There’s gold in the Garden!

Monday Night Raw returns to Madison Square Garden, and both the World AND Women’s Tag Team Championships are on the line!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE World Tag Team Championships Street Fight: The Usos VS Austin Theory & Logan Paul; Theory & Logan win and become the new WWE World Tag Team Champions.
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Irresistible Forces VS #BayLyra; The Irresistible Forces win, by disqualification, and retain the titles.
• WWE Intercontinental Championship: PENTA VS Kofi Kingston; Penta wins and retains the title.
• Iyo Sky VS Raquel Rodriguez; Raquel wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Cody Rhodes is here!

Madison Square Garden cheers and sings along with Kingdom as The American Nightmare makes his entrance, “WHOA~ OH~!” The pyro goes off, Cody high-fives fans, then goes to the ring for the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro. Cody goes to the ring, grabs the mic, and MSG cheer him on. “So, world’s most famous arena, the home of the WWE Championship, a place where the WWE Champion will always be present, Madison Square Garden, New York City, what do you wanna talk about?!” The fans fire up, and STEPHANIE MCMAHON makes her entrance! Even Cody is stunned to see the Billionaire Queen of WWE make her way to the ring.

Steph steps into the ring, grabs a mic, and the fans cheer her on, too. Steph says don’t make her cry, that’s not fair. Cody says he’s surprised, but she says why? Last time she checked, her name is Stephanie McMahon, and this is the house her grandfather built, THE Madison Square Garden. Cody says yes, okay… So, Stephanie McMahon, what do you wanna talk about? Steph says she wants to talk about Cody, about Randy Orton, and WrestleMania! The fans cheer all that! Steph says the only thing is, Cody won’t like what she has to say. Because Cody’s talked about where he used to sit at center stage. She used to sit over there, Andre the Giant would say hi as he walked by.

Cody, Randy, Steph, they’re all multigenerational talent in this business, and they know what it means to be at the top in a different way than anyone else. They have all taken different paths to get to where they are in this moment. Cody took the golden path, and that is amazing, wonderful. Cody stayed true to himself and his values, and he actually believes he can bring out the best in people, in his opponents, and for the most part, he can. But he can’t this time with this version of Randy Orton. This version of Randy is diabolical! And Cody doesn’t have to be diabolical, but he has to be able to think like that. Cody has to think like Randy.

Cody’s father understood that better than anyone. Dusty could roll with the best of them, and he could get down and dirty with them. But from what Steph’s seen, Cody is NOT his father. This version of Cody cannot beat this version of Randy. Cody has no idea who he is dealing with. The fans are a bit torn hearing that, but Cody takes a moment. Cody says the last thing he would ever want is to be rude to Steph, but he doesn’t know who Randy is anymore. Cody knows everything about Randy, he was the coal that became the diamond, the youngest world champion in WWE history, the Legend Killer, punting people’s heads off, Cody’s father included.

Cody knows Randy was doing stuff so violent and vile back then that they can’t show it here today! And Cody knows some of that stuff was to Steph. And Cody knows there is a whole swath of the WWE Universe who want this Student-Teacher dynamic. But Cody ceased to be the student a long time ago, and it was before he won the WWE Championship. It was when Cody became a babysitter, reached over, turned the volume down, and had to make sure Randy was still breathing while he drooled all over himself! Cody is NOT the student, he is NOT afraid of Randy, and he is NOT walking into his very first WrestleMania main event.

If we’re bringing up fathers, Cody is not his. But with all due respect to Steph, she’s not hers, either. The fans go nuts hearing that! Steph SLAPS Cody for that! Steph says she’s out here because she cares about Cody! And Cody doesn’t have anyone giving him guidance in this situation! He doesn’t understand what this Randy is capable of! Randy doesn’t need a babysitter, he doesn’t need any of that, and he doesn’t want this to be Student-Teacher either. Steph isn’t asking for it, but Cody, you have to understand that Randy isn’t just listening to the voices, he beckoned them! He LVOSE what they’re telling him! He CAN control them, and it appears that he is listening to someone else.

So unless Cody can learn to actually think like Randy, then he is going to lose that title to Randy. WrestleMania will be the last time Cody Rhodes is introduced as the Undisputed WWE Champion. Steph shoves Cody, then goes to leave, but Cody spins her around! The fans fire up again as the two stare down. Cody tells Steph, “I’ve got two words for ya!” MSG says, “SUCK IT!” but Cody says, “Thank you.” The fans are torn again but Steph smirks as Cody heads out. Did her tough love and advice get through to Cody? Will the American Nightmare get into the headspace of the Apex Predator before it’s too late?

IShowSpeed meets with Adam Pearce.

Speed asks the Raw General Manager where “he” is, they need to fix this right now! Pearce asks Speed to calm down and explain who. Danhausen appears! And he hears the cheers. Speed says hey, where’s he been?! Speed’s life has been a disaster! He’s been late for flights, for events, undo the curse! Well, maybe for a price. $10 mil- NO, billion! And then the rights to his accounts and a cameraman. Speed can’t do that! Pearce says hold on, it isn’t all bad. Pearce has Speed a front row seat for the World Tag Team Championship Street Fight. And also, a special guest commentator! LA Knight! Knight and Speed say hey, and Knight says he’s gonna talk that talk, YEAH!

Speed follows Knight, and Danhausen hasn’t disappeared. Pearce asks if he was supposed to go now. Oh, right! Um… Well, Pearce leaves first. And in the background, is that Kofi Kingston still trying to recruit Je’Von Evans? Will the New Day OG get the Young OG to see things his way?

WWE World Tag Team Championships Street Fight: The Usos VS Austin Theory & Logan Paul!

Jimmy & Jey are now in New York Citaaay~! They’ve got a new theme song to go with their new chapter, but will they make sure there are NO new champions? Or will The Pressure & The Maverick make sure The Vision gets back the power?

Raw returns as LA Knight indeed joins commentary, and he says if we’re talking Vision business, that’s the LA Knight business. Speaking of The Vision, they make their entrance, no Paul Heyman with them. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who survives in the Garden!

The bell rings and the hands start flying! Jimmy has Theory, Jey has Logan! Jimmy CHOPS Theory, Logan CHOKES Jey, but Theory headlocks Jimmy. jimmy powers up and out to RUN Jey over! Things keep moving, Jimmy ELBOWS Theory! Jey turns things around but Logan ROCKS Jey! Logan whips, Jey reverses, and The Usos DOUBLE LEOBW! Then they DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! The fans cheer as Logan bails out. The Usos wind it up, “YEET!” and Jimmy holds the ropes for Jey to FLY! Down goes The Vision at the ramp! MSG cheers The Usos on while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again as The Vision has brought in goodies, and they’ve beaten down The Usos! Logan SMACKS #BigJim with the kendo stick, Theory brings in trash cans, and there’s a table in the corner. The Vision SMASH the trash cans on The Usos, then they put The Usos at center. Logan & Theory aim from the corners as The Usos rise up. The fans rally for The Usos, but The Vision runs up! The Usos move, The Vision crash into each other! SUPERKICK for Logan! SUPERKICK for Theory! Then The Usos take a can, and Jey puts it around Logan! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Logan falls, but now Jimmy gets a can to SMASH Theory!

Logan has kendo sticks while Jimmy puts that can around Theory! The Usos start SMACKING away on Theory like he’s a pinata! Theory is down, the can is breaking, and the fans fire up for The Usos! “YEET!” Jimmy sets the table up and Jey helps position it just right. Jimmy drags Theory sends him to a corner, and SUPERKICKS! Theory sputters, but Jimmy & Jey put him up top! The Usos climb up, and they take aim! The fans fire up for the DOUBEL SUPERPLEX down through the table!! MSG loses their minds and Knight says someone’s gotta get that pin! Logan sputters and flounders, and he gets MAMA PAUL to give him a brass knuckle?!

Speed is right there, he doesn’t like this! No Disqualifications or not, this just isn’t fair! But then LA Knight goes after Logan! The fans cheer as Knight beats up on Logan, but Logan drags Speed along with him! Knight POSTS Logan! Speed has the knuckles, Knight taps him on the shoulder, but Speed gets spooked! BRASS KNUCKLE SHOT on Knight! Oh no! Speed is just as stunned! Speed puts the brass knuckles on the apron while fans tell him he messed up. But Logan grabs them! Logan winds up, Jimmy stands, but Jimmy dodges! SUPERKICK! Jey joins in, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Then they get Theory for DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Then a SPEAR from Jey to Theory!

The fans fire up as The Usos put Theory in the drop zone! Jimmy DIVES into BRASS KNUCKLES! Jey CROSSBODIES Jey! Theory covers Jimmy!! THE VISION WINS!!

Winners: Austin Theory & Logan Paul, by pinfall (NEW WWE World Tag Team Champions)

Danhausen’s curse on Speed ended up a curse on LA Knight, and on The Usos! The Vision has gold again, and they make Speed a reluctant third party to this celebration. But will this only be the beginning of The Vision taking over Raw again?

Liv Morgan is here!

Madison Square Garden cheers the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, but what will she have to say about her impending WWE Women’s World Championship match now? We see, after the break.

Raw returns, Liv has the mic, and the fans are torn as she says, “New York City. You are now in the presence of the greatest Royal Rumble Winner of allllllllllllllll~ tiiiiiime~! And that’s all I’m gonna say about me tonight, because Stephanie Vaquer, you’re done for, b*tch!” Liv says it is one thing to attack her, but to attack her family, her Daddy Dom?! She wants to say she’s surprised, but she’s not! Vaquer has no familia here, does she? No! But you wanna say Liv hides behind hers? But Vaquer sneak attacks Liv any chance she gets! So what’s Vaquer scared of? Is she scared to confront Liv 1v1? To be face to face?

Because Liv knows Vaquer is very proud of where she comes from, but this? This is where LIV comes from! And where Liv comes from, it’s on sight! The fans cheer that! And you know what else? Liv’s mom taught her to never let anyone get the better of her. But Vaquer’s mom? Tu madre es basura, p*ta!! The fans go nuts hearing that! Liv eggs Vaquer on, but here comes Vaquer! Liv is ready to fight La Primera, and she’s gotten Vaquer pissed off enough to fight her! Vaquer slides in, Liv runs up, and the hands start flying! The fans fire up, Liv ROCKS Vaquer, then fires off shots, but Vaquer turns it around on her!

The fans fire up but Liv shoves Vaquer. Vaquer dodges Liv to then SUPERKICK Liv down! Liv sputters, but Vaquer goes out to grab herself a chair! Vaquer is ready to make Liv regret coming out here tonight! Vaquer brings that chair to the ring, Liv begs for mercy, but ROXANNE PEREZ ATTACKS! The Prodigy is back and she gets Vaquer from behind! Liv joins in, so much for doing this 1v1! Hypocrisy aside, Liv gets that chair, Roxie sets Vaquer up, FULL METAL OBLIVION! Liv says she’s so much better than Vaquer! Liv stands tall, Roxie by her side, but will Judgment Day regret suckering Vaquer in soon enough?

The Vision regroups backstage.

They’re still feeling good after winning the tag titles, and Speed is kinda stuck hanging out with them for his own safety. Speed says he didn’t mean to get involved, but Logan says it doesn’t matter! Now Speed has enemies here. Logan knows because he has enemies. Speed tries to reason with them, and Paul Heyman steps in. Relax, Speed. You’re in good hands. You’re with the tag team champions, The Vision. They will protect you. Heyman tells the boys to go celebrate, and watch Speed’s back. Of course, they’ve got him. How does Speed feel about rib eyes? But even as they leave, Heyman mutters that The Usos are gonna kill Speed.

Adam Pearce then steps in and Heyman asks, “WHAT?!” Pearce asks if Heyman has checked his emails. His emails? Yes, has he checked? Aw, did Pearce send him an email to ask him out on a date? Pearce says despite everything wrong with Heyman, no. Well, then maybe type out a memo instead. Heyman leaves, Pearce frowns, but will whatever is in that email be of extreme importance?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Irresistible Forces VS #BayLyra!

Speaking of tag titles, Nia Jax & Lash Legend have been rather blessed that The Bella Twins and #Charlexa keep getting in each other’s way, because that made it all the easier to hold onto the titles. But will they have the same luck here on Raw? Or will the Role Model & Morrigan take these titles and head for WrestleMania?

Raw returns, Nia & Lash make their entrance, sporting new gear already. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who truly runs this division!

The teams sort out, Bayley starts against Lash, and the fans rally as the two circle. Bayley dodges the boot, RAMS Lash, but Lash rebounds to RUN Bayley over. Lash drags Bayley up, tags Nia, and they whip Bayley to LARIAT her down! Nia looms over Bayley, drags her up, and scoops, but Bayley slips free! Lyra tags in and SHOTGUNS Nia! Lyra goes up, up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Nia staggers, Lyra headlocks, but Nia RAMS her into the corner! Tag to Lash, and Nia trash Lyra until Lash steps in. Lash lifts Lyra but Lyra slips free of the back suplex! Lyra goes up the corner, but Lash catches her! Lash TOSSES Lyra to the other corner!

Lash runs in and SPLASHES! Then she runs again, but Lyra dodges the splash! Tag back to Bayley, and they both climb up! DOUBLE MISSILE DROPKICK! Lash tumbles, Bayley covers, ONE!! Lash is tough but Bayley headlocks. Tag to Lyra, they double whip, but Lash blocks! Lash whips them, LARIATS Bayley, then ELBOWS Lyra! The fans fire up for the show of power, and Lash drags Lyra over. Tag to Nia, and they scoop Lyra, but Lyra slips free! Lyra shoves Lash, dodges Nia, SOBATR, FRONT KICK, and repeat! Then Lyra dodges, Bayley tags in, SHOTGUN sends Nia tumbling out! Bayley runs to DIVE! Nia is sent into the desk!

The fans fire up as the desk almost gets sent into commentary! Lash runs up but Bayley DUMPS her out! Lyra tags in, Bayley DIVES onto Nia! Lyra WRECKS Lash with a dropkick! The fans fire up for #BayLyra while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again as Nia has Lyra in the ropes. Nia runs up from the apron, but Lyra dodges! Nia POSTS herself! The fans rally as Lyra crawls, but Nia hurries to BLAST Bayley! Nia drags Lyra up, fireman’s carries, and SAMOAN DROPS! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives and the fans rally again. Nia drags Lyra up, whips her to the corner, then runs in, but Lyra BOOTS her! And ELBOWS Lash! Lyra dodges Nia and she POSTS herself again! Lyra crawls but Lash  tags in and hurries to drag her back! Lyra hops, hop, then ENZIGIRIS! Lash wobbles, Lyra crawls, but Lash holds on with one hand! Lash reels Lyra in for a stalling suplex, that Lyra DDT COUNTERS!

The fans fire up while both women are down! Lyra crawls, hot tag to Bayley! MSG fires up as Bayley goes up, FLYING ELBOW on Lash! Cover, TWO! Bayley hauls Lash up, but Lash shoves and BOOTS her down! Lash tags Nia, Nia drops the leg, brother! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives, but Nia just drags her to the drop zone! Nia steps on Bayley before she goes up, up, but Bayley CLUBS the legs! Bayley SMACKS Nia off buckles, then gets under her?! The fans go nuts seeing Bayley RUNNING POWERBOMB! Hot tag to Lyra and she goes up the corner! MOONSAULT! Cover, Lash breaks it in time! But Bayley fires off on Lash!

The fans fire up, Lash shoves Bayley, then DECKS her with that right  hand! WHEEL KICK on Lash, but she rebounds to UPPERCUT! All four women are down and MSG is thunderous! But wait, now The Bellas are here! But so are Charlotte & Alexa! SmackDown’s top two teams meet at ringside, they start arguing, but Lyra tells them to all get out of here! Wait until after! But Nia SHOVES Lyra into Charlexa! Nia talks smack on The Bellas, and Lash CLOBBERS Brie! Nia puts Lyra in the ring while Lash POSTS Nikki!  Bayley gets up to LEAP onto Lash! Lash just RAMS Bayley into the apron! Lyra SOBATS Nia!

Lyra runs, but Nia POP-UP HEADBUTTS! But now Charlexa attacks Nia!!

Winners: The Irresistible Forces, by disqualification (still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)

The fans boo as The Queen & Lil’ Miss Bliss ruin the fun! Lash fires off on them, then Brie and Bayley get in on this! Charlotte BOOTS Nia, then gives Alexa the boost to SHOTGUN Nia out! Lash powers up but Lyra ENZIGIRIS! Bayley KNEES Lash, then BRIE MODE sends Lash outta the ring! The fans are torn as every team but the champions stand tall! Will The Irresistible Forces still be a dominant team with the walls closing in? Or can they continue to use the chaos to survive?

Danhausen is on stage!

“Speaking of Madison Square Garden, WWE shall return July 18th for Saturday Night’s Main Event!” The fans cheer, and Danhausen says tickets go on sale this Thursday at 80%. Thank you very much! Danhausen is ready to make things Very Nice, Very Evil, but who will be part of Saturday Night’s Main Event this summer?

BROCK LESNAR is here!

And not only is Paul Heyman with him, The Beast is already dressed in his ring gear! The fans already chant for “O~BA! HOOT!” Heyman gives his usual introductions, “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman. I am the Advocate for the baddest dude walking the face of this planet, the real main event of WrestleMania, The Beast, The Conqueror, BRRROCK! LESNARRR!” The fans cheer, but they also chant for “O~BA!” Heyman says he is out here tonight to “pontificate on the perils that away Oba… Femi…! Two weeks ago, let’s all be candid about this, Brock Lesnar was distracted by Seth Freakin’ Rollins, and was caught off guard by Oba Femi.

“Last week, right here on Monday Night Raw, Brock Lesnar was not dressed to fight. Brock Lesnar came out to have a Beast-to-man conversation with Oba Femi. But of course, Oba Femi decided to pick a fight with Brock Lesnar, who just wanted a conversation. Well, if you noticed, tonight, Brock Lesnar is dressed to fight.” The fans like the sound of that! Heyman says Lesnar authorized Heyman to tell everyone that we’ve seen this happen for 25 YEARS, between WWE and UFC! When someone locks eyes with Lesnar ready to fight, that man pisses all over himself! That man leaves a puddle int he ring that has to be mopped up!

And while they’re mopping up the piss of Oba Femi, they might as well mop up Oba Femi from the beating he takes from Lesnar! Lesnar takes the mic to shout, “ENOUGH! OBA FEMI! GET YER ASS OUT HERE, RIGHT NOW!” The fans really like the sound of that! Heyman steps back, but Adam Pearce steps out and says that will not be happening tonight. The fans boo that, but he says boo all you want, the bottom line is he has to preserve his matches for Mania. That is precisely what he is going to do. So with all due respect, sorry, there will not be a fight tonight. Gentlemen, if you’d please, please leave the ring.

Lesnar eggs Oba on all the same, and HERE COMES OBA! The fans fire up as The Ruler makes his way to the ring with that signature strut. Pearce and security are still in the way, but Oba CLOBBERS and BOOTS each guard in turn! Then he THROWS the other one! Pearce warns Oba, but Oba THROWS Pearce into barriers! Heyman is speechless but Lesnar is more than ready! Oba circles the ring, eyes locked on Lesnar. The fans rally as Oba goes up to the apron, then steps inside! MSG is losing its mind but neither monster is backing down. They slowly step up, but now TRIPLE H gets out here?!

The fans usually like seeing HHH but not if he’s gonna deny us the fight! Lesnar and Oba don’t seem to hear him anyway! HHH tells Heyman to get Lesnar back. Heyman convinces Lesnar to leave it at this, and Lesnar obliges. But then Oba eggs Lesnar on and Lesnar pulls the top part of the steel steps up! Only to then drop them. Lesnar tells Oba he’s gonna end him soon enough anyway. Lesnar & Heyman go to the ramp, but Oba isn’t intimidated. Lesnar then takes a poor security guard to F5 him on the ground! The Beast tries to make a display, but Oba is still unbothered. Will nothing save Las Vegas from this kaiju battle?

Finn Balor speaks.

“To me, the Judgment Day was a family. We ran Raw for four years. And in that time, I’d done some things I’m not exactly proud of. I’ve made some enemies, and I’ve made a lot of bad decisions. Perhaps the worst decision I’d made was thinking I could make a man out of Dominik Mysterio. Dom, I’ll give you credit, you’ve earned one thing: you ran my playbook against me. Bravo. But don’t you remember? When you turned your back on your father, when you were lost, it was me you turned to. I was the one to step in and step up for you. You didn’t lose the Intercontinental Championship because of me, you lost because you’re a self-entitled jackass.

“Now, I’ll admit, I’m guilty. I helped create that jackass. I’m responsible for creating you. So now, I’m responsible for destroying you, at WrestleMania.” The Prince has spoken, will he be one to throw Dirty Dom out with the trash?

WWE Intercontinental Championship: PENTA VS Kofi Kingston w/ Grayson Waller!

Speaking of that Intercontinental Championship, The Man with No Fear is a fighting champion, and he’s giving a former champion quite the opportunity just three weeks away from WrestleMania! Will Penta show Kofi what it is to have #CeroMiedo? Or will this be the resurrection of #KofiMania?

Raw returns as Kofi makes his entrance, the Aussie Icon by his side. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Penta stays golden in The Garden!

The bell rings, the two circle, and they feel things out. They tie up, Kofi waistlocks, but Penta headlocks. Kofi fires body shots, powers out, then drops down. Kofi hurdles but Penta KICKS Kofi out of the roll! Penta runs up on the corner, Kofi dodges, and Kofi SPLASHES! Kofi fires body shots, forearms, and he snapmares Penta. Kofi then goes up the corner, leaps, but into a SUPERKICK! Penta runs, but into a JUJMP KNEE! Kofi runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then RUNNING DDTS! Cover, TWO! Penta survives, even as Kofi changes up his moveset. Penta CHOPS Kofi, the fans fire up, but Kofi CHOPS back! Penta CHOPS Kofi again!

Kofi CHOPS, then he catches Penta, but Penta wrenches free to SUPERKICK! Kofi goes to a corner, Penta runs up, but Kofi slips outside! Kofi goes up, leaps, but into a CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Kofi survives but Penta stays focused. Penta pump handles but Kofi slips free! Kofi shoves Penta to the corner, runs in, but Penta dodges! Penta GAMANGIRIS Kofi down, then runs up to headstand and SWINGING DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Kofi survives again and Waller taunts the fans. Penta stands Kofi up to CHOP, then he whips Kofi to a corner. Kofi goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! Penta ends up on ropes, Kofi runs in, but Penta DUMPS him tot he apron!

Kofi swings but Penta blocks to GAMANGIRI! Penta then runs to the corner for a TRIANGLE- BACKDROP onto the apron! Waller talks trash as he storms up on Penta, but Kofi has him back off. Kofi and Waller argue about how they’re playing this one, but Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again as Kofi CHOKES Penta in a corner, but he backs off as the ref counts. Kofi drags Penta up, reels him in, but Penta fires body shots. Penta fires forearms on Kofi but Kofi UPPERCUTS back! Kofi whips, Penta grabs ropes, and Penta KICKS Kofi! Penta then ducks a lariat to kick the leg out! Penta runs to SLING-DOG! The fans rally up, Penta runs up, but Kofi clinches! S O S!! Cover, TWO!! Penta survives, Waller tells the fans it should’ve been three, but Kofi runs up on Penta. Penta SUPERKICKS, then runs up, but into a SOBAT! Kofi runs to SCISSOR KICK! Cover, TWO! Penta survives and Kofi is frustrated.

Kofi argues with the ref, but Waller… puts Penta in the ring. Kofi tells Waller he just told him not to touch Penta. Stand over there! Waller says fine, fine, and Kofi kicks Penta out of the ring. Kofi then builds speed, and Kofi FLIES! But Penta catches the Trust Fall! DESK BACK SUPLEX! The fans fire up for Penta, and Waller says this is what Kofi wanted. But then Penta gives Waller a DESTROYER on the floor! Penta puts Kofi in, climbs up the corner, and he leaps, but into TROUBLE IN PARADISE!! Cover, TWO!! Penta survives and shocks Kofi! Kofi drags Penta up while the fans rally, and Kofi puts Penta up top.

Kofi climbs up, but Penta fires body shots! Penta SUPER GOURD BUSTERS Kofi! And then FLYING DESTROYER!! Cover, Penta wins!

Winner: Penta, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)

Another hard fought victory for this fighting champion, and Jackie Redmond interviews Penta in the ring. She congratulates him on another title defense, and with WrestleMania just a few weeks away, what everyone wants to know is what is next for Penta and this title. Could he perhaps enlighten us? Penta says, “Pain. Not just for me, but for anyone who dares! I talked to Adam Pearce, it’s done. At WrestleMania, my title hangs above the ring! You want it? Climb! And fall! Because up there, it’s not your world. That’s my KINGDOM! At WrestleMania, LADDER MATCH!” Because he is Penta, and he has CERO! MIEDO!

The fans fire up for that! An open challenge for an Intercontinental Championship LADDER MATCH!? Who is willing to take that risk in Las Vegas?

Adam Pearce finds Paul Heyman backstage.

The Oracle is giving someone his sandwich order, but he tells them he’ll call back. Heyman hangs up, and Pearce asks where Brock went. Heyman chuckles and says that while it’s none of Pearce’s business, The Beast has left the world’s most famous arena. Good. And while Heyman was on his phone, did he happen to notice that email? What is with Pearce and this email? Heyman is so beyond emails. Heyman is from New York. They keep their ears to the ground, their nose in the gutter, that’s how they know what’s going on. Well, then did Heyman smell anything interesting today? Yes… The stench of a corporate general manager.

And if you think that’s bad, wait until what Heyman has to say out in the ring now! Heyman goes back to gorilla, but what more could he possibly say he didn’t say earlier?

Raw returns with Paul Heyman in the ring.

The fans chant for “E C DUB!” but The Wiseman says that before he was so rudely interrupted… Okay, is the lighting guy from New Jersey or something? But let’s get some business out of the way. First of all, in the words of the late, great Howard Finkle, “AND NEW~ World Tag Team Champions, Austin Theory, Logan Paul, THE VISION!” The fans boo, but thankfully those two don’t come back out here. Heyman says he tried to do something special for all of us. He tried, the humanitarian that he is, to give back to the community. Heyman tried to give us live tonight in Madison Square Garden, BRRROCK LESNARRR VS Oba… Femi…!

And that wannabe, mid-level, suck-up, mid-management, so-called GM, Adam Pearce- And Pearce interrupts! “Would you please put a sock in it?” Pearce says he has tried to HELP Heyman, so he’ll ask again what he asked earlier: Has Heyman checked his emails today? Heyman says he is a Wiseman, a GOAT, a Hall of Famer, an Advocate, an Oracle. He sees the future. And whether he does that by hacking into Pearce’s emails or listening to phone calls he’s not supposed to be on, there is NOTHING that Pearce will ever tell Heyman that he doesn’t already know. Oh, is that so?

So then, Heyman already knows the Boston Police Department dropped ALL charges against Seth Rollins? The fans cheer that! That’s the one thing Boston could do that New York would like! Heyman panics, pretends he knew that all along, and he guesses that he’s supposed to be afraid. He’s in the ring in his hometown! He is the native New Yorker in WWE! He fears no man! Heyman is the last manager standing from the 1980s, and MSG can testify that he is the last promotor standing from the 1990s! The fans cheer that! Pearce says then Heyman also read that as of this very second, Seth Freakin’ Rollins is MEDICALLY CLEARED!

Heyman is again freaking out because here comes Seth Freakin’ Rollins! The fans sing along, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” And yes, Rollins sneaks in from behind! Rollins has the chair and Heyman already knows. CHAIR SHOT to the back!! Rollins says hello, Mr. Heyman! Rollins puts Heyman on the chair again, and says he’s now a DEAD MAN! Rollins aims from the corner, but GUNTHER drags Rollins out of the ring?!? Gunther has the SLEEPER on Rollins!! The Architect flails but he can’t get free of Der Ring General!! The fans boo but Gunther tells Rollins to go to sleep. Rollins is bright red as he passes out!

The fans cuss out Gunther, but he shows Rollins the WrestleMania sign! This is what awaits him in Las Vegas! Gunther shoves Rollins down, but will he put Rollins down at WrestleMania?

Iyo Sky VS Raquel Rodriguez!

The Genius stands up for what’s right, even if that means picking a fight with Judgment Day. But will she have the foolproof plan for bringing down Big Mami Sexy? Or will La Ruda teach Iyo she should just have left well enough alone?

The bell rings and Raquel runs up! Iyo dodges, waistlocks, but then she ducks the elbow to headlock. Raquel blocks the takeover, lifts Iyo up, and THROWS her away! Iyo lands out, but Raquel RAMS her into a corner! Raquel RAMS Iyo again and again, then picks Iyo up. Raquel spanks Iyo as she does, but Iyo sunset flips! Raquel YANKS Iyo up, but Iyo dodges the lariat to tilt-o-whirl, only for Raquel to stop it! Raquel whips Iyo, then blocks the rana! Iyo still fights, but Raquel stops her again. Iyo HEEL CLICKS, then she ducks ‘n’ dodges to handspring and sweep the leg! Iyo keeps moving and SHOTGUNS Raquel to ropes!

The fans fire up, but Raquel runs up! Iyo sidesteps to TOSS Raquel out! Iyo then builds speed, and she DIVES, but into Raquel’s arms! The fans are torn but Iyo fights free! Iyo dodges a lariat, but not the SOUTHPAW! Raquel huffs ‘n’ puffs, then drags Iyo up. Raquel puts Iyo in the ring, covers, TWO! Raquel is annoyed but she drags Iyo up. Raquel talks trash, then knuckle locks Iyo for the straight arm lever! Iyo endures, but Raquel RUNS Iyo over! Raquel drags Iyo up to knuckle lock again, for another straight arm lever! Iyo endures, and she turns it into an ARMBAR! The fans rally as Raquel endures, then powers up to deadlift Iyo!

Iyo slips free again to fire off forearms! Iyo runs, but Raquel BOOTS her down! Raquel then drags Iyo back up, reels her in again, and lifts for a RUNNING- RANA into the POST! The fans fire up again as Raquel tumbles to the floor! Iyo fires up as she goes to the apron, for the ASAI MOONSAULT! Down goes Raquel and the fans fire up again while Raw goes to break!

Raw returns as Iyo fires off shots on Raquel, then dropkicks the legs out! Iyo runs, wheelbarrows, and victory rolls, for STOMP 182! The fans fire up again while Raquel sputters. Iyo whips, Raquel blocks, and Raquel reverses. Iyo goes up, out, ducks a shot, then HOTSHOTS Raquel! Iyo springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up again as Iyo kips up and does the crazy taunt! Raquel is in the corner, and the fans cheer Iyo as she runs in, SHINKANSEN! Iyo drags Raquel to the drop zone, steps on her, then goes up the corner. Iyo goes up, up, and OVER THE MOONSAULT into BOOTS!

Iyo hobbles around, Raquel POUNCES her! Cover, TWO!! Iyo survives and Raquel is stunned! Raquel drags Iyo up, reels her in, then lifts her up, only for Iyo to slip free! Iyo fires a flurry, but Raquel clamps on! POP-UP, RANA! And another STOMP 182! Cover, TWO! Raquel survives, but now Asuka is bullying Kairi Sane to go down the ramp?! Kairi is being made to distract Iyo one way or another, but here comes Raquel! Iyo dodges, the BOOT hits Kairi, and Kairi falls on Asuka! Iyo rolls Raquel, TWO!! Raquel escapes, but Iyo dodges her again! Iyo PENDULUM KICKS, then goes up the corner! Iyo FLYING DDTS! Raquel tumbles all the way to the corner!

Iyo runs in, SHINKANSEN, second stop! Asuka bullies Kairi again, and that still distracts Iyo. Iyo is not standing for it! She DIVES onto Asuka!! Iyo almost wipes herself out, really, but she wants her friend to know she still has her back. Iyo then hurries back into the ring, but Raquel hauls her up! TEXANA BOMB!! Cover, Raquel wins!!

Winner: Raquel Rodriguez, by pinfall

It wasn’t how the Empress wanted it to go, but she still cost Iyo this match! Will the Pirate Princess ever get away from Asuka’s iron fist?

BREAKING NEWS for WrestleMania!

The Ladder match challenge was issued, and the field has been set! Per their records between both Monday Night Raw and WWE Main Event on YouTube, it will be Dragon Lee, Je’Von Evans, JD McDonagh and Rusev that challenge Penta in a Fatal 5 Way! Will Penta regret raising the odds? Or will #CeroMiedo beat out four aces? Plus, with all the chaos in the Women’s Tag Division, it is only fitting that ALL FOUR TEAMS fight it out! Nia & Lash VS Charlotte & Alexa VS Nikki & Brie VS Bayley & Lyra, who defies the odds and comes out with the jackpot in Las Vegas?

Oh, and one more thing! JOHN CENA is going to host WrestleMania! Retired life is what he wants to make of it, and Hollywood isn’t that far away from Las Vegas. What will happen with The Greatest Of All Time in charge?

Jackie Redmond is standing by backstage.

She’s right outside the Trainer’s Room in hopes of an update on Seth Rollins after that shocking and vicious attack by Gunther. Adam Pearce steps out and she asks him for said update. Pearce says the update is that Rollins is pissed and sore, but he’s still medically cleared and looking for that receipt. Pearce says Rollins will get that opportunity at WrestleMania. It will be Seth Freakin’ Rollins VS Der Ring General, and that is official! Will the Architect draw up just the plan to tear down “The Career Killer?”

Roman Reigns is here!

Madison Square Garden erupts and raises their ones to the sky as The OTC makes his way to the ring. He raises his one to the sky and the pyro goes off. Roman takes his time going down the ramp, letting fans high-five him with his arms outstretched. Then he steps inside the ring, raises his one to the sky again, and we get the second pyro. The fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” while Roman gets the mic. The fans then sing, “Roman, Roman Reigns~!” Roman nods and smirks, but then a good number of fans chant for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Roman waits a moment, then tells New York City, “ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer and raise their fingers to the sky.

And then CM Punk’s music hits! The fans fire up and sing along with Cult of Personality, but Punk is already taping up his hands. He skips saying “It’s Clobberin’ Time,” because maybe it just IS that time! Punk drops the belt off, slides into the ring, and yes! The hands start flying! No more need for words when actions speak so much louder! Punk ROCKS, whips, but Roman ducks ‘n’ dodges to LEAPING LARIAT! Down goes Punka nd the fans fire up! Punk gets up but Roman whips him, only for Punk to reverse it! Punk TOSSES Roman up and out, then he goes out to SMACK Roman off the desk!

Punk JABS and ROCKS Roman but security and producers rush out here! Punk POSTS Roman, Pearce shouts for this to stop before it goes too far, but Punk clears the desk! Punk goes back to Roman, but Roman fires haymakers! Roman reels Punk in, but producers swarm him! Roman SMACKS Pearce, and SHOVES the rest out of his way! Pearce shouts for Roman to stop, but Roman doesn’t care! He lifts Punk up, but Punk fights free! Punk fireman’s carries Roman! The producers and refs save Roman from the GTS, and they drag both men to opposite ends of the ringside area! But Roman gets loose! SPEAR on Petey Williams!!

Punk hurries to grab Roman! Fireman’s carry, and a G T S!! Roman falls at Pearce’s feet while MSG is torn down the middle! Punk looks to the Mania sign with a sinister smile! Punk then feeds off the energy coming from the fans, and he looks to the desk. The producers tell Punk not to, and Punk promises he’s alright. But then he snatches Roman up! Punk throws hands on Roman, then reels him in! Punk wants to do what Roman did just last week! A lift and a POWERBOMB down through the desk!! Whether they’re fans of Punk or of Roman, all the fans are going nuts for this one! Punk shouts, “WHO’S THE MAN NOW!?”

Punk sits cross-legged next to Roman, and he mockingly sings, “Roman, Roman Reigns~!” Then he HAMMERS Roman to the beat! Pearce and the others drag Punk away, but Punk stands up on the barriers! The Best in the World just got the better of the Tribal Chief tonight, and there’s still 20 days left! Will either man even make it to WrestleMania the way they keep raising the ante?

My Thoughts:

A great Raw that built on last week’s, with a lot of great heat added onto every story, and even some new matches made. One new match was pretty much a given, as the Women’s Tag Team Championship match tonight was “ruined” and now we get that Fatal 4 Way. That is going to be a great match that really could go either way, but I feel like the Bellas could actually come away with the titles to add that to their Hall of Fame careers. The second new match was something I certainly hoped for, and it’s great we’re getting a Furious 5 ladder match. Penta VS Kofi was great stuff tonight, and while Penta of course retained, it helped feed the dysfunction between Kofi and Waller.

Kofi still trying with Je’Von makes me think Je’Von can help New Day turn Face, Waller being the Heel they feud with because Waller is the jilted recruit who never truly go to be New Day. Then Gunther being the one saving Heyman from Rollins was a surprise, but this is perhaps them adjusting their plans. We all know this was meant to be Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker, but this must mean Bron isn’t 100% yet. Gunther being a mercenary for The Vision is fine, Rollins VS Gunther will still be a great match, and because it isn’t a retirement match or anything like that, it can go either way, meaning Rollins has a chance of winning.

The Vision had a good night overall, as they got to win the world tag titles. Danhausen keeping his curse on IShowSpeed, Speed knocking out LA Knight, and then those knuckles still coming into play, all good at protecting the Usos in this loss, albeit convoluted. And as goofy as it’d be, given Vision is still without Bron or Bronson, I bet Speed will be dragged into a Six Man Tag against Usos & LA Knight to settle things in that story. Lesnar and Oba had a great segment, even if they didn’t get to fight it out, but Oba roughing up “security” and even Pearce was good stuff. At some point, I feel like Oba should get a chance to talk, even though the fans enjoy Oba beating Lesnar physically.

Very good promo from Finn to call out Dom, and that’ll be a great Mania match. Very good promo from Liv to call out Vaquer, and this was a good moment for Roxie to return. The Judgment Day gets to beat Vaquer down 2v1 as Heels would, and I would expect there to be Vaquer VS Roxie as a tune-up match next week or for the go-home. Iyo VS Raquel was great as the main event match, but Asuka & Kairi costing Iyo made sense. The Kabuki Warriors story is definitely what gets Iyo to Mania, or at least to the go-home. Iyo VS Asuka would be the obvious move, but it’d be quite the twist if Asuka told Kairi to face Iyo instead, knowing that’ll metaphorically tie Iyo’s hands.

Great promo from Cody and Stephanie to open the show, with good references to the 2009 Orton but also some of Orton’s darker, sadder moments. Clearly, that line about Steph not being like her dad was in kayfabe, where Vince isn’t in trouble with the law for how he treated those women, or else why would Steph get offended? That aside, Cody thanking Steph for the advice was a fitting move for his character, but it literally sounds like the fans wanted anything else. But with what Steph said, this has to mean Cody will get intense and violent with Randy on SmackDown and at WrestleMania, because he’ll have to if he wants to keep that title.

And great stuff with Roman and Punk in that they skipped talking and just got to fighting, because yeah, it’s about time. Punk naturally got one on Roman because Roman got one on Punk last week. Punk is proving his thesis that Roman needs The Usos, but not sure what more can be done here. Maybe one last promo battle next week, and then nothing too much for the go-home to save that episode for everything not getting on Mania. Honestly, that’d be best, keep the go-home match neutral so that we can’t be sure who wins between them.

My Score: 8.8/10