WWE: Seth Rollins on His Upcoming Steel Cage Match Against CM Punk at 3/10 WWE RAW Show at MSG, A&E WWE Ratings, More News

Mar 5, 2025

Seth Rollins Comments on His Upcoming Steel Cage Match Against CM Punk at Next Week’s WWE RAW Show at MSG

Tuesday’s premiere episode of WWE’s RAW Recap podcast featured Seth Rollins as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Rollins’ thoughts about his upcoming Steel Cage match against CM Punk at next week’s WWE RAW show at Madison Square Garden.

“The only good thing to happen tonight, aside from me getting to punch CM Punk in the face a lot, is that Adam Pearce finally made the right call, locked CM Punk and myself in a cage next week in The Garden, and I can finally make sure that this moron doesn’t even make it to WrestleMania. After I feel like he’s exhausted all of his opportunities, he’s got one favor, some ace up his sleeve, whatever it is, I’ve got no other choice. He’s left me no other choice but to hurt him and take him out. All I feel right now is just this urge to wrap my hands around somebody’s neck and hurt them. That’s where I’m at right now, and I’ve reached my breaking point with this guy …
I don’t want to bring this negative energy. Let’s focus on the positive to end this thing. Next week, in The Garden, it’s Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins against CM Punk inside of a steel cage live on Netflix in front of the world, in the world’s most famous arena. You literally cannot write a better ending to this story. I’m so excited that Adam Pearce finally decided to do the right thing, and when I get my hands on him, it will be a sight to behold.”

Rollins also gave his thoughts about what made him hate CM Punk so much.

“I mean, look at the guy. He is a hypocrite. The world is going to sit there and talk about, oh, listen to all these wonderful, great things he said about John Cena and the decision he made at the Rumble and The Rock. Dude, you’ve done everything and more that you’re accusing these guys of. You’re a coward, you’re a fraud, you gave up on your dream to main event WrestleMania years ago. We don’t have to go through all the things that he did in his time away before he came back. I’ve told the story a million times, and the fact that he has the gall to go out there and spit what he thinks is truth about these guys when he won’t even look in the mirror and talk to himself about all the mistakes that he’s made, that have made other people suffer, that’s the thing. He’s made other people suffer and never owned up to it. So that is a microcosm. Tonight is just a microcosm of all the reasons that I hate this guy. That’s why it’s different. There’s love in other places. There’s love for Roman Reigns. Do I agree with what he stands for? Absolutely not. But there’s a seed of love in there somewhere. That makes it more painful. That makes it more painful when I get in there and have to do what I have to do to him. With CM Punk, there’s no seed of love. That’s gone. He erased that a long time ago. So it’s pure, unadulterated hatred. That’s all I have for him. You mentioned the Netflix debut and this match at The Garden, I hate that he’s a part of it with me. I hate it so much.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com 1 & 2

A&E WWE Programming Ratings – March 2, 2025

This past Sunday’s WWE LFG episode drew 149,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.05 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This was down compared to last week’s show’s 209,000 viewers but up compared to its 0.04 rating in the 18-49 demographic.

This past Sunday’s WWE Rivals episode drew 175,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.05 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This was down compared to last week’s show 248,000 viewers but up compared to its 0.04 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This episode focused on memorable Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior rivalry.

This past Sunday’s WWE Greatest Moments premiere episode drew 153,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.05 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This was down compared to last week’s show 232,000 viewers but up compared to its 0.03 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This episode focused on the first decade of WWE SmackDown.

Source: Programming Insider

WWE News & Notes

Tuesday’s WWE NXT show at the Performance Center featured NXT backstage interviewer Kelly Kincaid making her return to the NXT brand. Prior to her return, Kincaid had been away from WWE since early 2024 due to maternity reasons and the birth of her first child this past September.

Tuesday’s WWE NXT show also featured current TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich making a surprise appearance. Prior to the start of the match between Jordynne Grace and Cora Jade, Slamovich was seen in the crowd to watch and scout Jade ahead of their upcoming TNA Knockouts World title match at TNA’s Sacrifice 2025 event. This was Slamovich’s first appearance in WWE since this past January.

Former WWE and TNA talent Cassie Lee, also known as Peyton Royce, was seen in attendance at Tuesday’s WWE NXT show. Lee was at the show to support her husband Shawn Spears.

WWE announced that WWE LFG series coaches The Undertaker, Mickie James, Bubba Ray Dudley, and Booker T will be making an appearance at next week’s NXT Roadblock 2025 show on March 11th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

Tuesday’s red carpet premiere event for the Queen of the Ring film in New York City New York featured Jimmy Uso Naomi among the notable guests invited. Naomi was seen wearing a neck brace as part of her selling the attack by Jade Cargill at this past Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 event.

WWE reportedly will be holding a new taping for their WWE EVOLVE brand later this week at their Performance Center, according to PWInsider. Mike Johnson reported that similar to the prior tapings, this upcoming new taping will also be closed to the public.

WWE filed a new trademark for “The Culling” on March 3rd for wrestling and entertainment-related purposes to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

WWE recently revealed the next match in their on-going countdown of their Top 50 matches in WrestleMania history. The 44th spot was the Unsanctioned match of Seth Rollins vs. Triple H from WrestleMania 33.

WWE also recently released two new videos to their WWE Vault channel on YouTube. The first new video was a Fatal Four-way match of CM Punk vs. Sheamus vs. Randy Orton vs. Big Show from the March 4, 2013 episode of WWE RAW. The second new video was the Body Slam Challenge match of Andre The Giant vs. Big John Studd from WrestleMania I.

WWE also recently released one new video to their NXT Vault channel on YouTube. This new video was a “Watch ALL of WWE NXT Season 1!” live stream marathon.

In a recent Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference event, TKO COO Mark Sharpio gave his thoughts about the surprises currently being planned to take place at this April’s WrestleMania 41 event. Shapiro stated “I’ll tell you this though, when you’re front page on the ESPN app, you’re above the fold and that video of The Rock and (John) Cena and Cody (Rhodes), you’re now making more of a cultural impact than you have historically. Especially when it’s a competitor that carries the events so I was excited to see that… Paul (Levesque) and his creative team are second to none… You’ll be amazed at the surprises that are about to come your way at WrestleMania in Las Vegas. WrestleMania, I can’t give away any plotlines. I wouldn’t make it off this stage. Somebody from Paul’s team would be here to knock me out. But, it’s gonna be very exciting. I mean, Vegas is gonna be incredible. The whole weekend is just gonna be a spectacle. In the same way or the same vein the Sphere was a spectacle for the UFC and 306. It’s gonna be a great story for us and always a great time to be negotiating new deals.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)