Penta Overcomes Ludwig Kaiser in a No Holds Barred Match: Raw Highlights, March 17, 2025
Monday Night Raw on March 17, 2025, delivered one of the most thrilling, intense, and violent No Holds Barred matches in recent history as Penta El Zero Miedo took on Ludwig Kaiser in a contest that pushed both men to their limits. The WWE Universe was treated to an unforgettable night of extreme wrestling, showcasing the brutality and resilience of two elite performers.
The showdown between Penta and Kaiser was only one part of a night filled with high-octane action, shocking betrayals, and moments that will be discussed for weeks to come. From championship feuds intensifying to surprise returns, the latest episode of Raw proved why it remains the flagship show of WWE.
A Feud Fueled by Disrespect and Dominance
The rivalry between Penta and Kaiser has been brewing for weeks, stemming from an incident that initially appeared to be a simple war of words but quickly escalated into violent confrontations backstage and in the ring. Ludwig Kaiser, a proud and technically gifted wrestler, took offense to Penta’s showboating and disregard for the “sacred” rules of wrestling that Kaiser claims to uphold as a member of Imperium.
Gunther, the Ring General and leader of Imperium, had largely ignored Penta’s provocations, deeming him unworthy of their time. However, Ludwig Kaiser, eager to prove himself, took it upon himself to humble the Lucha Underground legend. What followed was weeks of brawls, sneak attacks, and moments of humiliation on both sides. When the No Holds Barred stipulation was announced, it became clear that there would be no running, no interference—just two men settling their grudge in the most violent way possible.
No Holds Barred: A War of Attrition
From the moment the bell rang, Penta and Kaiser wasted no time going after each other with reckless abandon. Kaiser, known for his crisp and disciplined strikes, attempted to outwrestle Penta in the early minutes, but Penta, armed with his high-impact style, countered with devastating chops that echoed throughout the arena.
The match quickly spilled outside the ring, where steel chairs, kendo sticks, and even a table came into play. Penta, living up to his “Zero Miedo” moniker, introduced the first weapon—a trash can—smashing it over Kaiser’s head with a sickening thud. However, Kaiser, resilient as ever, retaliated with a well-placed steel chair shot to Penta’s ribs, slowing down the luchador’s momentum.
The brutality only escalated from there. Kaiser, fueled by Imperium’s philosophy of pain and discipline, used his technical prowess to target Penta’s knee, slamming it against the steel steps and locking in a half-crab submission on the outside. Penta screamed in agony but refused to submit, crawling under the ring to retrieve a weapon of his own—a barbed-wire-wrapped baseball bat.
With the crowd in a frenzy, Penta swung the bat, grazing Kaiser’s arm and opening up a nasty cut. The sight of his own blood seemed to awaken a darker side in Kaiser, who then delivered a brutal suplex onto the announce table, shattering it upon impact. The WWE Universe erupted in shock as both men lay motionless for several moments.
Momentum Shifts and Near Falls
Despite the punishment they had endured, both competitors found ways to push forward. Kaiser, using his superior grappling skills, executed a series of German suplexes, each one more brutal than the last. Penta, barely able to stand, countered with a sudden sling blade before driving Kaiser’s head into a steel chair with a brutal DDT.
The near falls piled up, each one more dramatic than the last. Penta attempted his signature Fear Factor piledriver onto a stack of chairs, but Kaiser managed to escape, only to walk directly into a vicious superkick that sent him crashing through a table propped in the corner. The referee’s count reached two-and-three-quarters before Kaiser somehow kicked out.
The match took another gruesome turn when Penta retrieved a bag from under the ring and emptied its contents—thumbtacks—onto the mat. The audience roared in anticipation as both men teetered near the pile, struggling for control. Kaiser, showing remarkable strength, hoisted Penta up for a powerbomb, but Penta reversed it mid-air, delivering a sunset flip bomb that drove Kaiser’s back into the tacks. The pain on Kaiser’s face was undeniable, yet he still refused to be pinned.
The Final Moments: Penta’s Triumph
As the match neared its climax, both men were visibly exhausted, their bodies covered in welts, cuts, and bruises. Kaiser attempted one last act of desperation, introducing a steel chain into the mix, wrapping it around his fist, and delivering a thunderous right hand that sent Penta crumbling to the mat. It seemed as though the end was near, but Penta, summoning his last reserves of energy, ducked a second strike and countered with a devastating Fear Factor onto the pile of thumbtacks.
The referee’s hand struck the mat three times, and the WWE Universe exploded as Penta was declared the victor. His arm raised in triumph, he stood over Kaiser’s battered body, making his signature “Zero Miedo” hand gesture to the roaring crowd.
What’s Next for Penta and Kaiser?
With this brutal war now behind him, Penta has solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with on Monday Night Raw. His victory over Kaiser proves that he can hang with WWE’s elite, and it remains to be seen whether this win will catapult him into championship contention.
As for Ludwig Kaiser, the loss is a crushing one. Despite putting up a valiant effort, he failed to uphold Imperium’s dominance. The bigger question now is how Gunther and Giovanni Vinci will react to his defeat. Will Kaiser be punished for his failure, or will this loss ignite an even more dangerous side of him?
Other Raw Highlights from March 17, 2025
While Penta vs. Kaiser was the night’s most brutal encounter, the rest of Raw delivered in a big way. From championship implications to shocking betrayals, here’s what else went down:
Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes’ Tensions Explode
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins found themselves at odds once again, as their uneasy alliance continues to crumble. After weeks of tension, Rollins and Rhodes were forced to team up against The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Damian Priest, but their lack of cohesion led to disaster. After an accidental superkick from Rollins to Rhodes, an all-out brawl erupted between the two champions, setting the stage for a colossal showdown in the near future.
Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch: The Road to WrestleMania Intensifies
Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley had a tense face-to-face confrontation with Becky Lynch, as their upcoming WrestleMania showdown draws closer. The two engaged in a heated war of words, with Lynch vowing to end Ripley’s dominant reign. Just as things seemed to be settling, a brawl erupted, with officials struggling to separate the two fierce competitors.
A Shocking Betrayal in the Tag Team Division
The night also saw one of the most shocking betrayals in recent memory as The Street Profits imploded. After suffering another disappointing loss, Montez Ford shockingly turned on Angelo Dawkins, blindsiding his longtime partner with a brutal assault. The WWE Universe was left in stunned silence as Ford stood over a fallen Dawkins, signaling the end of an era for one of WWE’s most beloved tag teams.
Final Thoughts
Monday Night Raw on March 17, 2025, will go down as one of the most chaotic and unforgettable episodes in recent memory. From Penta’s war with Kaiser to shocking betrayals and WrestleMania feuds heating up, the road to WWE’s biggest event of the year has never been more exciting. With just weeks left until WrestleMania, the stakes are higher than ever, and if this episode is any indication, the WWE Universe is in for a wild ride.
