3 Mistakes WWE Made on RAW (March 9, 2026)

Six WWE stars battled on RAW for a chance to challenge new Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee on next week’s show.

Lyra Valkyria and IYO SKY started the match, but Bayley pinned Asuka to win. Penta faced El Grande Americano after Danhausen cursed the Original El Grande. Adam Pearce warned Seth Rollins that his antics may not always work.

The Judgment Day turned on Finn Balor, while CM Punk acknowledged getting flak for controversial comments last week. Despite some decent moments, WWE made the next three mistakes on RAW.

#3. Remember when WWE booked Rusev like a brute?

Rusev was one of the first credible WWE stars to stand up and call out Oba Femi. The two exchanged blows last week, leading to their match on RAW. If you went to get food or weren’t watching for a few minutes, you missed the entire match.

The former US Champion got in a few shots but was essentially squashed by the former two-time NXT Champion. It makes sense to sell Femi as a threat against someone like Rusev, but it totally kills any credibility he had.

#2. Lyra Valkyria starts the gauntlet against heavy favorite IYO SKY

Once Lyra Valkyria and IYO SKY were revealed as the first two entrants in the gauntlet match, the odds were not in the Irishwoman’s favor.

SKY has been booked far better and much more consistently in 2026 than Valkyria. She and Bayley have been asking to be included on RAW over the last month.

Ivy Nile could have started and been the first person eliminated, followed by Lyra. It felt like bookers sacrificed Valkyria. At this point last year, she was the Women’s Intercontinental Champion.

#1. No Roman Reigns after last week’s bombshell on RAW?

Last week’s RAW ended in shock after CM Punk referenced Roman Reigns’ deceased father. It’s not the first time a death has been used in a WWE feud.

Randy Orton did so to Rey Mysterio, and Punk even did so with the Undertaker after Paul Bearer’s passing. Paige brought up Charlotte Flair’s deceased brother.

Many people were shocked, but the live fans in Seattle cheered Punk when he came out. If the comment was so hurtful, shouldn’t The Tribal Chief have appeared to address it in person instead of his cousins?

The Best in the World pointed out this flaw in logic to the Usos, who just brushed it off. Whether or not this absence was built into his “schedule” for WrestleMania, this feels like a week he should have been on RAW.