years as Balor gets a headlock to start. Breakker drops him with a shoulderblock but Balor kicks him in the ribs. He goes for a headlock takeover but Bron blocks it with a back suplex attempt. Balor rolls through it for the takeover and Breakker gets up. Finn heaves Breakker over the top rope but he lands on his feet. Bron backs Balor into the corner back inside and delivers a series of shoulderblocks. Bron clotheslines Finn in the corner and heaves him over the top rope as Cole says Finn hasn't held a singles title in 3 years. Lots of shots at Finn for being a has been so far. Bron goes to the floor and runs around the ring only to eat a sling blade from Finn as we go to break. Back from commercial Balor chops Bron in the corner but Bron fights his way out of it with 2 right hands. Finn hits a Russian leg sweep and covers for 1..2....no. Balor kicks at Bron and slaps him across the face saying "Know who I am? I'm Finn Balor." Breakker gets mad and no sells Finn's stirkes. Cole says this isn't wise as Bron runs Balor over with a back elbow smash. Bron delivers an overhead suplex with one arm and hits a powerslam eerily similiar to his father. Uh oh, here comes Dom Mysterio and Carlito for the distraction. Balor rolls up Breakker from behind for 1.....2...no. Bron goes for the Goldberg gorilla press powerslam but its countered by Balor who hits Eye of the Hurricane. He covers for 1...2...no. Finn stomps on Breakker and then notices Dom and Carlito there, asking why they're there. This is exactly how Damian Priest got kicked out last year, by refusing interference. Breakker hits the sprinting clothesline and Balor bails to the outside. Breakker hits a lariat from the ring apron over the announce table onto Balor. Balor begs off but Bron throws him in the ring. Bron tells the other two to get lost but runs right into a sling blade. Balor hits a dropkick into the corner and goes for the Coup De Gras. Balor misses by a mile, avoids the spear and rolls up Bron for 1...2..no. Breakker hits the gorilla press slam and covers for 1..2...nooooo. Breakker signals to the crowd that this is over but runs into a boot to the chest. Finn goes up for the Coup De Gras but Breakker crotches him. Finn punches him away but Breakker gets back up to go for a superplex. Carlito distracts referee Chad Patton and Mysterio shakes the ropes to get Bron off. Unfortunately for Dom, the rope shake causes Finn to crotch himself. Balor yells at Dom and Breakker punches Dom off the apron. Bron kncoks Carlito off, jumps to the top rope and hits the Frankensteiner. Bron spears Finn and covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. Good effort by both guys despite the interference, its clear as day Balor is headed to exile.
Time of match: 12:32
Winner: Breakker by pinfall (still Intercontinental Champion)
Post match Carlito and Dom run in for the beat-down on Breakker. Dom goes to get the belt but here comes Penta for the save. Penta superkicks Dom and Carlito before Bron hits the spear on Carlito. If Penta is joining Judgment Day, he sure didn't look like it here. Penta grabs the belt and hands it over to Breakker and stares him down. Breakker holds up the belt as Penta does his pose as we sign off. This would be a fun Wrestlemania match.
The crowd carried this one as other than the Cena promo, this was a lackluster show. Still, we're a month away from Wrestlemania so we can't spoil everything too soon. We're headed toward a triple threat between Rhea Ripley, Bianca and Iyo and it looks like it'll be Breakker vs Pena for the IC strap. It'll be interesting to see how Cena responds next week since all he did was blame the fans and never mentioned The Rock or even why he kicked Cody. If they're going to drag it out, so be it. The next show after this is tomorrow night's NXT. I'll see you there.
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