World Wrestling Entertainment’s premier event is set to return to Raleigh, North Carolina, next month for the first time since 2021, when a series of wrestling superstars will step foot in the ring for the March 18 episode of Monday Night Raw.
It’s been an exciting few months for WWE, and you can be sure that they’ll have some tricks up their sleeve ahead of this episode of Raw. As per usual, match cards won’t drop until the week before the event, but we already know who will be taking part in the episode… we just don’t know how they’ll be facing off.
Here’s everything we know about the event so far, with storylines to keep an eye on in the days ahead of the match.
WrestleMania Runner Up
First and foremost, this edition of Monday Night Raw will give fans a chance to see last year’s WrestleMania runner-up, Cody “Stardust” Rhodes, take part in another tuneup event ahead of what he hopes will be another chance at a WWE championship. Rhodes won the 2024 Royal Rumble back in January, giving him a chance to challenge a world champion during WrestleMania, and because of the drama that we all know and love in this sport, one can be sure that Rhodes’ storyline will have a couple of twists and turns left ahead of the marquee event.
We’re starting to hear the buzz that Rhodes might take on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson during WrestleMania. The Rock has made plenty of teaser appearances since returning to the sport last year, including in last night’s Raw episode on February 12.
It may be a little too much to hope for an appearance in this match, but you really never know… and the unpredictability of the sport is part of what makes it so fun to watch.
Seth Rollins Sweetens the Deal
This episode of Raw is going to be one to remember, as Seth “Freakin” Rollins is also set to take part in a match. Rollins and Rhodes had a special moment in last night’s match, with the former coming to Rhodes’ defense in a standoff against The Rock and Roman Reigns, who defeated Cody during last year’s WrestleMania.
North Carolina betting sites don’t field wagers on wrestling yet—although WWE is hard at work with gambling platforms and the various gaming control boards to find a way to make it possible to bet on their choreographed outcomes in a manner that is fair to all—but as a betting man myself, I feel like the redemption storyline for Rhodes as he tries to live up to his father’s legacy means that he’s going to have a special part to play in this year’s circuit.
The Rock and Roman Reigns are about as entrenched of superstars as you can find, and with Johnson turning heel during his return to the sport, you can be sure that Rhodes’ heartfelt underdog storyline is on a collision course with the top dogs.
Rollins’ inclusion in the upcoming episode makes me wonder if we’re going to have another moment like last night’s… or if the temporary alliance will break, setting up another dramatic turn ahead of WrestleMania.
The Rest of the Card
I’ve talked a lot about Rhodes and Rollins during this article—and other wrestlers who may not even make an appearance, like The Rock and Roman Reigns—so it’s time to give due respect to the rest of the wrestlers rounding out the event card on March 18.
Gunther, a fellow heavyweight like Rollins, will make an appearance in this match: whether the Austrian giant faces off against Freakin’ in a solo battle or if he makes up the other half of a tag team with Sami Zayn in order to foster Rollins and Rhodes’ new alliance remains to be seen.
For my two cents, I’d bet on a tag team battle. Rhodes’ and Rollins’ alliance has the makings of a special storyline, and I think WWE would be best off letting it breathe for a while before adding any unexpected twists: a heel turn for Rollins after invoking the late Dusty Rhodes probably wouldn’t sit well among viewers.
Last but not least, we’ll get to see Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch in the ring. This matchup, if they do end up facing off, has an excellent balance of conflicting styles. Ripley is a relative newcomer to the sport, taking Monday Night Raw by storm in recent years. Lynch is a battle-hardened veteran who has dealt with the sting of disappointment and betrayal time and again. Perhaps she’ll be able to take down the upstart challenger and get back to the respect she’s due… but it’s equally possible that she will suffer another setback.
