WWE Raw Results 3/11 - #1 Contenders Gauntlet Match, Cody Rhodes Sits Down With Michael Cole
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on March 11, 2024, coming to you live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas!
Over the past few weeks, a handful of superstars have requested to face GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40 from "Raw" General Manager Adam Pearce. Tonight, his opponent at "The Grandest Stage of Them All" will be determined, as Ricochet, Shinsuke Nakamura, Chad Gable, Sami Zayn, JD McDonagh, and Bronson Reed compete against one another in a Gauntlet Match.
Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins found themselves face-to-face in the ring with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and The Rock this past Friday on "WWE SmackDown". The former duo officially accepted the latter's duo challenge to face them in a tag team match at Night One of WrestleMania, with ramifications for Rhodes and Reigns' title match at Night Two of the event. In light of such, Rhodes will be sitting down with Michael Cole.
The Women's Tag Team Championship will be on the line, as Asuka and Kairi Sane defend against Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark. The Kabuki Warriors successfully retained their title over "NXT" Women's Champion Lyra Valkyria and Tatum Paxley at the "NXT" Roadblock special last Tuesday.
Elsewhere in the women's division, Becky Lynch will be going one-on-one with Liv Morgan. Morgan interfered in Lynch's match against Nia Jax last week after "The Man" had interfered in Morgan's match with Jax the week prior.
Additionally, Pearce and "SmackDown" General Manager Nick Aldis will be making an announcement. Both the aforementioned GUNTHER and Rollins, Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, and Jey Uso are all advertised to be in town on WWE's event page.
We are live! Michael Cole and Pat McAfee greet audiences at home as we see Jey Uso greet Travis Scott, who is pulling up to the arena.
Drew McIntyre then makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Drew McIntyre
McIntyre says Seth "Freakin" Rollins couldn't help himself and had to accept two WrestleMania 40 main events back-to-back this past Friday on "SmackDown". He says the bigger picture isn't him, Rolins, or Cody Rhodes, but The Rock. He says professional wrestling went from carnivals to arenas to stadiums, and the next progression is to work with one of the most powerful people on Earth. He says he understands Rhodes' issues with The Rock, but says Rollins thinks everything revolves around him when it doesn't. He says he will be a future champion for fans to invest in and be proud of.
Rollins' music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells McIntyre to be quiet, and says he's been begging for his attention. He says he's been thinking about McIntyre landing a Claymore Kick on him last week, and it got his attention. He then dares McIntyre to land a second Claymore Kick on him, and kneels down in the center of the ring. He stands back up and turns around, explaining he's doing so for McIntyre to be the coward he is.
McIntyre says he just wants to talk to Rollins, and says he was right about him needing to move on from The Bloodline. He says he loves when Rollins gets serious, and he wants to go after The Bloodline when he gets involved in his business. He says all a champion should care about is the title they hold and the brand they're on. He says he gave Rollins the advice that Rollins once gave him, but Rollins chose not to listen because all he cares about is himself.
Rollins says McIntyre is starting to remind him of CM Punk, and says he's gone on for years about everything The Bloodline has cost him up until a few weeks ago. He says McIntyre is looking to be an honorary member of The Bloodline from where he stands, and questions if McIntyre could've beaten Rhodes or Jey Uso without The Bloodline. He says he thinks McIntyre would love for The Bloodline to cost him the World Heavyweight Champion, and align himself with The Rock, but says it won't happen. He then says he and Rhodes will take down The Bloodline at Night One of WrestleMania, and when the two of them stand in the ring one-on-one at Night Two of WrestleMania. He says he'll land the Curbstomp and all McIntyre will hear after is fans singing his song.
McIntyre says Rollins wants him to put him out of his misery, and says he needs to beat Rollins at WrestleMania. He says nothing can provoke him, and looks to head to the back. Rollins stops him and says the reason he hasn't paid attention to McIntyre on "The Road To WrestleMania" is because he's at the bottom of the list of his issues. McIntyre tries fighting himself and marches back down to the ring, but opts to storm to the back instead.
Becky Lynch then makes her way down to the ring. Liv Morgan follows.
Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
The bell rings and the two lock up. Morgan shoves Lynch in the corner, and Lynch sends Morgan crashing into the mat. Morgan responds with a shoulder tackle, but Lynch sends Morgan crashing into the mat. The pair then exchange slaps before Lynch sends Morgan crashing into adjacent top turnbuckles. Morgan then ends up on the outside and Lynch looks to fly, but Morgan moves out of the way and connects with a tope suicida on Lynch.
Back from the break, Morgan delivers a pair of shoulder tackles to Lynch in the center of the ring and follows it up with an enzuigiri. She kips up and lands a Hip Attack in the corner, but Lynch lands a kick on her and follows it up with a T-Bone suplex and a second suplex. She delivers a dropkick to Morgan on the outside through the bottom rope and lands a right hand on her from the apron, then gets her back in the ring and ascends to the top. Lynch looks to fly, but Morgan catches her with a Codebreaker mid-air.
Lynch and Morgan then take turns landing forearms on one another before Morgan delivers a springboard Codebreaker and goes for a pin. Lynch kicks out and drags Morgan onto the apron. She looks to deliver a German suplex to her on the floor, but Morgan escapes and lands a kick. She then pulls Lynch off the apron with a powerbomb and dumps her back in the ring. She joins her in there and goes for a pin, but Lynch kicks out. Morgan then rolls Lynch up, but Lynch kicks out once again and lands the Man Handle Slam. She looks to pin her, but Morgan rolls out of the ring.
Back from another break, Lynch plants Morgan and locks in an Arm Bar. Lynch and Morgan pin one another before Morgan lands Oblivion. Lynch rolls out of the ring before Morgan can pin her, but Morgan gets Lynch back inside the ring and looks to fly. Morgan charges at Lynch in the corner, but Lynch ducks out of the way. Morgan then looks to fly off the top, but Lynch counters into a Man Handle Slam for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch
After the match, Rhea Ripley's music hits and she makes her way down to the ring. Morgan puts Ripley on notice as the two pass each other on the ramp. Ripley then joins Lynch in the ring and congratulates her on her win against Morgan. She asks Lynch if it was worth it, and says Lynch keeps getting into fight every week. She says she leaves everything she has in the ring as WrestleMania gets closer and closer. She says Lynch says she fights for the fans and for her family, but the real reason she fights is because she knows that she isn't the best in WWE because she's better than her. Ripley says Lynch keeps accepting matches every week so she has an excuse as to why she didn't dethrone her as Women's World Champion, and says Lynch will walk out of WrestleMania as a disappointment rather than "The Man".
Lynch recalls looking Ripley in the eye and telling her she needed to beat her to prove to herself that she's still got it. She says she's good when people believe in her, but she's great when people doubt her. She says if it's her against the whole world, then the world doesn't stand a chance.
We then head backstage to a video from Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis. Pearce introduces himself and Aldis, and Aldis then announces that Judgment Day will be defending the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion in a Six Pack Ladder Match at WrestleMania 40.
We then head backstage to Judgment Day's lounge, where an enraged JD McDonagh, Damian Priest and Finn Balor storm off to talk to Pearce after watching the announcement.
Back from the break, Indi Hartwell, Candice LeRae, Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile are all waiting in the ring.
Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae vs. Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile
Nile and Hartwell begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. LeRae delivers a cheap kick to Nile's spine from the apron and tags in. Dupri and Hartwell then tag in, and Dupri delivers a kick to Hartwell's head. She follows it up with an enzuigiri and dropkicks Hartwell into the corner, then delivers a running splash and looks to land The Caterpillar. LeRae blocks her path and gets in Dupri's face. She mocks her, and walks into a boot from Hartwell. Hartwell then pins Dupri for the win.
Winners: Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae
Back from the break, we see Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and JD McDonagh confront Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis about their Six Pack Ladder Match Undisputed Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania. Priest demands to know who's idea the match was for, and Pearce says it came from The Miz and R-Truth. Priest demands a tag team match against Awesome Truth, and Pearce informs him that they aren't in the building tonight. Truth then walks in (having the date wrong), and Priest demands to face him in singles competition.
Back in the ring, Michael Cole is standing by.
Cody Rhodes Sits Down With Michael Cole
Cole throws it to a video of Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins accepting The Rock and Roman Reigns' challenge to their WrestleMania tag team match on Friday.
Cole then introduces Rhodes, and he makes his way down to the ring. Cole asks Rhodes what he wants to talk about, then says The Rock made it clear on Friday that he was Rhodes' boss. He asks Rhodes why he slapped The Rock despite him threatening his career, and Rhodes says The Rock isn't his boss but if he is, it felt good to slap him. He says that slap was a receipt, and Cole asks why he and Seth "Freakin" Rollins agreed to the WrestleMania tag team match ahead of his Undisputed WWE Universal Match the following night with a major stipulation on the line. Cole then reminds Rhodes that he and Rollins have a long history, and says he wants to the top World Champion in WWE. He suggests that Rollins may want to be the one to topple Reigns, and asks Rhodes how he trusts Rollins.
Rhodes says people change, and says he smashed the throne when he went off in the distance. He says the person who sat on his throne is now his closest ally, and says despite their issues, Rollins has always had his respect. He says this is his one shot to get a fair singles match against Reigns, then throws it to a video of Cole asking Rhodes if his story will end up like Dusty Rhodes did coming up short for a World Championship, and Rhodes says it's a good question. He admits to being nervous or scared about facing Reigns, but the story is no longer about him and Reigns. He says it's now about the fans as well, the young fans who look up to him, and his family. He says he can win the title to hand it to his mother, and for his wife Brandi Rhodes. He says the story is beyond him, but it's still up to him.
Rhodes then directly addresses Reigns, and says he said they were in the third inning last year He says they're now in the final inning, and tells Cole that he will be able to not only say that a Rhodes is Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania, but that he finished the story as well.
Damage CTRL then makes their way out to the ring.
Back from the break, we see Becky Lynch find Liv Morgan and offer her hand to her. Morgan shakes it, but Nia Jax blindsides the two of them. She sends Morgan crashing into a road case and delivers a Man Handle Slam to Lynch through a table. Officials then run in to check on Lynch and Morgan.
Back at ringside, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark make their way down.
The Kabuki Warriors (w/ Damage CTRL) (c) vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark for the Women's Tag Team Championship
Asuka and Stark begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Stark lands a dropkick on Asuka, then tags in Baszler. Baszler fires off a few kicks on Asuka's chest, but Asuka catches one and trips Baszler. She returns the favor, but Baszler catches one of her kicks and cinches in an Ankle Lock before Sane tags in and sends her crashing into the mat. Stark tags back in and Baszler delivers a German suplex to Sane. Stark lands a kick on Sane's jaw, then takes a cheap shot on Asuka on the apron and flies to level both Sane and Asuka on the outside.
Back from the break, Stark delivers a pair of clotheslines to Sane and follows it up with a flying back elbow. She lands a kick on Sane's head, then whips her into the corner and delivers a splash. She sits Sane on the top rope and lands a few forearms, then joins her up there. Sane delivers a headbutt to Stark to drape her from her knees off the top, then delivers a double stomp to her chest and goes for a pin. Stark kicks out and Sane lands a running kick.
Baszler and Asuka tag in, and Baszler fires off strikes on Asuka. Asuka lands a back elbow on Baszler and tags in Sane. Asuka looks to hit a codebreaker, but Baszler blocks it. Sane helps Asuka by landing a blockbuster before Asuka tags back in and The Warriors land a running knee-running clothes line combination. Asuka goes for a pin, but Stark breaks the fall. Baszler lands a kick on Asuka's head and tags in Stark. Stark gets Asuka up on her shoulders, but Asuka escapes and delivers a German suplex. Sane tags in and looks to land the In-Sane elbow as Asuka holds Stark in place. Stark escapes and delivers a kick to Sane's head. Stark then delivers the Z360 on Sane, and Baszler lands a running knee on her. She goes for a pin, but Asuka breaks the fall.
Stark looks to fly over the top to level Asuka on the outside, but Asuka moves out of the way. Baszler locks in the Kirifuda Clutch on Sane, but Sane counters into a pinfall. Baszler transitions into a Sleeper, but Dakota Kai grabs her ankle on the outside. This opens the door for Asuka to tag in and land a kick on Baszler's head. Sane then tags in and ascends to the top as Asuka holds Baszler in place. Sane then connects with the In-Sane elbow for the win.
Winners (and still): The Kabuki Warriors
We then head over to Judgment Day's lounge, and see Andrade El Idolo walk in. Rhea Ripley says she wants to speak with him once Dominik Mysterio returns given that he speaks highly of El Idolo, and El Idolo agrees.
Back at ringside, R-Truth makes his way down. Damian Priest follows.
Damian Priest vs. R-Truth
The bell rings and Priest fires off stomps on Truth in the corner. He lands a right hand and an elbow strike, but Truth responds with a kick to Priest's face. Priest lands a right hand on Truth and dumps him out of the ring, then gloats. #DIY runs down to the ring to cheer Truth on as Priest hops outside to join Truth. He looks to send Truth crashing through the announce desk with a Razor's Edge, but Truth escapes and sends him crashing into the ring post. He then flies off the apron to level Priest.
Back from the break, Priest lands an elevated flatliner on Truth and ascends to the top. Truth trips him using the top rope and delivers a pair of flying shoulder tackles. He then sends Priest crashing into the mat and lands a right hand, then gets Priest up on his shoulders and plants him with Death Valley Driver. He goes for a pin, but Priest kicks out.
Truth then locks in a STF, but Finn Balor and JD McDonagh appear out of nowhere and begin brawling with #DIY. Priest flies off the top to level everyone on the outside, but walks into a clothesline from Priest when he gets back in. Priest follows it up with South of Heaven for the win.
Winner: Damian Priest
After the match, Balor and McDonagh beat down Johnny Gargano in the middle of the ring as Priest lands South of Heaven on Tommaso Ciampa on the apron. Balor then ascends to the top and connects with a Coup De Grace to Gargano.
Back from the break, we head over to a video from Becky Lynch challenging Nia Jax to a Last Woman Standing match next week.
Back at ringside, Jey Uso makes his way down.
Jey Uso Throws Out A Challenge For A WrestleMania Match
Jey says he's now in Houston, and calls out Jimmy Uso. He says he came to "Raw" for a fresh start, but The Bloodline or Jimmy won't let him go. He then challenges Jimmy to a one-on-one match at WrestleMania, and tells him to accept his challenge because he'll knock the yeet out of him.
We then head over to a video recapping GUNTHER's reign as Intercontinental Champion thus far before we see GUNTHER chat with Jackie Redmond about his WrestleMania challenger.
Back at ringside, Ricochet makes his way down. JD McDonagh follows.
Number One Contenders Gauntlet Match for the Intercontinental Championship
The bell rings and the two lock up. McDonagh lands a back elbow on Ricochet, but Ricochet responds with a dropkick and dumps McDonagh out of the ring. McDoangh gets back in and Ricochet delivers a crossbody to him back in the ring. McDonagh counters into a Codebreaker, and the pair land on the outside. McDonagh sends Ricochet crashing into the barricade and the pair get back inside.
McDonagh sends Ricochet crashing into the top turnbuckle before he lands a chokeslam and a moonsault. He follows it up with a leg drop, but Ricochet lands a crossbody from the top rope and follows it up with a springboard moonsault. McDonagh responds with a Brainbuster before the two exchange strikes. McDonagh then lands a Spanish Fly.
Back from the break, Ricochet delivers a Death Valley Driver to McDonagh on the apron. He delivers a springboard moonsault and a suplex when he gets back in the ring, then delivers a Brainbuster and goes for a pin. McDonagh kicks out and sends Ricochet crashing into the ring post, then fires off stomps on him and sits him on the top rope. He lands a chop and joins him up there. Ricochet fights McDonagh off and ascends to the top, then delivers a Shooting Star Press to eliminate McDonagh.
Eliminated: JD McDonagh
Bronson Reed is next in the match, and Ricochet surprises him with a tope suicida. He gets him in the ring and delivers a dropkick off the top that sends him out of the other side before he flies over the top to level him. He connects with an enzuigiri and looks to fly, but Reed catches him and levels him with a slam. Ricochet lands a second enzuigiri, but Reed plants him and lands a running senton. He ascends to the top and connects with a Tsunami for the win.
Eliminated: Bronson Reed
Sami Zayn makes his way out next, and sends Reed crashing to the outside right out of the gate. He fires off chops on him, but Reed responds with a headbutt to him and looks to send him crashing into the barricade. Zayn lands on top of it and delivers a moonsault.
Back from another break, Reed delivers a jumping knee to Zayn and follows it up with a twisting neckbreaker. He goes for a pin, but Zayn kicks out. Reed looks to land a running senton, but Zayn avoids it and delivers a back elbow. He looks to land a second elbow off the middle rope, but Reed catches him and delivers a chokeslam. He follows it up with an elbow drop and gets Zayn up on his shoulders as he ascends to the middle rope. Zayn counters into a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to eliminate Reed.
Eliminated: Bronson Reed
Shinsuke Nakamura is up next, and Reed clocks Zayn from behind. He ascends to the top and delivers the Tsunami to Zayn as Nakamura slowly saunters down to the ring. Nakamura looks to hit a Kinshasa, but Zayn rolls him up. Nakamura kicks out and delivers a kick to Zayn's head, then follows it up with a running knee on the outside that sends Zayn crashing over the announce desk.
Back from another break, Nakamura fires off kicks on Zayn's chest. Zayn catches one, but Nakamura lands an enzuigiri on him. Zayn responds with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Nakamura lands a second enzuigiri and sets up for the Kinshasa. Zayn avoids it, and Nakamura delivers a kick to his spine. He looks to fly off the middle rope, but Zayn moves out of the way and lands the Helluva Kick for the win.
Eliminated: Shinsuke Nakamura
Chad Gable is last in the match, and he lands a pair of German suplexes on Zayn. He looks to hit a third, but Zayn blocks it. Gable cinches in an Ankle Lock, but Zayn makes his way to the bottom rope to break the hold. Gable locks it in a second time on the outside, but Zayn sends him crashing into the ring steps to escape.
Back from another break, Zayn and Gable teeter on the top rope. Gable delivers a superplex to Zayn and goes for a pin, but Zayn kicks out. Gable ascends back up to the top, and Zayn joins him up there. Gable fires off back elbows to fight Zayn off, then delivers a moonsault. Zayn gets his knees up and counters into a pinfall, but Gable kicks out. Zayn and Gable then fire off strikes on one another, and Zayn delivers a boot. Gable cinches in an Ankle Lock on Zayn, but Zayn makes his way over to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Zayn lands an Exploder on Gable in the corner, and looks to land a Helluva Kick. However, his ankle gives out and Gable takes advantage by cinching another Ankle Lock. Zayn looks to escape by landing a boot on Gable's jaw, but Zayn makes it up to his feet. Gable releases the hold and lands a German suplex, then looks to hit a moonsault off the top. Zayn avoids it and connects with a Helluva Kick, then crawls his way over to Gable to pin him. Gable counters into a pin of his own, but Zayn kicks out.
Gable fires off strikes on Zayn and lands a German suplex. He cinches in another Ankle Lock, but Zayn reverses into a roll-up for the win.
Eliminated: Chad Gable
Winner: Sami Zayn
After the match, Zayn hugs Gable as a sign of respect. GUNTHER then appears at ringside and stares Zayn down from the ramp as the show goes off the air.