WWE Raw March 9: Usos Clash with CM Punk, Balor Betrayed

WWE Raw March 9 Highlights
WWE Raw March 9 Highlights: Bayley wins, Judgment Day betrayal shocks. [Image Source: F4WONLINE]
RAW

The March 9 WWE Raw episode was broadcast live from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, featuring intense action and storyline developments that further set the stage for WrestleMania 42. The show included a Women’s Intercontinental Title #1 Contenders Gauntlet match, a singles contest between Oba Femi and Rusev, and an Intercontinental Championship defense by Penta, among other dramatic moments that elevated the ongoing WWE narrative.

The night saw rivalries intensify with appearances from Seth Rollins, CM Punk, and The Usos, as well as a major betrayal within The Judgment Day faction, shaping the WrestleMania card and WWE’s storyline direction.

Opening Tensions: Seth Rollins Faces a Masked Challenge

General Manager Adam Pearce began the show aiming to confront Seth Rollins about his recent actions involving The Vision, a mysterious masked faction targeting him. Multiple masked men stormed the ring, sowing confusion as one removed his disguise, revealing Seth Rollins beneath. Pearce expressed concern over Rollins’ involvement, noting that Rollins had not yet been medically cleared following surgery less than five months prior and emphasizing the risk of injury if this feud escalated.

Pearce outlined his intent to manage the conflict through dialogue rather than violence, stressing caution due to Rollins’ recovery status. However, Austin Theory and Logan Paul appeared, vowing to end Rollins’ influence and assure retribution against his masked followers. Despite the chaos, Rollins once again evaded capture thanks to a well-timed distraction and the intervention of LA Knight, who initially attacked Logan Paul and Theory before succumbing to the odds. The Usos, Jimmy and Jey, then arrived to even the odds, protecting Rollins’ group from further assault.

The Visionary @WWERollins ALWAYS has a plan! 😏@LoganPaul | @_Theory1 pic.twitter.com/ZHK40NgqxD— WWE (@WWE) March 10, 2026

The Usos Consider CM Punk’s Recent Remarks

Backstage, reporter Jackie Redmond interviewed The Usos, revealing their uneasy alliance with Rollins and LA Knight against The Vision faction. Jey Uso distanced himself from Knight, Rollins, Logan Paul, and Austin Theory, emphasizing his indifference toward them. When questioned about CM Punk’s disrespectful comments made towards their uncle in the previous week’s show, Jey initially declined to comment but was persuaded by Big Jim to reconsider, hinting at a forthcoming response regarding the confrontation.

.@WWEUsos may have something to say about @CMPunk’s comments to @WWERomanReigns last week 😳 pic.twitter.com/0lmsUDBaPR— WWE (@WWE) March 10, 2026

Women’s Intercontinental Title #1 Contenders Gauntlet Battle

The gauntlet match to determine the next challenger for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship unfolded intensely with six competitors: Lyra Valkyria, Bayley, Iyo Sky, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, and Ivy Nile. Iyo Sky started strong, swiftly eliminating Valkyria and Rodriguez before falling victim to an opportunistic Nile assault after Rodriguez’s post-elimination attack. Bayley entered the fray fifth, quickly dispatching Nile and ultimately facing Asuka in the final confrontation for the number one contender spot.

Bayley emerged victorious, setting up a matchup against AJ Lee, the reigning Women’s Intercontinental Champion, scheduled for the following week. This marked the first women’s gauntlet match on Monday Night Raw in over four years, adding historic significance to the bout.

.@itsBayleyWWE WINS the Gauntlet Match and will face @TheAJMendez for the Women’s Intercontinental Title NEXT WEEK! 🔥What a moment for Bayley and @Real_Valkyria! pic.twitter.com/cGdtLG6zdV— WWE (@WWE) March 10, 2026

Backstage Confrontations and Surprises

  • Before the gauntlet, Bayley credited Lyra Valkyria for her support backstage, expressing admiration for AJ Lee and discussing the honor of competing for a title she had pursued since its creation.
  • Danhausen intercepted the “Original” El Grande Americano, attempting to convince him to form a masked duo, but was rebuffed and cursed by Americano before vanishing mysteriously.
  • Natalya was interviewed regarding her plans when Maxxine Dupri attacked her from behind, delivering heavy blows until officials separated them.

    • Byron Saxton in an interview with Nattie about her upcoming plans, and she sends a message to Maxxine Dupri, and Maxxine attacks her!#WWERAW pic.twitter.com/NTMiBjvTZY— Eslam (@EslamRollins) March 10, 2026

Penta Retains Intercontinental Title Against El Grande Americano

Newly crowned Intercontinental Champion Penta addressed the audience with a heartfelt promo, highlighting the title’s significance not only to himself but also to those who persevere outside the ring. The scheduled challenger, the “Original” El Grande Americano, was replaced by another Americano who attempted to claim the title shot.

Penta successfully defended his championship, pinning El Grande Americano after executing a springboard Penta driver, marking his first successful title defense since winning the belt the previous week. This defense further solidified Penta’s rising status as a champion.

CERO MIEDO @PENTAELZEROM with a successful first title defense! 👏 pic.twitter.com/qjaLUVEVWv— WWE (@WWE) March 10, 2026

The Betrayal: Finn Balor Expelled from The Judgment Day

A major shift occurred when Dominik Mysterio, accompanied by Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, demanded a rematch for the championship, igniting a feud with Finn Balor. Balor appeared with JD McDonagh and admitted to having held back Dominik to teach him a lesson about fighting his own battles, reflecting on his two years guiding Dominik.

The tension exploded as Dominik shoved Balor, sparking a violent retaliation and assault by The Judgment Day faction. Despite Balor’s resilient efforts to fight back with his signature swingblade and counter-attacks, the numbers game overwhelmed him. Dominik delivered multiple frog splashes and used a bell hammer as a weapon, with JD using a steel chair. The segment concluded with Balor beaten and The Judgment Day celebrating their dominance amid crowd boos and officials attending to Balor’s condition.

THE JUDGMENT DAY TURNS ON FINN BALOR 😱WHAT JUST HAPPENED! pic.twitter.com/zROkvUJQNr— WWE (@WWE) March 10, 2026

This officially ended Finn Balor’s 1,372-day tenure with The Judgment Day stable, signaling a pivotal WrestleMania storyline in the making.

Competitive Singles Match: Oba Femi Defeats Rusev

Oba Femi faced off against Rusev in a match that tested Femi’s resilience, as Rusev delivered aggressive offense early on, including a potent Machka Kick. Nonetheless, Femi recovered and executed a decisive move, called the fall from grace, to pin Rusev and maintain his undefeated streak on the main roster, further establishing himself as a formidable competitor.

Total DOMINATION 🫡@Obaofwwe picks up the WIN over Rusev! pic.twitter.com/dd4NR8oKsN— WWE (@WWE) March 10, 2026

Backstage Encouragement Defines the Future

In a backstage encounter, Kofi Kingston spoke with Je’Von Evans, comparing Evans to a younger version of himself and encouraging him to pursue his dreams without pressure. Kingston emphasized that Evans did not need to decide immediately but wanted him to realize that the journey does not have to be taken alone.

The Usos Demand Accountability from CM Punk

CM Punk addressed the crowd at the end of the show, acknowledging the mixed reactions to his comments from the previous week. Punk accused Roman Reigns of refusing to show him respect throughout his career and vowed to force Roman to earn that respect. He explained that championship titles assess the best talent, and praised Roman for defending the championship he once avoided, elevating the competition.

CM Punk admitted to stooping to Roman’s level recently but held to his beliefs. The Usos interrupted, demanding Punk apologize for disrespecting their late uncle, Sika, a man they felt did not deserve such treatment. Punk acknowledged their point and offered a reluctant apology to Sika while reaffirming respect for their family. However, Punk criticized Roman Reigns directly, calling him a

“lying, conniving, backstabbing, egotistical, narcissistic, plastic politician.”

The tension escalated physically when Punk shoved Jey Uso after refusing to fully apologize to Roman’s family, prompting a hostile reaction. The segment ended with The Usos departing while Punk recovered to his feet, leaving the confrontation unresolved and intensifying the feud heading toward WrestleMania.

OH MY 😬Things have turned VERY personal between @WWEUsos and @CMPunk! pic.twitter.com/7DBrczrROp— WWE (@WWE) March 10, 2026

Summary of Key WWE Raw Outcomes on March 9

  • Bayley won the Women’s Intercontinental Title #1 Contenders Gauntlet match, earning a title shot against AJ Lee next week.
  • Penta successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against El Grande Americano.
  • The Judgment Day faction betrayed Finn Balor, leading to a brutal assault and his expulsion from the group.
  • Oba Femi defeated Rusev, maintaining his undefeated streak.
  • The Usos confronted CM Punk, demanding apologies and escalating ongoing tensions with Roman Reigns’s faction.

#WWERaw Results!• Seth Rollins appears• Bayley wins the Women’s IC title #1 Contenders Gauntlet match• Penta (c) pins El Grande Americano – Intercontinental title match• The Judgment Day turns on Finn Balor• Oba Femi pins Rusev• The Usos confront CM Punk pic.twitter.com/I9NMZ8SEuK— KN Wrestling (@knwrestling) March 10, 2026

Looking Forward to WrestleMania 42

WrestleMania 42 is scheduled as a two-night event taking place on April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. Although no new matches were announced during the March 9 Raw, storylines from this episode indicate an ongoing build-up towards the event, particularly with the evolving conflicts involving CM Punk, The Usos, Finn Balor’s departure from The Judgment Day, and the rising contenders for championship gold.

The developments on Raw promise an explosive lead-up to WrestleMania, with key rivalries intensifying and new championship opportunities emerging, making the weeks ahead critical for WWE’s top stars and rising talent alike.

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Michael jones
Michael jones
Michael Jones is a journalist at CynicalTimes.org, dedicated to covering the WWE Raw Men’s Division. With one year of experience in pro wrestling journalism, he provides fans with up-to-date coverage of major matches, superstar rivalries, and evolving storylines from Monday Night Raw. Michael’s reporting dives into the personalities, promos, and pivotal moments that define the Raw brand, offering insights into character arcs, backstage developments, and pay-per-view buildup. He brings a fresh, detail-oriented perspective to his writing, aiming to inform, entertain, and connect readers to the energy and excitement of WWE’s flagship show. Whether it's a rising contender or a veteran champion, Michael highlights the key figures driving the Raw men’s division forward.