WWE held this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW live on March 3, 2025, from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, airing on Netflix as the anticipation for WrestleMania 41 intensifies. The show featured dramatic fallout from John Cena's shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber, alongside explosive matches and rivalries.
CM Punk opened the show with fervor, expressing his anger over recent events. He targeted both The Rock, calling him a "bald fraud," and John Cena, accusing him of selling ‘bullshit’ to the fans and turning his back on the children who looked up to him. Punk declared, "You’ll never see Punk give up on his dreams, Cena gave up on himself." He also threatened to take down both men at WrestleMania, igniting the crowd and setting the tone for the night.
With emotions running high, Punk wasted no time and baited Seth Rollins, who had interfered at Elimination Chamber. Their heated confrontation turned physical, leading to an all-out brawl outside the ring. Several officials struggled to separate them as the atmosphere electrified the audience.
Following the chaos, the night featured championship matches. Gunther, the reigning World Champion, faced off against Otis, who had backup from Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri. Gunther established dominance early, battling through Otis’s strength to secure victory with his signature powerbomb after just over seven minutes of action. The match showcased solid exchanges but highlighted Gunther's relentless pursuit of respect and superiority.
After the match, Gunther continued his assault on Otis, delivering a ruthless powerbomb on Tozawa before Jey Uso’s music hit. Uso charged the ring, engaging Gunther with furious strikes, but interference from A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory) led to Gunther locking Waller in the sleeper hold, demonstrating the continuing tension within the ranks of WWE’s superstars.
Next, the Women’s Intercontinental Championship was on the line as Lyra Valkyria defended her title against Ivy Nile. Despite battling through injuries inflicted on her leg, Valkyria successfully retained her championship after executing her finisher, 'Nightwing,' demonstrating resilience and tactical prowess.
The War Raiders defended their World Tag Team Championship against The Creed Brothers. The match was hard-hitting, with each team displaying formidable teamwork and athleticism. After nearly eleven minutes of back-and-forth action, The War Raiders triumphed, solidifying their reign atop the tag division.
With the focus shifting to the night’s main event, Rhea Ripley prepared to defend her Women’s World Championship against IYO SKY. The bout was filled with highlights, dramatic near-falls, and intense exchanges. An unexpected brawl between Ripley and Bianca Belair at ringside drew attention, causing Ripley to lose focus. Seizing the moment, IYO executed the Over the Moonsault, pinning Ripley and capturing the Women’s World Championship for the first time. This victory not only alters the WrestleMania 41 script but asserts IYO’s position as one of the top talents heading toward the biggest event of the year.
Throughout the event, backstage segments and vignettes continued to build storylines for the upcoming WrestleMania. AJ Styles, after reflecting on Cena’s recent actions, promised to address Logan Paul next week at Madison Square Garden, creating more intrigue as the road to WrestleMania heats up.
Next week, fans can expect even more drama with the steel cage match between CM Punk and Seth Rollins scheduled, ensuring Raw will remain action-packed as tensions rise before the climax at WrestleMania.
With all stories intertwining, the WWE Universe is eagerly anticipating how these rivalries will culminate and evolve as we move closer to WrestleMania. This week’s Raw served as both a thrilling showcase of athletic talent and dramatic storytelling, setting the stage for what promises to be one of wrestling's most exciting events.