Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The March 25, 2024 episode of WWE Raw—likely the show meant by “this week’s Raw” in the original title—made a persuasive case for being one of the year’s best. Its appeal lay less in an across-the-board great match card than in combustible character work, a memorable closing angle, a standout opener and stories gaining momentum before WrestleMania. That judgment was not universal, but it explains why some viewers called it the best Raw of 2024.
Why is the March 25 episode the likely one meant?
The exact article behind the title has not been established, so the identification is not certain. The strongest match is Raw #1609, broadcast March 25, 2024: a review published the next day called that episode the “BEST RAW OF THE YEAR,” and The Ringer’s March 26 Cheap Heat outline discussed the previous night’s show. Those sources make this a plausible reading of “this week’s Raw,” not proof of the title’s original reference. The Solomonster Sounds Off and The Ringer.
1. Punk, McIntyre and Rollins made the promo feel volatile
The three-way microphone segment between CM Punk, Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins gave the episode a charged center. Viewers singled out its exchanges and dialogue, while Cheap Heat’s discussion of the show’s Attitude Era feel and Rollins points to the kind of character-driven energy that made the segment stand out. The appeal was the collision of personalities and competing stakes, not simply the presence of famous names. Cagematch’s episode reactions; The Ringer.
2. The Rock and Cody Rhodes ended the show with a lasting image
The closing angle gave the episode its most striking visual: The Rock took Cody Rhodes outside in the rain, attacked him and left him bleeding. Contemporary reactions highlighted the scene, and one reviewer framed the episode around Rock making Cody bleed. The moment worked as a sharp escalation of their WrestleMania conflict and as a final image likely to stay with viewers after the show ended. Its impact is a matter of dramatic judgment, not evidence that every fan considered it the best ending of the year. The Solomonster Sounds Off’s March 26 episode page; Cagematch episode reactions.
#1 Best Overall
- Factory sealed DVD
3. Ricochet versus JD McDonagh gave the show a match highlight
For viewers looking for an in-ring reason to praise the episode, Ricochet versus JD McDonagh was a notable counterweight to its promo-heavy structure. Reactions praised the opener, and some reviewers identified it among the night’s few memorable matches. That distinction matters: the case for the episode rests on a high-impact mix of segments and selective match highlights, not on a claim that every bout was exceptional. Cagematch episode reactions.
4. WrestleMania stories felt closer to their collision
The episode also fed anticipation for the upcoming WrestleMania card. Reviewers pointed to story progression and rising excitement, while Cheap Heat placed its Raw discussion in the build to WrestleMania and noted the Becky Lynch–Rhea Ripley program. The value was cumulative: the Punk–McIntyre–Rollins conflict and the Rock–Rhodes angle gave viewers reasons to care about what would happen next, alongside the women’s title story. That is an interpretation reflected in contemporary commentary, not a measurable audience-wide conclusion. The Ringer; Cagematch episode reactions.
Rank #2
- Factory sealed DVD
Why the “best of 2024” claim remains subjective
Not every response was glowing. Some Cagematch reviewers complained about short or forgettable matches, limited wrestling time and uneven use of the women’s division. Even favorable reactions often rested on the promos, the closing angle, the opener and the sense of story momentum rather than uniform match quality. The episode is therefore easier to defend as one of the year’s strongest overall shows than as an objective, settled winner.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Factory sealed DVD
Rank #4
Rank #3
- WWE RAW 20TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION DVD BOX SET
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
