Monday Night Raw – October 20, 2025: Just What They Needed
Monday Night Raw
Date: October 20, 2025
Location: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
So things got shaken up in a big way last week as the Vision turned on World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. That opens up a bunch of questions and there is a good chance we’ll get some answers this week. We are rapidly approaching Saturday Night’s Main Event and odds are some of the card will come together tonight. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
The opening recap looks at last week’s show, with CM Punk becoming #1 contender and then the Vision turning on Seth Rollins to end the show.
Here is Adam Pearce for a talk about what happened last week and in the future, but here is the Vision, with Bron Breakker holding the World Title, to interrupt. Pearce gets to the point: the title is vacant but we’ll have a new champion crowned at Saturday Night’s Main Event. CM Punk has already earned the right to be there and will face the winner of a battle royal being held tonight for the title.
Pearce wants Breakker to hand him the title but Breakker asks what happens if he doesn’t. Paul Heyman has a quick sidebar and Breakker wants some respect. Like with a please. Pearce doesn’t like it, but does say please. Instead Breakker hands the title over to Heyman, who hands it to Pearce. With Pearce gone, Heyman asks why everyone is so mad at the team. He watches Unreal and knows they’re the heels, but they didn’t cause Rollins’ injury.
Heyman didn’t turn on Roman Reigns and CM Punk for Rollins, but rather because Bron Breakker is the future. On top of that, he knows that Bronson Reed is better than Roman Reigns. The reality is that Rollins couldn’t shoulder the responsibility and the winners, who will be writing the history, are right here. The future is right here and welcome to the show.
We recap Dominik Mysterio running his mouth and getting Judgment Day a Tag Team Title defense as a result.
Judgment Day is getting ready when Mysterio comes in to ask if they have this. The team tells him that they have this and to worry about his own business.
Raw Tag Team Titles: AJ Styles/Dragon Lee vs. Judgment Day
Judgment Day is defending and McDonagh gets knocked down and into the wrong corner to start. Lee comes in for a running knee to Balor, who is right back with a basement dropkick for two of his own. It’s back to McDonagh to take Lee down as well as the pace slows a good bit. Balor’s snap suplex gets two and he goes up, only for Styles to crotch him down. Styles gets smart by throwing Lee into the corner but McDonagh low bridges Styles out to the floor.
We take a break and come back with Styles fighting out of trouble and handing it back to Lee to clean house. Everything breaks down and Lee hits a big suicide dive to both champs back inside. Operation Dragon is broken up and it’s back to Styles to take Balor down. Lee knocks McDonagh outside and Balor sends Lee out, leaving Styles to hit the Phenomenal Forearm.
McDonagh makes a VERY last second save, followed by the moonsault and Balor hits the Coup de Grace. Lee DIVES over McDonagh for the save in a great spot, followed by a suicide dive to Lee. Back in and Balor tries a Styles Clash on Styles, who reverses into the real thing for the pin and the titles at 13:13.
Rating: B. I mean…why not? Judgment Day was doing absolutely nothing with the titles so let Styles, who is on the way to the end of his career, have a nice moment before he hangs it up? It’s not like things can get much worse for the titles, so let them do something cool for a change.
We look at the Usos’ issues last week.
Jimmy Uso asks Jey Uso if he’s happy now. Jey says he was mad at himself last week and brings up Roman Reigns, but Jimmy cuts him off. Reigns isn’t here tonight and the two of them are in the battle royal. Jimmy says Reigns has Jey believing that he lost the title because he helped others. Jey isn’t sure what to believe, but Jimmy tells him to figure it out. Tonight, Jimmy will go after everyone in the battle royal, including Jey. That’s fine with both of them.
Intercontinental Title: Rusev vs. Dominik Mysterio
Mysterio is defending and dives through the ropes to start in fast on Rusev, who shrugs it off. An elbow has Mysterio down again and Rusev kicks him in the chest. Mysterio gets in a quick shot and dropkicks him in the back. The 619 is cut off with a shot to the head, followed by some rather hard suplexes.
We take a break and come back with Mysterio hitting his own suplex but the frog splash hits raised knees. The Accolade is blocked with a hasty crawl to the floor but here is Penta to prevent Mysterio from skedaddling. The distraction causes Rusev to hit Penta, leaving Mysterio to load up the timekeeper’s hammer again. Rusev blocks the 619 and takes the hammer, which the referee confiscates. That’s enough for Mysterio to get in a low blow, setting up the 619 into the frog splash to retain at 10:12.
Rating: C+. I keep thinking that Mysterio is going to be a big star when he turns and it’s getting obvious that he kind of all but has already. He’s getting better and better in the ring every day as he has figured out so many of the little things. It’s fun to watch his matches these days and that’s not only a great feeling now, but a very good sign for his future.
Post match Penta gives Rusev a springboard tornado DDT to leave him laying.
Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri
Lynch is defending and knocks her into the corner to start fast. A victory roll gives Dupri two but Lynch takes right back over as we take a break. We come back with Dupri managing a comeback and getting in a snap suplex. The straps come down and the ankle lock goes on but Lynch reverses into a cross armbreaker. Dupri backflips out into another ankle lock, which is broken up as Lynch puts him on top. A high crossbody hits Lynch, who rolls outside and grabs the title. Dupri’s sunset flip gets two so Lynch knocks her silly with the belt for the DQ at 9:55.
Rating: B-. This is another case of a sliding scale, as there is no reason for Dupri to be very good in the ring. She’s inexperienced and her whole persona is someone who is in over her head. Whomever is working with her has done a lot of impressive work, because she’s doing rather well in the spot she’s getting. While I don’t believe she’s ready to do anything else, it’s at least a lot better than she’s done in the past.
Post match Lynch lays her out again.
Video on the international tour.
The Kabuki Warriors are happy with beating Iyo Sky and injuring Rhea Ripley. Now they want the Women’s Tag Team Titles back.
Paul Heyman comes up to Adam Pearce, who tells him that Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed are out of the battle royal. If Heyman wants them back in, say please. Heyman thinks for a second and then does say please. Pearce says no anyway and slams a door in his face.
Heyman goes to leave and runs into Becky Lynch, who isn’t happy. He begs off and offers Lynch a spot in the team even without Rollins. Lynch calls him a “Penguin Faced P****” and says this won’t work on her. Rollins knew that Heyman was going to turn on him, so we’ll see what happens when Rollins gets back. Heyman will be nothing without him and they’re not worried about whomever Heyman attaches himself to next.
Roxanne Perez vs. Stephanie Vaquer
Non-title and Raquel Rodriguez is here too. Perez chills in the ropes to start before pulling Vaquer into a bodyscissors. That’s reversed rather quickly and Vaquer works on the arm. Perez breaks that up and goes after the arm, which is switched into a rollup for two on Vaquer. Back up and Vaquer scares her out to the floor, only to take Perez down back inside. The threat of the Devil’s Kiss sends Perez bailing to the apron, allowing Rodriguez to get in a cheap shot as we take a break.
We come back with Vaquer hitting a Meteora in the corner, followed by a dragon screw legwhip. The Devil’s Kiss connects but the SVB is broken up. Perez fights back and hits the cartwheel knees to the head. Pop Rox doesn’t work though and Vaquer hits a 619, with Perez falling outside and Vaquer diving onto both villains. A double underhook gutbuster finishes Perez at 12:07.
Rating: B-. Vaquer continues to look so smooth out there and it helps having someone as good as Perez. That’s how you put together a solid match, as the champ gets to notch another win. I’m not sure who is next for her, but having her stack up wins like this should only help her.
Post match the double teaming is on but Nikki Bella runs in for the save. Oh sweet goodness not Bella getting a title shot.
Bayley surprises Lyra Valkyria and says she has a surprise for her next week. Valkyria is scared, as she should be.
Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed aren’t happy with being left out of the battle royal. Paul Heyman gives them a pep talk about Brock Lesnar and things seem ok enough.
Nikki Bella is in the back with Stephanie Vaquer. Bella gives her a pep talk about having her back, with Vaquer saying she owes Bella one. That’s fine with Bella, who thinks she just made some enemies.
Battle Royal
Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Sheamus, AJ Styles. El Grande Americano, Dragon Lee, Ivar, Rusev, Akira Tozawa, Otis, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, Penta, Grayson Waller, LA Knight, Kofi Kingston
The winner faces CM Punk for the vacant World Title at Saturday Night’s Main Event, so here is Punk to do commentary. It’s a brawl to start with Ivar and Otis slugging it out. Everyone stops to watch before realizing that it’s Otis vs. Ivar and continue fighting each other. Otis and Rusev slug it out, with Otis actually running him over. Back up and Rusev low bridges Otis out before doing the same to a Hulking Up Tozawa.
Lee tries a springboard but Judgment Day shoves him out to even a bit of the score from earlier tonight. Mysterio actually gets rid of Rusev and Penta at once and we take a break. We come back with Ivar sitting on Styles’ chest in the corner before slugging it out with Sheamus. Ivar gets dumped to the apron and pulls Sheamus out with him. Sheamus hits White Noise onto said apron and Ivar is out.
Americano loads up the mask but gets taken out and eliminated by the Usos. Sheamus forearms Balor out and tries to do the same to McDonagh, with Kingston sneaking up for the double elimination. Sheamus brawls to the back with Judgment Day and Styles tosses Mysterio….but the referee didn’t see it due to the brawl. Mysterio comes back in and goes after Styles as we take another break.
We come back with Jimmy, Jey, Mysterio, Kingston, Styles and Knight. Kingston monkey flips Styles but gets sent out to the apron. Styles knocks Kingston out and we’re down to five. Punk starts talking about the new Tag Team Champions, who could be called……AJ LEE! Ok that’s brilliant. Knight hammers away and Barrett asks if their loins are tingling. Tessitore: “Please say they’re not. Please say they’re not.”
Knight hits Jimmy with the top rope elbow but has to escape a Styles Clash. Knight grabs a reverse Boston crab on Styles, which has Punk thinking he wants to face someone that dumb. Jey is almost out but Jimmy makes a save and that can’t possibly be a good idea. Styles is knocked out and Jimmy goes after Knight, leaving Jey to knock them both out. Mysterio dropkicks Jey from behind but the 619 is countered into a backdrop to give Jey the win at 18:53 as Jimmy is LIVID.
Rating: B. Well, it was a fun battle royal and the result opens up a lot of doors. Punk and Jey have had their issues for months now so this is something that could work well. Granted there is always the chance that Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed crash the match, but for now, the pieces are there. It should be interesting to see where they go from here, so this is a good path to take.
Jey and Punk stare each other down to end the show.
Overall Rating: B. This was a show where it was absolutely not dull and a lot of big things happened. That’s what they needed this time, as the Rollins injury is going to shake things up in a big way. I’m not sure what this is going to mean, but at least they have started things off in the right way. We can see where things go from here though and this show has me wondering where the show is going.
Results
AJ Styles/Dragon Lee b. Judgment Day – Styles Clash to Balor
Dominik Mysterio b. Rusev – Frog splash
Maxxine Dupri b. Becky Lynch via DQ when Lynch used the title
Stephanie Vaquer b. Roxanne Perez – Double underhook gutbuster
Jey Uso won a battle royal last eliminating Dominik Mysterio
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Did you like the way they are determining the next World Championship in terms of matches? I have no problem with it. Punk should get to the finals since he already won a no. 1 contenders match, and I was afraid they were going to do the old “2 separate fatal 4-way winners meeting to determine who will face Punk.” Not because I hate it and love battle royals, but because they have used that method to death so far this year.
I do and for pretty much the same reason. The mini tournament stuff is played out, so have someone win one match and get in. It makes it feel more like a lucky shot, which makes it more interesting.