WWE Monday Night Raw aired live on March 16, 2026. Michael Cole and Corey Graves were on commentary.
Oba Femi Answers Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania Open Challenge
Seth Rollins opened the show by revealing himself from among his masked men and cutting a promo declaring war on The Vision and Paul Heyman. Rollins said he created The Vision and will be the one to kill it. He called Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed shelved and dismissed Austin Theory and Logan Paul as “peons.”
“If you stand by Paul Heyman, consider yourself marked for death,” Rollins said. “Two weeks ago, I had the satisfaction of putting a steel chair in Paul’s back. I had the satisfaction of stomping Paul’s fat head into this mat.”
Heyman came to the stage and interrupted, telling Rollins he was messing with him because Rollins messed with him first. Heyman then delivered the line “FA-FO, FA-FO, FA-F5,” cueing Brock Lesnar’s entrance. Lesnar cleared the ring of the masked men with clotheslines, German suplexes, overhead belly-to-belly suplexes, and an F-5.
After Lesnar and Rollins were left alone in the ring, the lights went out. Oba Femi’s music hit. Femi strutted to the ring and went face to face with Lesnar. Rollins moved toward the center of the ring, and Lesnar backed him away. When Lesnar turned around, Femi hit him with a powerbomb, stood on his chest, and pointed to the WrestleMania sign.
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar is now official for WrestleMania 42.
Roman Reigns Arrives, Talks to the Usos About CM Punk
Roman Reigns arrived at the building and met Jimmy and Jey Uso in the parking garage. Reigns told them they did the right thing last week by confronting Punk. “When you run your mouth, there are consequences,” Reigns said. “You should be offended about what Punk said about your father.”
In a second backstage segment later in the night, Jey asked why Reigns was not dropping Punk himself. Reigns said his family is his legacy and that everyone can call him a part timer, but it will be different for his children. Reigns told the Usos he does not need an apology from Punk, but they do, and he will get it for his family.
Danhausen Appearance
Danhausen came to the stage with an automatic t-shirt gun and fired shirts into the crowd.
Liv Morgan Addresses Finn Balor Betrayal
In a backstage promo, Liv Morgan told Finn Balor that his removal from The Judgment Day was her plan all along. “This was my plan since joining. You were on borrowed time,” Morgan said. “I put up with you because of your relationship with Dom. I got sick calling you family. I took a page out of your playbook because it is the Judgment Day way.”
Morgan said The Judgment Day will soar without Balor, that Dominik Mysterio will get his Intercontinental Championship match, Raquel Rodriguez is a future champion, and that she will be the Women’s World Champion at WrestleMania. “The family I hide behind is stronger without Finn,” she said.
AAA Rey de Reyes Recap
Raw aired a recap of Dominik Mysterio’s AAA Mega Championship defense against El Hijo del Vikingo at Rey de Reyes over the weekend.
Dominik Mysterio Not Medically Cleared
Adam Pearce informed JD McDonagh backstage that Dominik Mysterio is not medically cleared, ruling him out of an Intercontinental Championship match. Penta appeared and gestured with a “Cero Miedo” and thanked Pearce.
Becky Lynch Attacks AJ Lee After Title Retention
After AJ Lee retained the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Bayley, Becky Lynch attacked Lee from behind while Lee was celebrating with fans at ringside. Lynch sent Lee into the LED board, threw her to the floor, kicked her in the back, and sent her into the railing. Lynch was eventually escorted away but returned to hit Lee in the face with the championship belt before leaving.
The attack came moments after a sportsmanlike moment between Lee and Bayley, who hugged after the match with Lee raising Bayley’s hand.
Heyman Tells The Vision to Go After the Usos’ Tag Titles
In a backstage segment, Austin Theory and Logan Paul approached Paul Heyman and said they would take care of Seth Rollins while Brock Lesnar dealt with Oba Femi. Heyman shut the idea down and told them that going after Rollins is the worst thing they could do because Rollins is trying to divide and conquer.
Heyman said The Vision has no leverage because there was no punishment after Rollins hit him with a chair. He told Theory and Paul that they need titles and directed them to go after the Usos’ tag team championships. “He doesn’t care what it takes, their focus has to be on the Usos,” Heyman said.
Logan Paul told Heyman to consider it done and said the Usos are “ex-champions.” Paul also said they are going to get LA Knight.
Randy Orton Teases Major Revelation for Friday’s SmackDown
Randy Orton appeared via satellite from an undisclosed location for a scheduled interview with Michael Cole, but changed his mind and refused to go through with it. Orton was on the phone with a mystery person when Cole connected with him, telling the person “it is time” and “I appreciate it. I’ll see him soon.”
Orton said he had a conversation with someone “who had a brain” and it was “something profound” about his life. He said this person helped him understand who he is and what he is.
“I am a killer,” Orton said.
Orton closed by telling Cole that “wrestling has more than one royal family” and announced he will be on SmackDown this Friday night.
Kofi Kingston Tries to Recruit Je’Von Evans, Danhausen Curses Waller
Backstage, Kofi Kingston approached Je’Von Evans and tried to recruit him, telling Evans that success is about who you associate with. “There are people who can lift you up and there are some who can ‘dragon you down,'” Kingston said, taking a shot at Dragon Lee. Evans refused the offer.
Grayson Waller said he does not know what people see in Evans. Kingston told Waller that others are saying things about him as well.
Danhausen then offered himself for the open spot in The New Day. Kingston and Waller told him they did not want him. Danhausen attempted to curse Waller, but Kingston pulled Waller in the way and Waller took the curse instead.
IYO SKY Confronts Liv Morgan During Vaquer vs. Raquel
During the Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez non-title match, Liv Morgan interfered by getting on the apron. IYO SKY came to the ring and went after Morgan. Raquel hit SKY with a pounce that sent her over the announce table. Vaquer fought off both Raquel and Morgan, hitting Morgan with a thrust kick and sending her into the timekeeper’s area. Vaquer then countered a twisting power slam attempt into a rollup to pin Raquel.
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria Set Sights on Women’s Tag Titles
After Bayley’s loss to AJ Lee earlier in the night, Lyra Valkyria found Bayley backstage and told her she was amazing. Bayley asked what was amazing about losing.
Asuka and Kairi Sane then confronted the pair. Asuka accused Bayley and Lyra of costing her a shot at the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, saying she would have beaten AJ Lee if it was not for them.
After the confrontation, Bayley noted that Asuka and Kairi are going after the Women’s Tag Team Championship. She suggested that maybe she and Lyra should go after the tag titles too.
LA Knight Confronts the Usos Over Roman Reigns
LA Knight stopped Jimmy and Jey Uso backstage and told them that The Vision had their names in their mouths and he did not like it. Knight said he could not help but notice the Usos were getting “a bit cozy” with Roman Reigns.
Jimmy and Jey told Knight it was family business and to mind his own business. Knight refused. “If the old Bloodline comes back, they cannot be on the same page,” Knight said.
CM Punk Punches Roman Reigns to Close the Show
Roman Reigns came to the ring and told San Antonio to acknowledge him. He said CM Punk gets confused and thinks Raw is his show. Reigns invited Punk to the ring, saying “the water is warm.”
Punk took his time making his way to the ring. Reigns welcomed Punk to “his ring” and “his main event.” Punk fired back by telling Reigns not to use his real name as an insult. “His friends and family are allowed to call him Phil,” Punk said. He added that Reigns is not a Samoan he respects.
Reigns told Punk he has not main evented anything this year and could not main event “a live event tour in Europe, much less WrestleMania.” Punk responded by calling Reigns “chicken s**t” for sending the Usos out last week instead of confronting him personally. “Right message, wrong messenger,” Punk said.
Reigns escalated by bringing up Punk’s wife. “Maybe you should ask the real money makers, like your wife,” Reigns said.
As Reigns tried to leave, Punk stopped him. “It is my ring, my title, and my belt. I tell you when you come and go,” Punk said. He told Reigns this is the last time he will main event WrestleMania. “I will get you on my shoulders and the Punkamaniacs will be chanting my name while I drive you into my knee and split your ego in two and beat you on the grandest stage of them all,” Punk said.
Reigns responded by calling Punk delusional, old, a try-hard, and said Punk cannot do anything he does in the ring. “You are nothing to me. That title is an embarrassment,” Reigns said.
Punk punched Reigns, dropping him. Officials came out and held Punk back. Reigns smiled from the mat, rubbed his temple, and told Punk to “come on” as the show went to credits.
Next Week on Raw
Brock Lesnar will appear on Raw next week. The Usos will face Logan Paul and Austin Theory. Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar is officially confirmed for WrestleMania 42.
Results
El Grande Americano defeated El Grande Americano Classico
A back-and-forth match with heavy interference from Rayo and Bravo Americano throughout. Classico dominated the closing stretch with German suplexes, an Olympic slam, and Chaos Theory, but Rayo distracted the referee after the Chaos Theory pin attempt. While the referee was distracted, Bravo placed a piece of metal inside Americano’s mask. Classico hit a diving headbutt off the turnbuckles but knocked himself out when his head connected with the metal in Americano’s mask. Americano got the three count.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (c) defeated Bayley to retain the title
Lee and Bayley traded technical exchanges throughout with multiple near falls on both sides. Bayley locked in a Maple Leaf and hit a running knee for a near fall. Bayley pulled Lee off the turnbuckles and hit a belly-to-belly suplex for another close two count. The two traded slaps and slammed each other’s heads into the mat. Lee hit a back heel kick and a Shining Wizard. Bayley countered a Black Widow attempt into a side slam and went up top for the elbow drop but missed. Lee locked in the Black Widow and Bayley tapped out.
Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) defeated Dragon Lee to retain the title
Penta addressed the crowd before the match, reiterating his pledge to be a fighting champion. The two shook hands before the bell and wrestled a competitive, respectful match. Lee hit a slingshot dropkick from the apron, a double stomp, and a Styles Clash for a near fall. Penta hit a Penta Driver for a near fall. The match spilled to the outside when Lee hit a suicide dive that sent both men over the announce table. Lee sent Penta back into the ring and hit Operation Dragon for a near fall. Lee went for the Hidden Blade but missed, and Penta hit a destroyer for the pin. After the match, Penta helped Lee up and the two raised each other’s hands and shook hands.
Nattie defeated Maxxine Dupri
Dupri showed fire with clotheslines, a suplex, a step-up leg drop, and an ankle lock attempt. Nattie avoided a top rope move, hit a discus clothesline, and locked in the Sharpshooter. Dupri tried to reach the ropes but Nattie pulled her to the center of the ring and Dupri tapped out.
Non-Title Match: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Raquel Rodriguez
Raquel dominated early, lawn-darting Vaquer into the ring post and hitting multiple clotheslines. Vaquer fought back with a springboard knee drop on the apron, a dragon screw, and a running double knee strike. Liv Morgan interfered by getting on the apron, bringing out IYO SKY. Raquel pounced SKY over the announce table. Vaquer fought off both Raquel and Morgan, sending Morgan into the timekeeper’s area. Vaquer countered a twisting power slam attempt into a rollup for the pin.
