A long-brewing rivalry finally reached its boiling point on the March 9 episode of WWE RAW at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. After weeks of tension, two powerhouse competitors stepped into the ring looking to settle their score.
The match marked an important moment for Oba Femi, who entered the bout with plenty of momentum after recently appearing across WWE programming.
Still, standing across the ring was a familiar threat — the returning Rusev — and the clash promised the kind of heavyweight collision that tends to shake the ring and rattle the rafters.
Oba Femi Scores Major Victory During WWE RAW Match
The rivalry between Femi and Rusev had been building since the Royal Rumble on January 31, when “The Ruler” eliminated the “Bulgarian Brute” only 32 seconds after he entered the match. That brief but memorable encounter sparked a series of confrontations in the weeks that followed.
On February 23, the two nearly came to blows during a RAW segment. A week later, on March 2, Rusev initiated a physical brawl in the ring, clearly frustrated with the growing attention surrounding the newcomer.
Their rivalry finally culminated in a televised singles match on RAW.
Once the bell rang, the contest quickly turned into a slugfest. Both men traded heavy strikes and lariats early, neither willing to give an inch. Rusev found success with a series of knee strikes and a Machka Kick, but Femi answered with explosive power.
The momentum shifted several times, including a spinning wheel kick from Rusev near the announce desk and a thunderous uppercut from Femi inside the ring. Eventually, the turning point arrived when Femi planted his opponent with a pop-up spinebuster.
Moments later, Oba Femi delivered his finishing move — the Fall From Grace — to secure the pinfall victory.
The win serves as Femi’s official in-ring debut victory on the RAW brand after spending time as a free agent. With a high-profile win over Rusev now on his resume, the self-proclaimed “Ruler” may have just announced his arrival on the red brand — loud and clear.
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