Monday Night Raw
Date: November 10, 2025
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

With less than two months to go in the year, it’s time to focus on John Cena, as we’re in his hometown of Boston. That means the start of the Last Time Is Now tournament, which should make for quite the situation. We could be in for some interesting showdowns, but the Women’s Tag Team Titles are on the line as well. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

A lot of people came to work today.

Here is HHH in the ring to get things going. He talks about how many different things you have to be able to do to be a success in this business. There is one person who is on the top of that list, and that is someone who was a box office attraction, who left it in the ring every night and could be ruthless on the mic. That man did everything to make this business as big as possible because he loves it so much so here he is, meaning it’s quite the thunderous reaction for John Cena.

After quite the reception, Cena talks about how this is a huge group effort around here and how everyone makes it work. So it’s the Last Time, but now we get to see what he wants to do in his last run. That brings us to Saturday Night’s Main Event, which is going to feature WWE vs. NXT matches because Cena wants the younger stars to get the chance he got back in 2002.

Finally though, he wanted to come to Boston one more time. He saw his first WW censored show in the old Boston Garden and now he gets to be in the new Garden on the way out. This brings out Dominik Mysterio to interrupt, with something to say to HHH in Spanish. Mysterio brags about being a great Intercontinental Champion and his celebration was interrupted. Now he’s interrupting an old man’s celebration, but Cena tries to calm things down. Mysterio says let the grown men settle things and speak when spoken to or it’s going to get physical. Fans: “YOU CENSORED UP!”

Cena says Mysterio has screwed up because he is invincible in this city tonight. Wrong place, wrong time, wrong guy. Out of the respect that Cena has for Rey Mysterio, he’s going to let Dominik walk away. Dominik gets in his face and HHH says he agrees with the people’s thoughts on what Dominik did. HHH calls out Dominik for saying any time, any place and any era.

Therefore, let’s do this right now, for the Intercontinental Title. Dominik knows he’s screwed up and it’s great. That would be the case for everything here, as this is all about giving Cena one big moment in his hometown on his way out and it shouldn’t have been anything more than a massive tribute, with Mysterio getting to be the kind of slimy heel that he does so well.

Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio vs. John Cena

Cena is challenging and we’re joined in progress with Cena fighting back, sending Mysterio bailing out to the floor. Mysterio goes to leave but Cena sends him back, only to be whipped into the steps. That lets Mysterio pose in the ring as Cena gets up, with the dive to beat the count being rather well received. Three Amigos don’t do much to Cena, who tries the AA but gets caught with a DDT as we take a break.

We come back with Cena making another comeback but getting sent into the post for his efforts. That lets Mysterio take down the turnbuckle pad and grab a chair as it’s replaced. Mysterio does the Eddie Guerrero chair deal….but Cena lays down too, with the chair between them.

With that not working, Mysterio gets up but gets caught in the AA. The referee gets bumped so Cena grabs the STF for the tap, which no one sees. Mysterio grabs the belt but walks into the AA for two from a second referee. Back up and Mysterio hits a quick 619, setting up the frog splash. That’s rolled through into an AA to give Cena the pin and the title at 12:19 shown.

Rating: B-. Sure why not. Cena gets to win the one title that he has never won before after Mysterio had the belt for the better part of seven months. It’s not going to be a long reign and Cena can either put someone over or vacate the title (not the best option). This was about giving Cena’s hometown fans one big moment and as a special event, that’s fine given the circumstances.

Post match Cena thanks the fans for letting the champ be here one last time.

Post break Cena gets a big reception in the back, including telling Rey Mysterio that Dominik is a good kid. Cody Rhodes pops up for a handshake and everything is cool with them.

We look back at last week with Logan Paul joining up with the Vision to lay out CM Punk.

Veterans Day video.

Last Time Is Now Tournament First Round: Rusev vs. Damian Priest

Priest is coming in with a bad eye. Rusev is back in the trunks instead of the shorts and he starts fast by hammering Priest down in the corner. Priest’s shot to the face doesn’t get him very far as Rusev spinwheel kicks him right back down. Priest is sent outside and we take a quick break.

We come back with Priest slugging away, including the Broken Arrow for two. Back up and Rusev gets two off a clothesline but Priest is getting fired up. An exchange of kicks goes to Priest, who hits the Old School crossbody. Rusev goes for the banged up eye though and the Machka Kick finishes Priest at 8:49.

Rating: C+. Rusev needed a win to get some momentum back and it’s nice to see someone with some more history with Cena moving forward. Priest has the injury to hold him back a bit so it’s not like he’s getting squashed. He needs a win of his own though, and while it shouldn’t have come here, it should come at some point soon.

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee are looking for some new challengers. Adam Pearce will work on that but for now, do they have a team name? Lee suggests Dragons With Style…but Styles says they’ll work on that. With Styles and Lee gone, Maxxine Dupri comes in to say she’s ready for Becky Lynch. Pearce says the title match is on for next week. With Pearce gone, Lynch pops in to deck Dupri in the face, saying she’ll never be ready.

Commentary plays with the new LJN figures.

Here is CM Punk for a chat. He’s ticked off and wants to call out a douche bag right before he has the chance to interrupt. We’re in Boston so he’s here for a fight with Logan Paul. If Paul has his eyes on Punk’s belt, Punk is going to have his boot on Paul’s neck. Cue Paul, who talks about how he has been hit in the face by Floyd Mayweather Jr., but that was nothing compared to getting hit with the Tsunami last week.

That has opened Paul’s eyes to a whole new Vision, who comes out to join him. Heyman rips into Punk, talking about how Punk could only be more unlikable if his name was AJ Lee. Punk laughs that off, saying AJ would take them all out but he has to do it himself. Cue Jey Uso to even things up a bit and Cody Rhodes joins them as well, with the fans singing Kingdom until the brawl is on. Punk goes after Heyman but Logan makes the save, only to get sent into the barricade. Rhodes chairs Breakker down and Punk gets in a chair shot to Reed’s back. The bad guys are cleared out.

We look at Lash Legend moving up to the main roster on Smackdown to join forces with Nia Jax, who beat Charlotte. Later in the night, Asuka misted Charlotte to make it even worse.

Raw Women’s Title: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Vaquer, with Nikki Bella, is defending and Roxanne Perez is here with Rodriguez. Vaquer gets powered into the corner to start and a shot to the face puts her down again. A rollup gives Vaquer two and she hurricanranas Rodriguez into the ropes. The Devil’s Kiss is blocked though and Rodriguez sends her face first into the buckle, setting up a heck of a clothesline for two.

We take a break and come back with Vaquer sending her outside, followed by some strikes to the head back inside. A high crossbody hits Rodriguez and Vaquer sends her into the corner for the running knees. The SVB is blocked though and Rodriguez runs her over again. The Tejana Bomb is blocked as well though, with Rodriguez being sent into the corner.

More running knees are countered into a powerbomb to give Rodriguez two so Perez tries to interfere. Bella cuts that off, only for Rodriguez to fall away slam Vaquer. The spinning Vader Bomb misses though and it’s the Devi’s Kiss into the corkscrew moonsault to retain the title at 10:33.

Rating: B-. There were a few rocky points here but Vaquer getting to slay a giant is a good thing to see. Vaquer and Bella have been dealing with the Judgment Day for a few weeks now so it makes sense to have Vaquer beat Rodriguez and move on to something else. Unfortunately, that is likely to be Bella and I can’t imagine being less interested in something than that.

Post match Perez jumps Vaquer but gets knocked outside by Bella. Vaquer and Bella pose and Bella does indeed hit her with the belt for the big heel turn, which he fans seem to….like? Or at least respond to quite strongly.

CM Punk, Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes want the Vision and they want them in a certain way. Punk: “REGAL!” Cue William Regal to announce WarGames, with Adam Pearce confirming it.

Last Time Is Now Tournament First Round: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus

Sheamus grabs a headlock to start and powers him out of the corner. The Dublin Smile has Nakamura in more trouble but he tells Sheamus to COME ON. Nakamura ties him in the ropes for the middle rope knee but Sheamus is right back with a slam onto the apron. We take a break and come back with Sheamus hitting a Regal Roll and signaling that he wants the title. Nakamura catches him on top though and it’s a superplex for two.

Some knees to the head rock Sheamus and he seems annoyed by the kicks to the chest. Sheamus tells Nakamura to hit him harder and they slug it out. The Irish Curse has Nakamura in trouble and there are the ten forearms to the chest. The Brogue Kick is countered with a Sling Blade but Sheamus knees him out of the air for two. A super White Noise is countered into a sunset bomb and Nakamura kicks him in the face. Sheamus doesn’t like that though and hits the Brogue Kick for the pin at 10:54.

Rating: B-. Take two hard hitters and give them ten minutes to beat the fire out of each other. Again, Sheamus moving forward makes more sense as he has a deeper history with Cena, including with the Intercontinental Title now a factor. While I can’t imagine Sheamus winning the whole thing, it’s another member of Cena’s rogues gallery being near the final, which is all you need.

We get some more tournament matches announced for next week:

Je’Von Evans vs. Gunther
Solo Sikoa vs. ???

Adam Pearce sees the name but says we’ll just have to see who Sikoa is facing.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors are challenging. It’s a brawl to start with Bliss striking away at Sane to take over. Charlotte tags herself in but misses a big boot, instead settling for a slingshot rollup for two instead. Asuka’s running hip attack misses but Sane tags herself in for a top rope forearm. Sane is sent to the apron though and it’s a big boot to put her on the floor. Bliss misses a dropkick and gets forearmed down as we take a break.

We come back with Bliss hitting a double DDT, allowing Charlotte to come back in with a double high crossbody. Charlotte chops away, followed by a flipping clothesline to put Asuka down. Despite taking forever to set it up, Charlotte hits a moonsault onto both of them for a near fall. The Empress Impact is countered into a suplex but Asuka reverses Natural Selection into the Asuka Lock.

That’s reversed into a rollup for two, only for Sane to pull Bliss to the floor before the tag. Asuka’s cross armbreaker is countered into a Liontamer, which is reversed into a rollup for two. Charlotte boots her down and grabs the Figure Four, with Bliss adding the Sister Abigail DDT to Sane. Cue Nia Jax and Lash Legend to break up the Figure Eight and take out Bliss, leaving Sane to hit the assisted Insane Elbow to pin Charlotte for the titles at 10:15.

Rating: B. I like the ending, as it feels like something of an actual division coming together. You have multiple teams with reasons to dislike each other and that has been missing for a long time now. I’m not sure if I have any reason to believe that it’s going to last, but I’ll take it for a little while at the very least.

Post match Bliss goes after Jax but gets dropped by Jax and Legend. The Warriors get back in for the double beatdown but Iyo Sky runs in for the save as you might as well get William Regal out here already. Legend forearms Sky down though and the big beatdown is on until Rhea Ripley is back for the real save. Sane gets Razor’s Edged down onto the pile and Ripley issues the official WarGames challenge to end the show. Yeah there it is, and it’s better than nothing if we just have to do the match.

Overall Rating: B+. Oh yeah this was more like it, with the focus being a lot tighter this week. They had Cena, the Cena tournament, the Women’s Title stuff and the WarGames matches being set up. It’s quite a bit to put into a show, but they did a really good job of making those things feel important. That’s one of the things that made it feel like an old NXT, as it came off like whatever you’re seeing is the most important thing in the world at the moment. Really solid show this week as we’re getting into some big stuff in the coming weeks.

Results
John Cena b. Dominik Mysterio – Attitude Adjustment
Rusev b. Damian Priest – Machka Kick
Stephanie Vaquer b. Raquel Rodriguez – Corkscrew moonsault
Sheamus b. Shinsuke Nakamura – Brogue Kick
Kabuki Warriors b. Charlotte/Alexa Bliss – Assisted Insane Elbow to Charlotte

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: November 3, 2025
Location: Rio Rancho Events Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

In something we don’t get to say very often, we’re in New Mexico and in this case we have a new World Champion in the form of CM Punk. After defeating Jey Uso to win the vacant title at Saturday Night’s Main Event, it’s time for Punk to get some fresh challengers. Those very well may be coming this week so let’s get to it.

Here is Saturday Night’s Main Event if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of CM Punk winning the title at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Here is Punk to get things going. After his usual intro, Punk is stopped by a YOU DESERVE IT chant, with Punk saying that we’ll get to the difference between “deserved” and “earned”. Punk thanks AJ Lee (with a lot of positive adjectives) before saying the fans deserve it for being by his side. He also thanks Jey Uso for the match and the fight, and he appreciates Uso for being a real main eventer. Yeet. Punk hopes they can still be friends but he gets if they can’t.

Instead, Punk doesn’t know how long he’ll have around here so he’s got to hold onto the title for as long as he can. There is no Seth Rollins with a briefcase coming to steal the title so he does the Rollins spin the title over his head bit. Punk knows there is a target on him and knows that the locker room is waiting on him. He brings up names like Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker before saying he wants to test himself.

That means facing people like AJ Styles, Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, Finn Balor, Sheamus and of course John Cena. Punk knows Cena doesn’t have a long time left but he’s here for a good time, so come try to be an eighteen time World Champion. Cue the returning Logan Paul to interrupt and Punk nearly loses it, with a great “NOT HIM!”.

Punk suggests that Paul go after the US Title on Smackdown (“I hear it’s lovely this time of year.”) before Paul talks about how he’s like a great car. Punk is like an old, beaten up Honda Civic but here is the Vision to interrupt. Heyman isn’t impressed by what he sees in front of him and says Bron Breakker is at the front of the line. Punk has been champion for two days, which is four hundred and thirty two days shy of then they were World Champion together. As for Paul, he needs to get to steppin, but Paul says he was here first so the Vision should have gotten out here faster.

Breakker takes the mic, saying they’ve been waiting for weeks after taking out Seth Rollins and waiting for a new champion to be crowned. Breakker is coming for what belongs to him because Punk is keeping it warm for him. The two of them should get out of the ring before he whips them like a dog. Punk says it’s time to fight so Paul can either fight with him or get out. Naturally Paul goes to leave but is cut off by the Vision, with Breakker shoving him down. The Vision beats Punk down and Paul actually gets in, with Reed crushing him with a Tsunami. Punk comes in with a chair to make the save.

This was a long segment, but it set the stage for where things are at the moment. Punk is the new top star around here (now officially) and he’s going to be a fighting champion, as a good guy should be a lot of the time. That deserves some time to talk and Paul being set up as a challenger is fine, as Punk is going to need someone to come after him until Bron Breakker is really ready.

Nikki Bella/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Judgment Day

Perez backs Bella into the ropes to start so they trade places, with Bella blocking a big slap. Bella works on the arm before Rodriguez comes in to take Bella into the corner. It’s quickly off to Vaquer for the staredown with Rodriguez, who muscles her up for a suplex. Vaquer slips out of that and kicks her in the face, followed by a snap suplex to Perez. Everything breaks down and, after a hip bump, Vaquer and Bella dive off the apron to drop the villains as we take a break.

We come back with Bella getting knocked down and Perez adding a Lionsault. Bella manages to tornado DDT her way out of the corner to drop Rodriguez, allowing the tag off to Vaquer. Rodriguez’s knee is taken out but the STB is blocked. A high crossbody gives Vaquer two and it’s off to Perez, who gets caught in the Devil’s Kiss. Bella hits the Rack Attack 2.0 but Rodriguez makes the save. Vaquer takes Rodriguez to the apron but can’t hit the Devil’s Kiss. Instead Rodriguez drops her onto the apron and hits Bella in the face, setting up Pop Rox to give Perez the pin at 12:46.

Rating: C. Bella’s comeback continues to feel like little more than a thing that is happening, as she feels like a relic of the past. While she’s far from some kind of terrible disaster, she isn’t quite hanging in there that well with the bigger stars. If nothing else, it seems like one of the two villains will be getting a shot at Vaquer sooner than later, which is fairly long overdue.

We look at the announcement of the John Cena The Last Time Is Now tournament for the right to face Cena in his final match.

Adam Pearce has a tumbler to determine some first round matches.

CM Punk runs into Jey Uso, who was thinking about helping Punk earlier. Punk asks if he’s talking to Jey Uso or Little Roman. Uso says they can take care of the Vision tonight and a tag match seems to be set.

Penta vs. El Grande Americano

Rayo and Bravo are here with Grande. Penta snaps off a headscissors to start but Grande cuts off another one with a faceplant. Grande goes after the mask but gets suplexes for two instead. They fight to the apron and strike it out until Grande reverses a Canadian Destroyer with a backdrop and we take a break.

We come back with Penta fighting out of trouble but the Canadian Destroyer is blocked. Instead Penta kicks him in the head for two and they strike it out, with Penta sending him outside. The big flip dive connects but Bravo trips him down, earning an ejection. The distraction lets Rayo load up Grande’s mask but Penta plants him down. Rayo gets caught catching him on top and gets ejected, allowing Penta to hit a big dive. Grande’s diving headbutt is superkicked away and the middle rope Canadian Destroyer finishes Grande at 10:24.

Rating: C+. I’m a bit surprised to see Americano lose, but to be fair the whole story has lost a lot of steam due to Chad Gable being hurt. It was also a lot more fun when the lackeys were more mysterious and just popping up rather than being there all the time, but that’s another story. Either way, good for Penta to get a win, which he has been needing more of lately.

The Kabuki Warriors are tired of the lack of respect for Asuka, who is the true legend. They’re ready to show their dominance over the tag division.

Here is Dominik Mysterio for a chat to quite the reaction. Mysterio brags about his greatness…and Rey Mysterio is back. Rey doesn’t like Dominik calling himself the greatest luchador of all time. What about El Santo? Blue Demon? Or EDDIE GUERRERO? Is Dominik better than they are?

Dominik certainly thinks so, but he knows he’s better than Rey. That’s too far for Rey, who isn’t going to let Dominik disrespect lucha libre. Rey isn’t having this and wants to stand up for lucha libre, saying as long as he’s around, Dominik will not be the greatest ever. The brawl is on and Dominik bails away. Well the match is all but guaranteed and this month’s pay per view is in Rey’s hometown. Yeah that should work.

Lyra Valkyria makes sure everything is ok with Bayley after the Kabuki Warriors attacked Charlotte and Alexa Bliss after last week’s match.

Here is Becky Lynch on the announcers’ table, saying she has a lot to get off her chest. She has been going through a lot in the last few weeks. Her hot husband is injured at home, the Vision has lost their minds, and now she has a crooked referee obsessed with holding her down.

On top of all that though, there’s Maxxine Dupri, who the fans have believing that she’s actually good. Dupri can go train with anyone she wants and it won’t matter because Lynch is just that much better. Lynch goes to leave but runs into the Kabuki Warriors, with Asuka having quite the staredown. A paranoid and near snapping Lynch carrying the feud is a good idea, as the more Dupri is out there, the quicker the charm will wear off.

Kabuki Warriors vs. Lyra Valkyria/Bayley

Asuka takes Valkyria down to start but misses a running kick, allowing Valkyria to nip up. A basement dropkick gives Valkyria two and it’s off to Bayley vs. Sane. Bayley quickly takes over and plants Sane before Valkyria comes in for the near fall. A dive misses though and Asuka suplexes Valkyria on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Bayley getting the tag to clean house, including a Thesz press to hammer on Asuka. The twisting Stunner over the middle rope rocks Asuka again and a middle rope elbow to a standing Asuka’s back gets two. Sane comes back in to knee Bayley off the apron, only to get Bayley To Bellied for two back inside.

A sunset bomb sends Sane into the corner for Valkyria’s guillotine legdrop and a near fall. Sane is able to catch Valkyria on top for a double stomp and Bayley has to make a save. Valkyria is back with a backbreaker so Bayley’s riddle rope elbow can get two, as Asuka makes the save. Asuka takes Bayley down and loads up the reverse DDT but Bayley is back up. Valkyria is rammed into Bayley though and the Asuka Lock finishes Valkyria at 14:07.

Rating: B. They were working hard here and the Warriors get a win on their way towards the Tag Team Title shot. Valkyria and Bayley are a team who work well half the time at best and that was the case here, though it wasn’t their fault for once. I’m curious as to where that’s going, mainly because they’ve dropped the ridiculous multiple personalities deal go away.

Post match Charlotte and Alexa Bliss run in to chase the Warriors off.

JD McDonagh and Finn Balor are ready to get their Tag Team Titles back when Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez come in to give them a pep talk. Dominik Mysterio comes in and complains about Rey Mysterio, with Balor not being happy about Dominik’s lack of focus on what matters. The women won’t listen either and blame Dominik for costing them the titles in the first place.

Tag Team Titles: AJ Styles/Dragon Lee vs. Judgment Day

Styles and Lee are challenging and get jumped to start fast in the corner as Dominik Mysterio, at ringside, approves. Lee gets put on top but he comes back with a high crossbody to put Baylor down. A running hurricanrana over the top pulls McDonagh off the apron, only for Balor to come back with a basement dropkick for two.

We’re already in the chinlock but Lee fights up with a sitout powerbomb. Styles comes in to take over in the corner and hits a big dive to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Lee coming in to clean house until a Sling Blade cuts him off. The shotgun dropkick sets up a missed Coup de Grace so Balor hits a quick Nightmare On Helm Street. Styles comes back in to strike away on McDonagh, who accidentally takes out Dominik Mysterio.

The Coup de Grace hits McDonagh by mistake and it’s a Phenomenal Forearm for two with Balor making the save. Balor and Mysterio stop for a chat, with Mysterio loading up a belt shot. Cue Sheamus to cut that off before Styles can get hit but the distraction lets a shillelagh shot knock Styles sill for two, with Lee making the save. Sheamus beats up Mysterio and Lee hits a big running flip dive to take Balor out. The Styles Clash to McDonagh retains the titles at 10:32.

Rating: B+. Dang I got into that one, as they were going nuts with the near falls and false finishes. Sheamus interfering and going after Mysterio gives me hope that he could try for the Intercontinental Title again, as that is quite the story if we ever get to the title change. On the other hand you have Styles and Lee, who pretty clearly aren’t a long term team, but they’re doing fine for a quick thing as Styles heads out.

Nikki Bella apologizes to Stephanie Vaquer for their loss, as well as Vaquer having to defend against Raquel Rodriguez next week. As usual, this leads to praise of Bella, who continues to be one of the most annoying humans anytime she speaks.

Paul Heyman comes up to see Jey Uso, who was always his favorite member of the Bloodline. That’s why Heyman can’t understand why Uso would ever team with CM Punk. Uso says Punk faced him man to man, which Uso respects. He doesn’t care what anyone says about him but Heyman talks about how it is now open warfare with everyone involving the Vision. Heyman thinks Uso has a vision all of his own, so good luck tonight.

Adam Pearce announces some first round matches for next week in the John Cena tournament:

Rusev vs. Damian Priest
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus

CM Punk/Jey Uso vs. The Vision

Paul Heyman is here with the Vision. Uso strikes away at Reed to start and Punk comes in with a top rope ax handle on the arm. Reed isn’t having that and powers Punk into the corner so Breakker can come in for a rather strong backdrop. It’s back to Uso for a double belly to back suplex to Breakker and a superkick to Reed. The villains are sent outside for a big dive to take them down and we take a break.

We come back with Punk in trouble and Breakker coming in to shoulder him in the corner. Breakker misses a running knee though and crashes out to the floor, only to come back in for a Shatter Machine of all things to Punk. Uso has to make the save, leaving Punk to slip out of a gorilla press and grab a neckbreaker. The tag brings in Uso to go after Reed, including the dancing spit punch. Well slap but close enough. The spear hits Reed, with Breakker making the save this time. Punk’s top rope clothesline hits Breakker, as does a slingshot dive to the floor. Everyone goes outside and it’s a double countout at 10:15.

Rating: B-. In a way I like the result, as you don’t want to have the villains lose but Punk shouldn’t be taking a loss, either directly or indirectly, two days after getting the title back. The action was good enough as well, as Uso continues to feel like a main eventer, though Breakker continues to feel like the future.

Post match the brawl is on and Reed is put on the announcers’ table, only for Breakker to come back with the Super Spear to Uso. Punk makes the save with a chair but the Vision grabs chairs of their own. Cue Logan Paul…who takes Punk out with the brass knuckles and stands tall with the Vision. He even hands the knuckles to Heyman to end the show. Eh I can go with it, as the team is kind of weird without a singles star to go with the tag team.

Overall Rating: B+. This show had a rather good mixture of wrestling and talking, with Punk’s promo setting the stage for where things were going and the Paul stuff at the end being an intriguing move. At the same time, you had the pretty awesome Tag Team Title match and some other entertaining matches included. I’m liking where a lot of this is going, especially with WarGames being visible if you squint hard enough with three and a half weeks left.

Results
Judgment Day b. Nikki Bella/Stephanie Vaquer – Pop Rox to Bella
Penta b. El Grande Americano – Middle rope Canadian Destroyer
Kabuki Warriors b. Lyra Valkyria/Bayley – Asuka Lock to Valkyria
Dragon Lee/AJ Styles b. Judgment Day – Styles Clash to McDonagh
CM Punk/Jey Uso vs. The Vision went to a double countout

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: October 27, 2025
Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

Things are cranking up around here again as we have Saturday Night’s Main Event, surprisingly enough coming up this Saturday. That show is going to feature CM Punk vs. Jey Uso for the vacant World Title, which is more than enough for the Raw side of the card. As for tonight, the Women’s Tag Team Titles are on the line. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Jey Uso winning the battle royal last week, earning himself the right to face CM Punk for the title this weekend.

The title is in the ring and here is Jey Uso for a chat. He talks about how there are two #1 contenders and now it’s time to get the title back. It’s four letters and one word…but here is CM Punk to interrupt. The song ends and Punk runs it back, which doesn’t have Uso looking happy. Punk talks about how they’re friends and he glad to see Uso finally listening to himself for a change. He’s not listening to Jimmy or Roman but that makes it complicated for Punk. See, Punk tries to put himself in his opponent’s shoes but he’s never been in Jey’s place before.

Last week, Jey won the battle royal and Punk knows he has what it takes. How far is Jey willing to go to get the title back? Punk needs the title back as well and on Saturday, Jey is going to be in a situation where YEETing isn’t enough. So how far is he willing to go? Jey talks about how he’s been in the deep waters before and he knows that Punk is going to be trying to make him out to be the bad guy. Well screw Punk and they’ll see each other on Saturday. There was only so much here, as there is only so much of a story, but serious Jey is a good thing.

We look at Judgment Day losing the Tag Team Titles last week.

Dominik Mysterio is worried about facing either Rusev or Penta at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Raquel Rodriguez calls him a serial cheater (Roxanne Perez’s jaw drops) and the rest of the team isn’t listening. Mysterio calls someone and says he needs help.

Rusev vs. Penta

For an Intercontinental Title shot at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Rusev jumps him to start fast but gets sent outside for the big running flip dive. Back in and the threat of a Canadian Destroyer sends Rusev back to the floor, where he knocks Penta over. They get back inside for a running splash to Penta in the corner, only for him to come back with a Backstabber. The first two times outside weren’t enough so they head to the floor again, this time with Penta going face first into the steps.

We take a break and come back with Penta fighting out of a bearhug and kicking Rusev in the face. The slingshot dropkick in the corner connects and Penta kicks him down again for two. Penta goes up but gets kicked out of the air to give Rusev two, with some frustration thrown in as a bonus. The Accolade is countered into the Penta Driver for a VERY close two and they’re both down. Cue all three Grande Americanos to jump them both for the double DQ at 9:56.

Rating: B-. I get what they’re doing here but this is one of the ideas that keeps coming up in wrestling and….dang it I can’t bring myself to hate it. At the end of the day, it takes an incredibly dumb heel to make this happen over and over and, well, Mysterio fits the description. It sets up the match well enough and as dumb as it is, it makes sense for Mysterio to think this would work.

Post match Rusev isn’t happy and clears out Americano’s goons, but they’re able to save him from the Canadian Destroyer. Penta and Rusev stare at each other.

LA Knight talks about how he came up short last week and it’s hard to keep the drive going. He doesn’t have the title around his waist right now but CM Punk and Jey Uso are on the way to Saturday Night’s Main Event. Sometimes he gets used to doing the hard thing because he doesn’t know how to quit. He’s coming for whomever wins on Saturday and he’ll have the title around his waist when he’s asked about it next time.

Bron Breakker thinks he and Bronson Reed should have been in the battle royal last week and want an explanation from Paul Heyman. After thinking for a bit, Heyman says the two of them wrecking everyone in the battle royal would have left Adam Pearce hating them. Instead, they should take out the one other man who wants the World Title (unnamed) and after he’s gone, the path to the title is clear. Breakker wants Heyman to get a match with that person….but Heyman has already done that. And of course it’s LA Knight.

We look back at ten years of Asuka on the main roster, with a slow and quiet version of her theme song in the background, which makes it sound rather creepy.

Judgment Day comes up to Adam Pearce and want a rematch for the Tag Team Titles. Balor is a bit calmer than McDonagh but Pearce says they’re already busy tonight. One of them gets to fight Sheamus tonight and Pearce lets them pick. McDonagh says he’ll do it (Balor looks surprised) and Balor says after that, they can come after the Tag Team Titles.

Nikki Bella vs. Roxanne Perez

Raquel Rodriguez is here too. Bella grabs a quick sunset flip for two and then slaps Perez in the face, which means we need to pause for a second. Back up and a dropkick staggers Perez again but she pulls Bella down and hammers away. Bella fights back until Rodriguez gets in a cheap shot to cut her off.

We take a break and come back with Perez getting two off a Lionsault and hammering away. Perez even mocks the pushups, which brings Bella back with some forearms of her own. A double faceplant leaves them both down and Bella is up first, with Perez having to block the Rack Attack 2.0. Bella escapes a sleeper and spinebusters her for two but Rodriguez offers a distraction. Perez gets caught with her feet on the ropes before avoiding a charge into the corner. Pop Rox gives Perez the pin at 11:17.

Rating: C+. I’m trying to care about having Bella back but it’s just not clicking. She feels like a relic of the past and a lot of what she does in the ring really doesn’t work very well. It’s not that she’s bad but it doesn’t feel important to have her out there. Maybe it works as a one off, but having her around full time is a bit hard to care about week after week.

Post match Rodriguez drops Bella again until Stephanie Vaquer makes the save. Vaquer and Rodriguez stare at each other with Bella popping up behind them. The villains leave.

We look at Bayley challenging Alexa Bliss and Charlotte for the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Lyra Valkyria runs into the Kabuki Warriors, with Asuka yelling about how Valkyria and Bayley have a title shot. The Warriors leave and Bayley pops in with a matching jacket for Valkyria. Bayley asks what if they lose but Valkyria asks what if they win. They even get a handshake down.

Jey Uso runs into Jimmy Uso, who isn’t happy with Jey throwing him out of the battle royal last week. Jimmy thinks Jey might have been worried about him and threw him out as a result.

LA Knight vs. Bron Breakker

Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman are here with Breakker. Knight gets driven into the corner to start but fights his way out, setting up some right hands in the corner. Breakker runs him over with a heck of a clothesline but Knight is back with a high crossbody. Knight gets two off a sunset flip and stomps him down in the corner, followed by a running knee.

We take a break and come back with Breakker hitting a running knee before suplexing Knight over the top for a big crash. A big running shoulder drops Knight on the floor and we hit the chinlock back inside. Knight fights up and slugs away before the jumping neckbreaker puts Breakker down. There’s the powerslam and a jumping elbow to Breakker so Knight goes up.

Breakker’s attempt at a super Frankensteiner doesn’t work as he crashes down instead (ouch). With Breakker ok, he goes up top, where Knight jumps to the top for the superplex. Reed offers a distraction but Breakker misses a charge into the post. They go outside with Knight sending him into the announcers’ table, followed by the reverse DDT back inside. Knight goes up but Breakker nips up and, after Knight jumps over him, the Super Spear finishes for Breakker at 13:35.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a match and I got way into what they were doing. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end but what matters the most is Breakker’s rise to the top continues. There is a good reason to believe that he’ll be World Champion soon enough and racking up wins like this will only help him. Knight was doing well out there too and it made for a pretty awesome fight.

Adam Pearce finds Dominik Mysterio with the Grande Americanos. Believe it or not, it’s a triple threat at Saturday Night’s Main Event with Penta and Rusev. Mysterio: “No hablo ingles?”

Jimmy Uso runs into Jey Uso, who seems to apologize for throwing him out of the battle royal last week. Everything seems ok.

JD McDonagh vs. Sheamus

Finn Balor is here with McDonagh. Sheamus takes him into the corner and pounds away with the forearms to the back. A big backdrop takes McDonagh down and we get the Dublin Smile. McDonagh gets in a shot of his own and walks over Sheamus’ back, earning himself a clothesline to the floor. Balor breaks up the ten forearms so Sheamus clotheslines both of them off the apron.

We take a break and come back with Sheamus fighting out of a chinlock but McDonagh sends him outside for an Asai moonsault. Back in and McDonagh hits a 450 for two and it’s time for Sheamus to fight up. The Irish Curse plants McDonagh and now the ten forearms connect. The Brogue Kick is cut off by a running knee but Sheamus is right back with the High Cross. Balor puts the foot on the rope though and it’s time for Sheamus to go after him. McDonagh’s save attempt is sent crashing into the barricade but Balor gets in a shillelagh shot. That’s enough for McDonagh to hit a super Spanish Fly for the pin at 13:39.

Rating: B. Another good match here, which is always fun to see. Sheamus has been around for a long time but when he is given the chance, he can more than hang with anyone. That’s what we got here, with McDonagh looking rather awesome in his own right. The finish looked great too, as it’s nice for a smaller wrestler to not use a 450 or frog splash or something similar for a change.

We look at Becky Lynch losing to Maxxine Dupri via DQ last week.

Dupri is ready to get her title shot, but first she wants to talk to a friend and make sure she’s in the right place. Adam Pearce says it’s official…eventually.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are ready to retain the Women’s Tag Team Titles. The Kabuki Warriors interrupt and accuse Charlotte of being evil. Charlotte says she has changed and they would love to give the Warriors a title shot. Kairi Sane whips out a threatening umbrella until Asuka calls her off.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Dragon Lee and AJ Styles are with Adam Pearce when Judgment Day interrupt. They want their rematch for the titles and the champs agree, with the match being set for next week.

A poker chip spins around and reveals “2026”. Ok then.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley/Lyra Valkyria

Bliss and Charlotte are defending with Bliss grabbing an early headlock on Bayley. Charlotte comes in for a clothesline so it’s off to Valkyria for an exchange of wristlocks. Bayley’s distraction doesn’t work and Charlotte kicks her in the face as the Fireflies are out. Valkyria kicks Charlotte outside though and a dropkick through the ropes puts her down as we take a break.

We come back with Valkyria grabbing a rocking horse on Bliss before handing it off to Bayley. A G9 gets two but Bliss is back with a double DDT. That’s enough for the tag back to Charlotte, who comes in with a great looking high crossbody. A clothesline and fall away slam drop Valkyria and Bayley is thrown next to her. The moonsault his both of them for two on Valkyria but Bayley is back up with a Bayley To Belly for two.

Bliss comes in off a blind tag and gets two off the Sister Abigail DDT, with Bayley making a last second save. Valkyria pulls Bliss out of the air for Nightwing and we seem to have a wardrobe issue (or something went wrong, with Bliss looking like she was helping Valkyria with an issue). Charlotte kicks Bayley in the head and grabs the Figure Eight (without the leg going over Bayley’s horizontal leg but oh well). Valkyria grabs Bayley’s hand to block the tap (why Bayley can’t tap with the other hand isn’t clear) but Bliss is in with the Twisted Bliss. Stereo Natural Selections retain the titles at 13:11.

Rating: B+. They were rolling near the end there and they’ve got something with Charlotte and Bliss as champions. What matters the most is that they feel like the big stars in the division. That’s what the division has been needing for a long time now and unfortunately this likely means one of them is going to be stricken with malaria in the next week or two. For now though, at least they had another awesome match, which tends to be their style.

Post match the replays are broken up by the Kabuki Warriors running in to jump the champs. Bayley protects Valkyria and the Warriors bail.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a show where the best parts were what took place in the ring, as a lot of the storytelling aspects were only so good. You can tell that the Seth Rollins injury messed things up a lot, as there isn’t much of a personal issue between Punk and Uso. Other than that, it feels like they’re trying to get through Saturday and then move on to everything else, which makes sense given how fast the big story had to be set up. The wrestling carried this show rather far tonight though, and that’s a great way to spend a Monday night.

Results
Rusev vs. Penta went to a double DQ when Los Grande Americanos interfered
Bron Breakker b. LA Knight – Super Spear
Roxanne Perez b. Nikki Bella – Pop Rox
JD McDonagh b. Sheamus – Super Spanish Fly
Charlotte/Alexa Bliss b. Bayley/Lyra Valkyria – Double pin

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: September 22, 2025
Location: Ford Center, Evansville, Indiana
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We are done with Wrestlepalooza and it was certainly a big time event. The big story on the Raw side saw CM Punk and AJ Lee defeat Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, plus Stephanie Vaquer becoming the new Raw Women’s Champion. We’re on our way to Crown Jewel, meaning it’s time to do the champion vs. champion deal again. Let’s get to it.

Here is Wrestlepalooza if you need a recap.

We open with a long Wrestlepalooza recap.

Here is Cody Rhodes to get things going. He holds up the Crown Jewel ring and says he’d love to win another one but here is Seth Rollins to interrupt. Rollins has been looking forward to Crown Jewel so they can go face to face. Rollins knows a lot of people don’t like him but he wants to know what Rhodes things of him. Rhodes says it’s complicated but it shouldn’t be. He knows that Rollins has been making some questionable decisions as of late but he respects Rollins.

Rhodes is ready to win another ring, but Rollins holds up his watch, which was a present from Rhodes after Wrestlemania XL. This is the first time he’s worn it since then and now he wants to know if it was a real gift or a token gesture. Rhodes has talked about being the quarterback around here but what does that make Rollins? Does Rhodes think he’s just better?

The Vision is about the future of the industry and what it means, with Rollins as the tip of the spear. Rhodes can be the quarterback, but he’s Rollins’ quarterback. If Rhodes doesn’t accept that, things will go badly. Rhodes brings up that Rollins has never beaten him and leaves, with Rollins not looking happy. The Vision is there to cut Rhodes off, but they step aside. I always forget how boring this period is and this was no exception, as it’s for a prize that means nothing and which will not be mentioned for most of the year.

Jimmy Uso comes up to Jey Uso in the back and is looking for a rematch with the Vision, but Jey has already got a match tonight with LA Knight. Jimmy isn’t sure if that’s a good idea and thinks Jey and Knight should cool off, but Jey blames their loss at Wrestlepalooza on Knight. And the Vision would have taken Knight out if Jimmy hadn’t tagged with him last week. Jey says he isn’t blaming Jimmy and they’ll deal with the Vision after Knight.

New Day/Grayson Waller vs. War Raiders/Penta

No DQ. New Day and Waller are sent to the floor to start but they move before the dive. Back in and Kingston takes over on Erik, with Waller coming in with a kendo stick shot. Erik drops Waller on the floor so Woods slaps him in the back of the head. Erik: “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?” Penta is back up with the big flip dive and we take a break.

We come back with Penta clearing the ring but being put on a table. Kingston goes up and drops down onto Penta (which the camera misses so we have to see it on the replay), leaving them both down. Back in and Erik powerbombs New Day at the same time, leaving Ivar to miss the Doomsault. Ivar is fine enough to hit a sitout powerbomb onto the apron but Woods is there with a kendo stick. Penta is back up and Kingston goes through the table but Waller catches Penta on top. That’s fine with Penta, who hits a super Canadian Destroyer for the pin at 10:17.

Rating: B-. I liked it well enough, though this story continues to feel ice cold. They’re still doing things, but it feels like something that has been going on for a long time now with nothing really happening. That is probably going to be the case for a few more weeks and I’m not sure where it goes from there. At least Penta gets another win, which is a nice thing to see.

Dominik Mysterio is panicking over Rusev but Finn Balor asks about the Mysterio who was all confident. Balor suggests asking El Grande Americano, but he’s not here this week. Balor and JD McDonagh are both busy, though Roxanne Perez talks McDonagh into helping him. It’s for the team though, not for Mysterio. Apparently Mysterio has already gotten McDonagh vs. Rusev set for later.

Bayley (in a jacket that CM Punk wore at Wrestlepalooza) comes up to Lyra Valkyria and thanks her for last week. Valkyria brings up Bayley screaming at her last week but Bayley thinks she’s joking. She wants Valkyria in her corner tonight and a confused Valkyria eventually agrees. Bayley: “NO TAKEBACKS!”

Adam Pearce brings out Stephanie Vaquer for her first comments as Women’s Champion. Vaquer thanks the people who helped her get here, including her father, who is in the crowd. She talks about what the title means and all the sacrifices she has made to get here. Pearce explains the Crown Jewel match coming up, with Vaquer saying she’ll be there. Well, that certainly was an appearance by the new champion.

Video on Brock Lesnar destroying John Cena.

Nikki Bella and Rhea Ripley congratulate Stephanie Vaquer on her win, but the Kabuki Warriors interrupt. Asuka isn’t impressed with Vaquer and seems to get a match with Ripley. Of note: there are three people in the back working on something and not acknowledging this whatsoever. They don’t mean anything, but it’s still a funny visual.

Roxanne Perez vs. Bayley

Raquel Rodriguez and Lyra Valkyria are here too. Perez hammers away in the corner to start but Bayley is right back with her own knockdown. The basement clothesline gives Bayley two but Perez starts in on the leg. Bayley gets tied in the Tree Of Woe for a stomp to said leg and we take a break.

We come back with Bayley dropping a middle rope elbow but getting caught on top. They head outside with Perez hitting Pop Rox to lay Bayley out, which is good for a nine count. Rodriguez pulls Bayley outside for a big boot, which draws Valkyria (with her massive blue shoes) over for the brawl. Valkyria posts Rodriguez but gets dropped with a suicide dive from Perez. Back in and Bayley starts to snap, and it’s the Bayley To Belly into the Roseplant for the pin at 10:46.

Rating: B-. This was another good one as Bayley continues to be a bit loony but the good thing is I’m curious to see where it goes. They aren’t exactly hiding what she’s doing and it isn’t some mystery deal, so now we get to see what happens as Valkyria tries to make sense of the thing. Perez is still a valuable asset to have around, as she can work well with anyone in the ring and that’s very good to have around.

Post match Valkyria goes in to celebrate with Bayley, who shoves her down and yells a lot as the split personalities are all over the place.

Cody Rhodes runs into Jimmy Uso, who wants him to talk to Jey. Rhodes will see what he can do.

Post break Rhodes goes to see Jey, who insists that he’s good. Rhodes says he knows what it can be like to fall off the top and says Jey’s family and friends are there for him. Jey thanks him for that but glares a bit as Rhodes leaves. That’s intriguing, as Jey continues to tease going to the dark side.

JD McDonagh vs. Rusev

McDonagh throws some chops in the start and gets knocked back as a result. Rusev chases him outside and then hits a big backdrop before they go to the floor again. This time McDonagh manages to send him into the steps and post, followed by the Asai moonsault. We take a break and come back with McDonagh hitting a jawbreaker into a slingshot corkscrew dive. A running knee drops Rusev and a nice moonsault gives McDonagh two. Rusev pops up and shrugs off the offense, setting up the Machka Kick. The Accolade makes McDonagh tap at 10:34.

Rating: C+. McDonagh wrestling as the straight up good guy is a weird thing to see but what matters is that this should set up Rusev for the title match. Rusev needs something to do and now we get to see how Mysterio gets to escape, assuming he can. That’s in addition to the big Finn Balor factor, as he’s hardly happy with everything Mysterio is doing.

Post match Mysterio stands there while Rusev keeps the hold on so Finn Balor makes the save.

Iyo Sky tries to talk Asuka out of the match with Rhea Ripley but Asuka is doing it anyway. Sky wants Kairi Sane to talk to her about it but Sane says Asuka is why they’re here so they must listen to her.

LA Knight talks about trying to keep order on Saturday and if Jey Uso needs help with that, it can be a BFT tonight.

Jey Uso vs. LA Knight

Uso slugs away to start and elbows him in the face to put Knight down. A charge misses in the corner though and Knight hits the jumping neckbreaker. Knight low bridges him to the floor but misses a dropkick through the ropes, allowing Uso to hit a clothesline as we take a break. We come back with Knight hitting a superplex but Uso fights back.

Uso avoids a Burning Hammer and blocking a jumping neckbreaker to send Knight outside. The suicide dive connects and a superkick gives Uso two. Knight knocks him back down and hits the top rope elbow but cue the Vision, with Knight having to take them out. The distraction lets Uso hit a spear into the Superfly Splash for the pin at 8:40.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time to make this work but the ending is likely going to keep things going in a few ways. Jey vs. Knight is already a story and you have the Usos vs. the Vision at the same time. There is a good chance that those stories are going to cross soon enough and then we get to see where it goes in Australia.

Post match Jey leaves but gets cut off by Jimmy Uso, who wants to go after the Vision. Jimmy goes to the ring by himself with a chair, with Paul Heyman calling the team off.

Becky Lynch is venting about Cody Rhodes but Seth Rollins doesn’t really listen. She doesn’t like what Rhodes has been saying about her, including calling her lovely. Rollins keeps looking at the watch as Lynch keeps going, eventually promising to make an example out of Rhodes.

Iyo Sky comes up to Rhea Ripley, who is sorry for the loss at Wrestlepalooza. Sky wants her to be careful around Asuka, with Sky saying Asuka is family.

We look at Stephanie McMahon being announced for the Hall Of Fame. Yeah fair enough.

Video on Los Grande Americanos, who are back after being believed to be gone. They will take over WWE.

Maxxine Dupri asks Adam Pearce for a match. Pearce says he’ll think about it, but AJ Styles and Dragon Lee come in to say they want to deal with the Americanos. Pearce is in on this one.

Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley

Kairi Sane is here too. Asuka kicks at the leg to start but gets dropped with a nasty German suplex. We take an early break and come back with Asuka sending her to the apron and hitting a dragon screw legwhip. Ripley fires off some clotheslines and a belly to back faceplant, followed by a running dropkick. A northern lights suplex gives Ripley two but Asuka goes back to the knee. Ripley boots her out to the floor though and hits a running flip dive as we take another break.

We come back with Ripley fighting out of an ankle lock. Ripley puts her on top for a superplex and the big crash leaves them both down. Back up and Ripley kicks her in the face and hits a Razor’s Edge toss, followed by a hard knee for two. Asuka gets back up and strikes her out to the floor with a big kick to the head. Sane teases getting involved and Asuka tells her to do it, where Sane teases some cheating but doesn’t do it.

Instead Asuka sends Ripley into the announcers’ table and counters a kick to the head with a kneebar back inside. Asuka lets that go and grabs a German suplex before heading up top. Ripley dropkicks her out of the air (that looked great) heads up top, only to jump into a dropkick (that looked great). Sane teases interfering but gets knocked down, leaving Ripley to roll Asuka up for the pin at 17:14.

Rating: B+. This was a hard hitting, back and forth match between two women who can work very well together. It was turning into a question of how they were going to have one of them lose. The idea here seems to be Asuka using her authority over Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane and now we’ll get to see where that goes. What matters here though is that it’s a rather awesome main event and Ripley gets a big win, which she has been needing.

Post match Asuka blows blue mist into Ripley’s face. Sane eventually helps with the beatdown but Iyo Sky runs in to try and calm things down. Asuka kicks Sane down and orders Sane to attack, which she does. The Empress Impact drops Ripley and Sane gives Sky an Insane Elbow (against her will) to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. I liked a lot of the wrestling here, with the main event being a highlight, but at the same time egads the Crown Jewel stuff is already dragging the show down. It feels so unimportant and there is almost no way around the whole issue. Hopefully the rest of the card carries the slack, as otherwise we could be in for a very long few weeks on the way to the pay per view.

Results
Penta/War Raiders b. New Day/Grayson Waller – Super Canadian Destroyer to Waller
Bayley b. Roxanne Perez – Roseplant
Rusev b. JD McDonagh – Accolade
Jey Uso b. LA Knight – Superfly Splash
Rhea Ripley b. Asuka – Small package

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: September 1, 2025
Location: La Defense Arena, Paris, France
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Michael Cole

We’re still in Paris after yesterday’s Clash and that means it’s time to start the build towards Wrestlepalooza. While you can pretty much pencil in the John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar showdown, they’re going to need something else to fill in the gaps. With less than three weeks before the show, those gaps can be filled starting this week so let’s get to it.

Here is Clash In Paris if you need a recap.

We still have the awesome Eiffel Tower set.

Long Clash In Paris recap.

CM Punk is waiting for Seth Rollins to arrive after getting screwed out of the title. Adam Pearce is fine with it.

Here is Jey Uso to get things going. Uso isn’t happy and says he isn’t going to run it back tonight. He has some medical tape around his waist but he is running last night back. The Vision attacked both he and Roman Reigns and you never put your hands on his family. Uso wants the Vision out here right now but gets LA Knight instead. Knight says he should be the World Heavyweight Champion but instead he stands here a loser, just like Uso.

Some people claim that Uso lives in his cousin’s shadow. Knight doesn’t know anything about that, but Seth Rollins lives in his wife’s shadow. They could have taken Rollins out last night and the three challengers could have fought it out, but Uso screwed that up because he doesn’t understand. Knight is sick and tired of being left laying and not being World Heavyweight Champion. If Uso doesn’t get that, Knight can get him up to speed real quick.

Cue Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker to interrupt with Knight being ready to go. Breakker says that the only thing we should be concerned about is Paul Heyman’s health after Roman Reigns choked him out. The fans chant for Reigns but Breakker says it means that Heyman isn’t here to tell them what to do. Reed brags about the beating they gave Reigns because the vision didn’t include him. It doesn’t include Knight and Uso either, so they’re next. Knight says he and Uso can do this later so the tag match seems set for tonight.

We recap the issues between Iyo Sky and the Kabuki Warriors.

Sky tries to make peace with the Warriors and….it seems to work.

Judgment Day vs. Kabuki Warriors

Asuka and Perez start things off with Asuka knocking her to the floor. It’s already off to Rodriguez, who gets pulled into a quick choke. The Octopus hold is quickly escaped so it’s off to Sane for some double kicks. The choke over the ropes has Rodriguez in more trouble and it’s back to Perez, who gets taken down with a headscissors. That’s broken up though and Perez takes Sane outside for a whip into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Perez splashing Sane in the corner. That’s broken up and it’s back to Asuka to strike away until Rodriguez hits a clothesline. Perez adds a spinning knee to the back of the head before Sane and Rodriguez fight to the floor. The Asuka Lock is countered into a rollup for two before Asuka hip attacks Rodriguez back outside. Perez can’t hit Pop Rox and they seem to get a bit lost, with Asuka’s spinwheel kick barely making contact. The Asuka Lock finishes Perez at 10:40.

Rating: B-. I’m wondering if something went wrong in the end there because the match was sharp for the first ten minutes and then absolutely fell apart at the end. It wouldn’t surprise me if Perez was hurt as she was stumbling a bit before the weird spinwheel kick. Either way, good match otherwise and if someone was hurt at the end, the last few moments are more than excusable.

Adam Pearce announces that it’s Stephanie Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky for the title in three weeks at Wrestlepalooza.

Finn Balor vs. Dragon Lee

JD McDonagh is here with Balor. The fans are rather into this as Balor takes him down by the arm to start. Balor drops him with an elbow to the face but Lee is back with a springboard wristdrag out of the corner. The slingshot dropkick gets two and Balor is sent to the floor for the running flip dive as we take a break. We come back with Lee fighting out of a headlock and kicking Balor in the face. The sitout powerbomb gives Lee two but Balor pulls him off the top. The Coup de Grace finishes Lee at 9:48.

Rating: B-. Pretty simple and to the point here with Balor getting a nice reception. I’m not sure what he is going to be doing anytime soon, save for maybe feuding with Dominik Mysterio, but at least he’s still that smooth in the ring. On the other hand you have Lee, who has sunk incredibly far at a remarkable rate. I’m not sure if it was the unrealistic expectations or the pressure on him, but it hasn’t worked to say the least.

Nikki Bella meets Iyo Sky but the Kabuki Warriors interrupt. Bella isn’t pleased and leaves, with the Warriors saying they helped Sky win at Summerslam so they’ll see her at Wrestlepalooza. Sky doesn’t seem happy.

Dominik Mysterio wants Judgment Day to help him against AJ Styles but Adam Pearce bans them from ringside.

New Day/Grayson Waller vs. War Raiders/Penta

Penta sends Waller and Kingston to the apron to start but it’s too early to Canadian Destroy Woods. The Raiders take the villains down on the floor and Penta adds a dive as we take a break. We come back with Erik in trouble and Woods getting to strut a bit. Erik fights his way out of trouble and brings Ivar in to fire off the seated splashes in the corner. Waller avoids one of said splashes though and everything breaks down. Waller tries his rolling Stunner and gets knocked silly. A belly to back suplex/splash combination crushes Woods and the Canadian Destroyer finishes at 8:48.

Rating: C+. New Day and the Raiders just feel like they’re nothing at this point, even with New Day’s rather funny heel antics. There is no heat for either team and they come and go (when the Raiders are actually around that is) without much changing. It’s nice to see Penta win, but this was a pretty cold match for some prominent names.

Rhea Ripley wants the Women’s Title back but the Kabuki Warriors interrupt. They don’t want her around Iyo Sky but Ripley doesn’t get what’s so bad about it. Asuka says stay away from Sky and repeats her name before pushing Ripley. That doesn’t work for Ripley but Asuka leaves, even as Kairi Sane isn’t sure what to do.

Roxanne Perez asks Adam Pearce why she’s not in the Wrestlepalooza title match. Pearce points out that she and Raquel Rodriguez just lost but he’ll think about it after Wrestlepalooza. Lyra Valkyria comes in and gets into an argument with Rodriguez and Perez. Judgment Day leaves and Pearce tells Valkyria that Bayley will be back soon. Valkyria: “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?” She wants a match with Judgment Day so Pearce makes it for next week. Uncertain hand gestures ensue.

Intercontinental Title: AJ Styles vs. Dominik Mysterio

Styles is challenging and gets a crazy strong reception. Strong enough that it’s STILL GOING after a break, with Styles just soaking it in. Mysterio jumps him to start and the bell rings, with Styles fighting back to send Mysterio outside. The big dive connects and we take an early break.

We come back with Styles striking away, including the sliding forearm to set up the fireman’s carry backbreaker for two. A headscissors out of the corner sends Styles to the floor and Mysterio drops him with a baseball slide. Mysterio’s hurricanrana is countered into a powerbomb onto the announcers’ table though and we take another break. We come back again with an exchange of forearms until Styles grabs a neckbreaker for two.

The Styles Clash is countered into the Mullet O Matic (oh that’s amazing) for two and Styles is sent into the post. The Michinoku Driver gives Mysterio two more and the Three Amigos into the frog splash gets the same. Back up and a quick Styles Clash connects but Mysterio gets a boot on the rope. The Phenomenal Forearm is loaded up but cue El Grande Americano with the loaded headbutt to the ribs. Mysterio drops the frog splash to retain at 16:05.

Rating: B. Odds are this moves us into Styles vs. Americano, which is an interesting change of pace. At the same time, Mysterio is going to need a fresh challenger and there are more than a few names available. For now though, Mysterio outsmarts the veteran again, which is a pretty nice accomplishment. Not as nice as that ovation Styles received, but still good.

We look back at Roman Reigns beating Bronson Reed last night but getting laid out by the Vision after the match.

LA Knight is ready to do whatever it takes to get the World Heavyweight Title. If that means going through Jey Uso, so be it. Cue Uso, who says they’ll make this work and loads up the catchphrase, but Knight says the four letters, one word is YEAH.

Rhea Ripley is with CM Punk in the back but Adam Pearce comes in to say Seth Rollins is in the building. Pearce doesn’t know how, but Punk is going to go handle him. Pearce: “And what does that mean?”

Video on Rusev, who is happy with his win with his win over Sheamus.

Here is CM Punk for a chat. He wants Seth Rollins out here right now and gets Rollins…….’ wife. Becky Lynch says she might not be the man Punk was looking for but she’s the man he’s dealing with her. Punk says he’s not doing this and wants Rollins out here but Lynch isn’t going to let him leave. Lynch has heard Punk berate Rollins, who is the greatest man she has ever known.

Punk calls Rollins a coward, but Lynch says that Rollins is everything Punk isn’t. Lynch: “He’s hot, he’s jacked.” Punk: “You’re delusional.” Lynch: “He doesn’t interrupt me.” Punk isn’t the voice of the voiceless but the poster child of apathy. These people didn’t get her to the main event of Wrestlemania because she did it herself. She goes on about how she and her husband are in the middle of a revolution.

Rollins is a visionary, a revolutionary (Punk covers his ears) and she’s the greatest ever so Punk needs to get out of the ring. The fans chant for AJ Lee and Lynch has to remind them that AJ doesn’t work here. Punk doesn’t think much of that but reminds her that 30,000 people think he’s the best in the world. They chant his name no matter where he is or what he does but he didn’t see Lynch and Rollins on all of the recent live events. Rollins hides behind everyone, including his wife, who may be the Man but she married a bum.

Cue Rollins on the stage so Punk goes around Lynch, with Rollins leaving. Lynch gets in a heck of a slap and then slaps him in the shoulders a bunch before calling Punk pathetic. Punk promises to make her regret that and leaves, with Lynch says she already does because of all the grease on her hands. Lynch mocks Punk as he leaves but Punk can’t bring himself to do anything about it and storms off. This was very good as Lynch can hang with Punk on the mic, but dang they better deliver AJ Lee after all this, as no one, even Rhea Ripley, would feel as important.

Post break Punk is leaving but gets cut off by Adam Pearce. Rollins has left but Punk asks where Smackdown is this week. That would be….Chicago, and Punk is very pleased. Pearce, not so much.

Jey Uso/LA Knight vs. Bronson Reed/Bron Breakker

It’s a brawl to start with Reed dropping Knight with a headbutt. Breakker works on Uso’s bad ribs and we take an early break. We come back with the ribs still in trouble but Uso gets over for the tag to Knight. House is cleaned until Breakker offers a distraction, with Knight being sent outside for a whip into the steps. The fans chant for Reigns as Knight is taken back inside for an overhead belly to belly.

Knight fights up but Breakker pulls him down into the chinlock. Back up and Reed charges into an elbow in the corner, allowing Knight to knock him down. Uso comes back in to clean house, including the running Umaga Attack to Breakker. The spear drops Breakker again but the Superfly Splash is broken up. Reed takes Knight down on the floor and Uso comes back in, where Breakker gives him the Super Spear for the pin at 14:01.

Rating: B-. There is something fun about watching monsters like Breakker and Reed run through people like Uso and Knight. Breakker and Uso have put together a nice rivalry and it fits to see Breakker pin him again. The vision is getting to be more dominant and I’m not sure who is next to come after them, though Roman Reigns will be back in a few months, likely for WarGames.

Post match the beatdown is on again, with Knight’s save being cut off by a Super Spear. Another one drops Uso and the Tsunami connects but Jimmy Uso runs in with a chair for the save. Usos vs. Breakker/Reed works for me.

Overall Rating: B. The crowd helped carry this one and the talking segments were just as good to back up some solid enough wrestling. There are different directions possible for the bigger stories, but Punk vs. Rollins (hopefully only one more time) and Usos vs. Reed/Breakker should be great. Throw in the possibility of AJ Lee coming back to a massive reaction to face Lynch and it’s all the more interesting. Good show here, with the crowd being their usual awesome selves.

Results
Kabuki Warriors b. Judgment Day – Asuka Lock to Perez
Finn Balor b. Dragon Lee – Coup de Grace
Penta/War Raiders b. New Day/Grayson Waller – Canadian Destroyer to Woods
Dominik Mysterio b. AJ Styles – Frog splash
Bron Breakker/Bronson Reed b. Jey Uso/LA Knight – Super Spear to Uso

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Clash In Paris 2025
Date: August 31, 2025
Location: Paris La Defense Arena, Paris, France
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re overseas again and that means it’s time for one heck of a hot crowd. If last year’s show in France is any indication, this could be something rather special. The show is big enough with the Raw World Title on the line in a four way, plus John Cena vs. Logan Paul in what could be an awesome showdown. Let’s get to it.

The opening video focuses on the idea of big moments, with the Starry Night motif for quite the unique style.

The set is rather awesome with the Eiffel Tower in the middle and more of the Starry Night look. That’s great.

Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed

Paul Heyman is here with Reed and they’re fighting over stolen shoes. The fans sing for Reigns to continue a rather cool trend around here. They stare at each other for a LONG time to start, with the lockup not taking place until over two minutes into the match. That goes nowhere so Reigns tries some running shoulders, which go nowhere. Reed tries to run the ropes but gets caught with an uppercut, allowing Reigns to knock him into the corner for some right hands (with the fans sounding like they’re counting in English).

Reigns loads up the Samoan drop and that’s just not going to work on someone’s Reed’s size. They go outside with Reed hitting a shoulder off the apron. Reigns manages a posting and loads up the announcers’ table, which takes a bit too long. A World’s Strongest Slam crushes Reigns and Reed hammers away back inside. The neck crank goes on followed by a chinlock until Reigns fights up, only to get knocked back down.

Reed slowly hammers away even more until Reigns makes another comeback and knocks him outside. The apron boot to the face connects and Reigns sends him into the post a few times. Back in and Reed plants him with a release Rock Bottom into a backsplash and things slow back down. The Death Valley Driver gives Reed two but he can’t hit a piledriver. Reigns is knocked outside, where he cuts off a dive with a Superman Punch.

Back in and another Superman Punch gets two but the spear is cut off and Reed knocks him outside for the suicide dive. The Tsunami misses though and Reigns tries another spear, which is countered into one heck of a sitout powerbomb for two. The Tsunami is loaded up again but Reigns is right there with a super Samoan drop. Now the spear can connect for the pin at 22:07.

Rating: B. This is one of those concepts that isn’t hard to figure out, as it was a pair of monsters beating on each other until one of them couldn’t get up. At the same time, it’s proof of how simple a wrestling story can be. In short, they were fighting over SHOES, but it turned into a personal feud where they beat the living daylights out of each other. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.

Post match Reigns gets his shoes back and Heyman realizes he’s in BIG trouble. Heyman tries to acknowledge his Tribal Chief but gets guillotined for his efforts. Reigns signs the shoes and throws them into the crowd for a nice touch. As he’s doing that though, Bron Breakker pops up to spear him off the table in an awesome visual. Reigns is slowly taken out, allowing Breakker to run down the aisle and spear him again. That’s enough for Reigns to be put on a stretcher, which allows Reed to hit a Tsunami.

Cue Jey Uso for the attempted save but Breakker spears him down again, with Reed hitting ANOTHER Tsunami, even splitting the security and agents in a heck of a visual. The stretcher is able to get Reigns out after quite the lengthy segment to get Reigns off WWE TV for the sake of Street Fighter.

Jelly Roll is here.

Adam Pearce ejects Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker, saying they’re suspended without pay if they come back.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Street Profits vs. Wyatt Sicks

The Profits, with B-Fab, are challenging. Dawkins says he’ll start, which doesn’t seem to go well with Ford. Gacy gets knocked into the corner so it’s off to Lumis, with Ford rather aggressively tagging himself in. Ford tries to pick up the pace but Lumis drops down to shake him a bit. Everything breaks down and a double flapjack plants Gacy. Ford gets dropped from behind though and Gacy takes him into the corner, with some forearms not getting Ford very far.

The chinlock doesn’t work either but Lumis comes back in to send Ford into the corner. Gacy takes him to the apron, where Ford is able to hit a suplex for a needed breather. The diving tag brings in Dawkins to pick up the pace, including a big running flip dive to the floor. Back in and Dawkins hits a Swanton for two on Gacy, who is back up with a belly to back neckbreaker combination getting two on Dawkins. Ford goes up but gets crotched on top, only to get back up for the Doomsday Blockbuster.

The frog splash misses though and Gacy flips Lumis onto Ford for two, with Dawkins making the save. Dawkins pounces Gacy into the barricade but stops for a staredown with Erick Rowan. Ford isn’t having that and flip dives over the post to take out Lumis and Rowan. Nikki Cross pops out from underneath the ring to grab Ford’s leg. That leaves Uncle Howdy to give Ford a Sister Abigail on the floor. Back in and a powerbomb/suplex combination finishes Ford to retain at 13:10.

Rating: C+. While it’s still better than its Raw counterparts, the Smackdown tag division isn’t the most interesting thing in the world at the moment. That was the case again here, as the Profits are suddenly having issues but they wind up losing due to the numbers game anyway. That’s a simple story for the Wyatts, but it’s also one that is going to get old in a hurry. Nice enough match here, but it was the definition of a cool down match.

We recap Becky Lynch defending the Women’s Intercontinental Title against Nikki Bella. Lynch beat Lyra Valkyria and started bragging so Bella issued the challenge. Personal insulted ensued and Bella seemed to get underneath her skin.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Nikki Bella vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is defending. Bella fires off forearms to start and Lynch bails to the floor, with Bella scoring off a dropkick to the knee. A dive misses though and Lynch sends her into the barricade to take over. Back in and Lynch stomps away in the corner before hitting her in the face. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Bella gets up and they slug it out.

Bella makes the clothesline comeback and dropkicks her out to the floor, setting up the baseball slide. Lynch’s hands are sent into the announcers’ tables over and over (that was terrible) before they go back inside….and HORRIBLY mistime Bella’s middle rope spinning kick to the face. As in Lynch was almost on the other side of the ring and Bella probably missed her by three feet. Thankfully Lynch is smart enough to just cover her for two and Bella gets to fire off the forearms.

Lynch catches her up top with a superplex for two but Bella is back with something like the STF (the Fearless Lock). That’s broken up as well but Lynch can’t get the Disarm-Her. Lynch misses something off the top and now the Fearless Lock goes on, with Lynch making the rope. They fight outside with Bella sending her into the post, followed by the Bella Buster onto the steps. Back in and Bella hits a half nelson slam (called the Manhandle Slam) for two but Lynch sends her throat first into the ropes and grabs a backslide to retain at 13:07.

Rating: D-. I don’t know if they were nervous, if Bella has forgotten how to wrestle or if Lynch took a sudden blow to the head before the match, but this was absolutely terrible. They were on such different pages that they were in different libraries and it never got anything close to good. It didn’t help that the fans were going nuts for Lynch and didn’t seem to care about Bella, which was ignored for the most part. I’m not a Bella fan, but I’ve seen enough of her time in the ring to know that this wasn’t her normal stuff. Talented wrestlers can have bad nights and I think we can chalk this up to that. At least hopefully.

We look at the Roman Reigns attack, but in different languages.

Jey Uso is banged up but insists he can still go.

We recap Sheamus vs. Rusev, who have been feuding for a good while now and brawling a lot, so it’s time for a Good Ol Fashioned Donnybrook.

Sheamus vs. Rusev

Donnybrook, meaning a street fight with Irish/Bulgarian themed weapons. They slug it out to start with Sheamus taking over. The fight heads outside, with Sheamus loading up some tables but having to suplex Rusev to cut him off. Rusev comes back with a kendo stick to the head and arms before a turnbuckle pad is ripped away. Sheamus manages an Irish Curse but gets sent into the corner.

They fight over a chair, with Rusev spinwheel kicking it into Sheamus’ face for one. Rusev loads up a chair in the corner but Sheamus tells him to bring it. A jumping knee to the face gives Sheamus two and he fires off the forearms to the chest. Back up and Rusev sends him over a bar at ringside, with Sheamus fighting back for more forearms. Rusev tries to escape into the crowd so Sheamus gives him more forearms, this time with a shillelagh.

Back in and the High Cross gives Sheamus two but Rusev bails outside before the Brogue Kick can launch. That’s fine with Sheamus, who goes up but dives into a kendo stick shot to the ribs. Rusev beats him down again before grabbing the Accolade, with Sheamus getting up and dropping back onto some chairs for the escape. They go outside again, with Rusev dropping him onto some whiskey barrels and grabbing the Accolade up there.

That’s broken up as well but this time Sheamus gives him an Irish Curse off the barrels and through some tables for the massive crash. The Brogue Kick gets two back inside and they trade strikes to the face. Rusev hits his jumping superkick in the corner and grabs the Shillelagh for the Accolade (bending all the way back onto his own back) and the tap at 20:06.

Rating: B. Well, it was as advertised, as these guys beat the fire out of each other until one of them couldn’t get up anymore. That being said, it went on a bit too long and I’m still not sold on Rusev. The problem is that he’s getting into the same circumstances as Alberto Del Rio: there is little to define him other than “he’s a heel from X country”. What is there to Rusev other than he’s a heel from Bulgaria? He needs more than that, and I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

We recap John Cena vs. Logan Paul. Cena is good again but Paul doesn’t like the fact that he isn’t getting enough respect. That led Cena to say that Paul could be great but won’t put in the effort. Therefore, it’s time to fight for honor and such.

John Cena vs. Logan Paul

Paul grabs a headlock to start so Cena reverses into one of his own. Cena wins a test of strength so Paul steps on his feet and hammers away in the corner. Back up and Cena fires off his own rights in the corner and tries a monkey flip, with Paul sticking the landing and knocking him down again. Paul mocks the fans a lot so Cena drops him with the running clothesline.

Back up and Paul hits a blockbuster into a chinlock, with Cena powering out. That earns him a gutwrench powerbomb for two and Paul gets to laugh at the fans a bit more. Back up and they collide for a double down, with the fans getting WAY behind Cena again. Cena fights up and hits the flying shoulders into the ProtoBomb but the AA is countered. Paul’s Buckshot Lariat gets two but the frog splash hits knees.

The AA gets two but Paul sticks the landing, meaning it’s off to an Octopus hold. That’s reversed into the STF, which is broken up as well so Cena hits the middle rope DDT for two. They both need a breather before Paul is back up with a Zig Zag for two of his own. Back up and Cena hits a Downward Spiral for two but Paul drops him again and gets a quick standing moonsault for two more.

Back up and they slug it out until Paul hits a pop up uppercut of all things for another near fall. With nothing else working (and his nose busted), Paul initiates Cena’s finishing sequence but takes too long on the Shuffle, allowing Cena to hit another AA for two. Cena’s Code Red gets two but Paul is back with the big right hand for the next near fall. A pair of frog splashes give Paul two and he hits his own Shuffle. The AA is countered into a Styles Clash of all things to give Cena two and they’re both spent. Back up and Paul hits the big right hand but Cena ducks another shot and hits the AA for the pin at 26:21.

Rating: A-. Oh of course this was great, as Cena knows this style as well as anyone else and Paul knows how to bring it on the big stage like almost no one else. I’m not sure if Paul should have lost here, but there was pretty much no way that Cena was going to lose in another high profile match so soon after Summerslam. These guys stole the show, which is impressive as some of the other matches have been rather snazzy as well.

The official attendance is 30,343, breaking the gate record set by Taylor Swift.

Seth Rollins doesn’t want to hear about the odds being stacked against him. He’s won with his back to the wall before though because he’s one of the best ever. It’s time to remind people what he can do. If he can’t keep the title by himself, maybe he doesn’t deserve to be champion. Oh yeah someone is going to be helping him. Rollins seemed a bit shaken up by the odds having been changed.

We recap the main event of Seth Rollins defending the Raw World Title in a four way. Rollins is champion, having cashed in on CM Punk at Summerslam. Jey Uso is the former champion who is owed a rematch, while LA Knight pinned Rollins before he won the title. The challengers want the title but keep fighting among themselves.

Raw World Title: Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk vs. Jey Uso vs. LA Knight

Rollins is defending and Uso is banged up from earlier tonight. Uso gets kicked out to the floor to start so Punk and Knight go after Rollins. Knight rolls Punk up for two and they slug it out but Uso is back in with a high crossbody to Rollins. Punk clotheslines Uso down and mocks the YEET but gets knocked outside. Uso and Knight start double teaming Rollins, who fights back and stomps away at all three.

That doesn’t last long though as he’s quickly surrounded and triple teamed, with Knight saying we need a table. Punk: “JEY! GET THE TABLES!” That doesn’t last long as they start fighting again, with Rollins joining them for a trip through the crowd. Back in and Punk grabs a swinging neckbreaker on Rollins, followed by the running knee in the corner. Uso drops Rollins, Knight drops Uso, Punk drops Knight and Rollins Pedigrees Punk for two to leave everyone down.

Rollins is back up with a buckle bomb for two on Knight, followed by a frog splash for the same on Uso. Knight gets stomped down in the corner but makes a comeback, including the slam to Punk and a DDT to Rollins. The top rope elbow connects but Uso is there with a superkick to put Knight down. Punk is back up for a Tower Of Doom to leave everyone else down, allowing him to pick his targets.

Back up and Punk poses on the apron, allowing Knight to knock him…well almost through the table at inside. The BFT gives Knight two on Rollins and he slugs it out with Uso. Knight takes Rollins outside for some rams onto the announcers’ table (better than Rollins’ wife from earlier) but the top rope elbow sends Knight crashing through said table. Back up and Uso dives onto Rollins, who reverses the spear into a Pedigree for two back inside. Rollins’ Phoenix splash misses though and now Uso can connect with the spear.

The Superfly Splash gets two but Punk is back in with a GTS for two on Uso. Rollins is back in and yells at Punk before grabbing a chair. A Stomp on the floor drops Uso and another takes out Knight. Back in and Rollins tries to Stomp Punk’s neck into a chair but Punk slips out and hits a GTS. Another is loaded up but cue a woman in a hoodie to hit Punk low. And yeah it’s Becky Lynch, which is so logical that it’s surprising. Rollins Stomps Punk onto the chair to retain at 24:30.

Rating: B. Well the ending was a surprise, and I’m impressed by how simple it really was. Rollins needed help but his lackeys were gone, but his wife, who happens to be a top star, comes in to save him. Other than that, you had your usual good brawl with everyone working hard, but it got into the pattern of “two in the ring, two out on the floor” and that got a bit tedious. Still though, solid main event here and I’m a bit surprised that Knight didn’t take the fall.

Rollins and Lynch celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Call it four and a half out of six, which is a pretty good result for a show. The Paul vs. Cena match stole the show, while the main event and opener were more than worth a look. If you get rid of the horrible women’s match (again, that felt like a horrible off night where they just couldn’t get it together) and replace it with anything even average, this is probably in contention for show of the year. As it is, it’s just a rather good show with Cena and Paul putting in a great one.

Results
Roman Reigns b. Bronson Reed – Spear
Wyatt Sicks b. Street Profits – Powerbomb/suplex combination to Ford
Becky Lynch b. Nikki Bella – Backslide
Rusev b. Sheamus – Accolade
John Cena b. Logan Paul – AA
Seth Rollins b. CM Punk, Logan Paul and Jey Uso – Stomp onto a chair to Punk

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

We’re back overseas for another pay per view and that means it’s time for some rather rowdy fans. That can make a not so great card all the better, which might be needed given the state of the card. This show is also a bit longer than usual, with six matches instead of the usual five, which may or may not be a good thing. Let’s get to it.

Sheamus vs. Rusev

This is a Good Ol Fashioned Donnybrook, which is the latest term for street fight. The two of them have been having big fights for weeks so it makes sense to put them together in a match like this. There is something fun about the idea of having two monsters tearing each other apart and that is likely what this will be, making it what should be a rather entertaining part of the show.

I’ll take Rusev to win, as despite him not exactly showing much since his return, it seems that WWE has at least some plans for him. Sheamus is someone who can be reheated rather quickly if necessary and losing big matches is kind of a thing for him, so odds are he’ll put Rusev over here. I’m not sure what WWE has in mind for Rusev, but he’ll probably get a big enough win with this one.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Wyatt Sicks(c) vs. Street Profits

The story here continues to be that the Wyatts are some kind of a dominant force in the division and all of the other teams are afraid of them but…I’m just not seeing it. That’s how the division talks about them but it isn’t how they act, which is making for a weird story. The idea is that someone is going to have to take them down and the Profits are probably the best bet at the moment.

That being said, I can’t imagine the Wyatts drop the belts so soon, as it doesn’t tie into what they’re doing. At the same time, Bo Dallas was talking as himself this week and that gives the team a new dimension, which they have been needing. Hopefully the match is good, but it feels like it could very well wind up being little more than a popcorn break for the fans (assuming that’s a big deal in France).

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch(c) vs. Nikki Bella

The build for this one has been all over the place, as you would think that Bella is the villain in the whole thing given what she has been saying. The idea is supposed to be that Bella is the veteran who is more famous but….it’s Becky Lynch. She’s the biggest star in the history of women’s wrestling and reached a level that Bella never touched, which makes Bella’s comments sound nearly delusional.

While there is always the chance that Bella wins for the sake of her being a legend and all that, this should and hopefully will be Lynch retaining. She could give someone a heck of a rub when she loses the title and that isn’t something that Bella needs. The match should be fine as Bella isn’t as bad in the ring as she is often described as being and Lynch can work well with anyone, but Lynch wins here, as she should.

Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed

Here we have a match that shows how important star power and personal issues can be. To make this simple: they’re fighting over two pairs of stolen shoes. That’s something out of a sitcom about fourteen year olds and it is the setup for what should be an awesome hoss fight. What matters is the people involved and how it has been presented, with Reed stealing from/humiliating Reigns, which is a fine way to set up this fight.

Outside of some interference, this should be going to Reigns, who is still one of the biggest stars in the company but hasn’t done much on his own in a long time. Somehow this is his first singles match since January and it is quite the moment for Reed to be his opponent. They just happen to be fighting over shoes, but it’s enough to get Reigns back to the singles ranks and hopefully to the pay window. Or is it winduh? Winda? Windo?

John Cena vs. Logan Paul

The Cena farewell checklist continues as I am still marveling over the fact that they just had Cena turn face out of absolutely nowhere with the reasoning of “eh, the heel turn bombed”. It shows you what you could have had for those six months, but at least he is on track for the big push towards the end. Odds are he had a big say in picking Paul for this match and that’s a great sign for Paul’s future.

While it would probably be a better move for Paul to win here and get one of the biggest victories of his career, you don’t put Cena in a spot like this with only a few months left in his career to have him lose in front of this audience. Therefore, Cena wins and gives the fans the big feel good moment. At the same time, he’ll probably give Paul the big line about how he’s learning or something, which is only going to get Paul so far but it’s Cena’s retirement year so there you go.

Raw World Title: Seth Rollins(c) vs. LA Knight vs. CM Punk vs. Jey Uso

Here we have the likely main event and it’s one of those matches designed to make you think that Rollins has no chance to retain because of the numbers against him. Therefore, commentary is going to be all “how can he overcome the odds???”, likely right before he overcomes the odds. There is a good chance that we’ll be seeing a bunch of interference from the Vision, and that will likely be the big turning point.

Naturally I’ll take Rollins to win, as they aren’t about to change the title so soon after the shocking (it wasn’t shocking) and unpredictable (it was predictable) cash in at Summerslam. Odds are he pins Knight because that’s what Knight’s role seems to be, which will likely result in some of the challengers fighting later. For now though, Rollins retains and gets ready for a singles match against…well probably Punk.

Overall Thoughts

This show feels very much like a B level pay per view and odds are that’s what it’s going to be. At the same time, that makes a good deal of sense as the fans are going to go quackers over just about anything presented to them. There is enough variety in the show to make it work and if they can follow last year’s pay per view in France, everything will work out well enough. I’m not overly excited for the show, but it should be fine.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 25, 2025
Location: BP Pulse Live, Birmingham, England
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re in England as the company is getting ready for Sunday’s Clash In Paris, meaning this is a rare afternoon show in the United States. The big appeal of this week is Roman Reigns starting the show after challenging Bronson Reed last week. If nothing else, he might want to get his shoes back so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of last week’s extreme rules match between Jey Uso and Bron Breakker, which included a huge brawl and a bunch of interference.

Here is Roman Reigns to get things going, with the fans being VERY impressed and giving him a variety of cheers, including IF YOU LOVE ROMAN STAND UP. After an ACKNOWLEDGE ME, Reigns says that he has big plans for this year and next year, but he has to be realistic. It might feel like old times with the fans being so loud for him, but it isn’t the same anymore. He isn’t the same anymore. Fans: “YES YOU ARE!” Reigns says Cody Rhodes predicted it a year or so ago, which has the fans booing. Reigns: “Interesting.”

The Vision (the fans boo, which Reigns understands) is trying to take everything from him, which earns a F*** SETH ROLLINS chant (which Reigns takes a second to understand). He doesn’t have a Bloodline, which means a YEET chant. Reigns is extremely proud of Jey Uso, who has earned everything he has, including his title shot in Paris. Reigns’ time will come…and here is Paul Heyman to interrupt, along with Bronson Reed.

Heyman introduces Reed and talks about how he became Reigns’ Wise Man five years ago this week. The fans do their singing Roman Reigns chant, which Heyman turns into a Bronson Reed version. Heyman says Reed is going to beat some respect into Reigns, who doesn’t seem to agree. Reed talks about how Reigns may be college educated, but he needs a history lesson. Reigns’ tribe is civilized but Reed’s isn’t. Reigns paid for his tattoos while Reed earned his. Reed is the Samoan that Reigns’ family warned him about. Reigns: “This guy’s Samoan???”

That means Reed belongs to him, so he can have one more change to return the shoes, apologize for wasting our time, and acknowledge him. That won’t happen, so Reigns is ready to fight. Security and agents come in and Reed gets in a splash but can’t take more shoes. Reigns gets back up and they brawl to the back as we take a break. Heck of an opening segment here, with the crowd being way into the whole thing and boosting it up.

Judgment Day is looking for Dominik Mysterio (ignore him being in the background of the start of the shot), who is talking to El Grande Americano. Mysterio says he’ll catch up with them later and things seem ok enough.

Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh

Finn Balor is here with McDonagh. Lee takes over to start so Balor gets up on the apron, which is enough for an ejection before he can do anything. Well that sounds like an overly aggressive referee. That’s enough for Lee to go up, only to get dropkicked out of the air as we take a break.

We come back with Lee fighting up after a superplex (during the break) and hitting a REALLY scary sit out powerbomb (McDonagh landed on his head and Graves popped up to his feet on commentary) for two. The top rope (actually from the post this time) tree of woe double stomp connects but here is Dominik Mysterio. Cue AJ Styles to jump Mysterio and Operation Dragon finishes McDonagh at 8:45.

Rating: C+. That powerbomb was terrifying for a second and thankfully McDonagh’s massive head is ok. Other than that, the Judgment Day’s issues continue, which has been the case for a good while now. I’m curious to see where that goes, while on the other hand, Lee is not exactly interesting whatsoever as he’s just kind of there most weeks.

LA Knight likes the idea of working with CM Punk to take out Seth Rollins, but it’s all about Punk getting the title back. It’s feast or famine and the rations are limited. Only Knight is going to be well fed and tonight, he’s facing Bron Breakker, who will be knocked back to factory settings (that’s a great line…I think).

Rusev is ready to hurt Sheamus in Paris.

Judgment Day isn’t happy with Dominik Mysterio, so he tells Finn Balor to deal with AJ Styles tonight. Raquel Rodriguez tells Roxanne Perez to get ready for later.

Penta vs. Kofi Kingston

Grayson Waller is peddling a petition to ban the Canadian Destroyer as Penta hammers away to start. Kingston catches him the corner and hits the middle rope splash to the standing Penta’s back for two. The middle of the ropes Vader bomb is broken up and Kingston heads outside as we take a break.

We come back with Penta in trouble and Kingston dropping him for two, leaving Xavier Woods annoyed at ringside. Penta misses a running enziguri in the corner but settles for a flat foot suplex to bring him down. The Penta Driver gets two so Penta flip dives onto the New Day. Back in and Woods offers a distraction, allowing Kingston to hit Trouble In Paradise for the pin at 10:15.

Rating: C+. I have no idea what to make of New Day at this point. They’ve been doing the in mourning thing for a long time now but there isn’t much of anything for them to do. If they aren’t going to go after the titles and there is no one for them to feud with otherwise, what are they supposed to do next? It’s entertaining stuff, but the Big E. split feels like it was a lifetime ago at this point.

Video on Iyo Sky’s issues with Rhea Ripley and the Kabuki Warriors.

Sky thanks Ripley for helping her last week but explains that the Warriors aren’t happy with her. She thinks the two of them should keep their distance. Ripley understands and says it’s ok. Sky appreciates the understanding and they hug, with the Warriors in the background, not looking happy.

Video on Naomi’s pregnancy announcement.

Stephanie Vaquer is told she is the #1 contender but the title match can’t happen in Paris as the title is technically vacant. She’ll still get the title match and Adam Pearce has an opponent in mind, but he needs a week to set everything up. Vaquer isn’t happy but she understands.

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. The fans don’t like her, but she talks about how important this place was to her career. Her WWE tryout was right here in Birmingham….and it was a dump then and it’s a dump now. Speaking of dumps, Nikki Bella thinks she can just call her out like she’s some loser like Birmingham soccer teams. She’s not some dog who responds to a whistle.

Cue Bella to interrupt, saying Lynch might not be a dog but she’s acting like a little b****. Lynch says she isn’t going to listen to Broken Neck Barbie, but Bella says she paved the way for people like her. Bella brings up that Lynch was Charlotte’s sidekick and that seems to touch a nerve, as she says a lot of people say she’s the greatest of all time. Bella calls Lynch out for disrespecting the people, sending Lynch into a rant about how the British have been oppressing the Irish for hundreds of years.

Lynch doesn’t like Bella insulting her or suggesting that she has no testicles but agrees to giver her the title shot. It’s going to be in Paris though, because Lynch isn’t wrestling in a city like Birmingham. Bella says that no matter how great Lynch is, the Bella name will always be more famous. As I try to digest how dumb that statement is, a brawl is teased with Lynch bailing out to the floor. The feud is fine, but this was a good illustration of why Bella shouldn’t be talking for long stretches. It felt like a heel promo from the heroine and that’s a weird way to go.

CM Punk talks about LA Knight calling him hungry. He’s beyond hungry because he’s obsessed with getting his title back. If he has to cripple all of them and use their blood to paint his masterpiece, so be it.

Sheamus talks about Rusev being the superstar comeback no one was asking for because Rusev has lost his passion. Things started to chance though, because Rusev has been acting like his old self. Now we’re getting the old Rusev and that’s what Sheamus wants, but Sheamus is the one who brought it out.

Roxanne Perez vs. Rhea Ripley

Raquel Rodriguez is here too. Perez rolls away to start but Ripley hammers away in the corner. That’s enough for Perez to roll outside, where she rams Ripley into the apron a few times. Back in and Ripley picks her up, with Perez bailing right back to the floor. This time Perez goes after the knee to take over and chop blocks Ripley back inside. A DDT on the knee and a Lionsault get two on Ripley and we take a break.

We came back with Rodriguez breaking up a Razor’s Edge, allowing Perez to snap off a super hurricanrana. A cartwheel knee to the back of the head but Ripley is fine enough to hit the Razor’s Edge. Ripley’s big boot gets two but Perez goes back to the knee. Pop Rox is countered and Ripley headbutts her into Riptide for the pin at 10:40.

Rating: B. It’s weird to say it but Ripley needed the win. She’s been in a weird place for a long time now, as she’s one of the biggest stars around but there is only so much she can do these days. Ripley was already Women’s Champion for over a year so getting the belt back only means so much. They need to find something for her to accomplish, but at least she got a win here.

Post match Perez and Rodriguez go after Ripley, with Iyo Sky running in for the save. Ripley approves.

Seth Rollins wants to see Bronson Reed crush Roman Reigns in Paris. As for tonight, Bron Breakker is making sure LA Knight doesn’t make it to Paris. This is everything the Vision has dreamed of and so much more.

Iyo Sky checks on Rhea Ripley’s knee and says she owed her for last week. Ripley is appreciative and leaves, with the Kabuki Warriors coming in to yell at Sky. Kairi Sane tries to calm Asuka down and Sky pleads her case but Asuka doesn’t want to hear it. Asuka leaves and Sky asks Sane to trust her, but Sane says she’s sorry and leaves.

AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor

Balor starts fast by kicking him out to the floor before losing a chop off in the corner. The Phenomenal Forearm is broken up and Styles crashes out to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Styles in trouble but hitting a swinging backbreaker to get a breather. The Pele Kick drops Balor and the sliding forearm connects. The backbreaker onto the knee connects but Balor is back up with a Sling Blade. Balor misses the Coup de Grace though and the Styles Clash finishes for Styles at 8:05.

Rating: B-. These two work well together as they’ve done this so many times over the years. The good thing is that Styles gets some momentum before what is likely going to be another Intercontinental Title shot. The Judgment Day’s issues continue and that is likely going to come to a head sooner than later.

Jey Uso isn’t sure who he should trust going into Clash In Paris but Roman Reigns doesn’t get why he’s so unsure after all these years. Reigns says Uso has helped enough people over the years so it’s time for him to smash everyone for himself. That’s just Reigns’ perspective though, and Uso has to go do what he thinks is right.

Bayley still has the voices in her head and now she’s getting annoyed at them. The voice says “we are successful because we believe in ourselves.” Then another voice complains about how the first voice is an idiot and insecure. The real Bayley tells them to both stop and gets annoyed.

Lyra Valkyria talks to Adam Pearce, saying she’s worried about Bayley. Valkyria wants someone to check in on her and Pearce says he’ll handle it. Judgment Day comes in, with Dominik Mysterio wanting Pearce to deal with AJ Styles. Pearce begrudgingly agrees and gives Styles an Intercontinental Title match with Mysterio next week. Finn Balor is rather pleased and Mysterio calls Pearce “Charles Xavier.”

Clash In Paris rundown.

Roman Reigns jumps the Vision in the back and Superman Punches Bronson Reed. Security quickly breaks it up. LA Knight runs in to jump Bron Breakker and they brawl into the arena

LA Knight vs. Bron Breakker

We’re joined in progress with Breakker in trouble in the corner as Knight stomps away. Breakker fights up and hits the rather fast running clothesline. That’s enough for Breakker to finally get his shirt off and he snaps off a suplex, only to get punched in the face. Knight hits a clothesline into a Russian legsweep, followed by another clothesline to the floor. Knight’s dropkick through the ropes connects but Breakker sends him into the announcers’ table.

We take a break and come back with Knight fighting out of a chinlock but missing his jumping neckbreaker out of the corner. The super Frankensteiner gets two but the spear is cut off with a kick to the face. Breakker tries what looks to be a fireman’s carry but they slip a bit (Graves sounds really nervous about what that could mean), with Knight landing on his feet for a reverse DDT. Knight’s superplex sets up a top rope elbow but here is Seth Rollins for a distraction. The Super Spear gives Breakker the pin at 13:40.

Rating: B-. As usual with anything involving the Vision, this was about waiting for the interference. Knight is pretty much a full fledged main eventer these days and that’s nice to see, but this was another loss when he needed to get a win. Yeah he beat Rollins at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but it’s ok to give him another win.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Jey Uso coming in for the save. The Vision beats Uso down but CM Punk comes in for the real save. That’s enough for the Vision to bail, with Rollins having to hold Breakker back. Punk, Knight and Uso get in a fight (Rollins: “They’re doing it for us.”) with Uso standing tall to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the overall nature of the show, which was all about getting everything ready for Paris, though there were pieces I didn’t care for as much. Between Knight losing again, Bella’s promo and whatever New Day is doing, there were some significant rough parts to the show. At the same time, the fans were more than enough to carry things up a notch, as they always are when the fans are overseas. Good show here, but it needed some tweaks.

Results
Dragon Lee b. JD McDonagh – Operation Dragon
Kofi Kingston b. Penta – Trouble In Paradise
Rhea Ripley b. Roxanne Perez – Riptide
AJ Styles b. Finn Balor – Styles Clash
Bron Breakker b. LA Knight – Super Spear

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 18, 2025
Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re under two weeks away from Clash In Paris and the big story coming out of last week is that CM Punk, LA Knight and Jey Uso are all getting a title shot against Seth Rollins, which doesn’t have the Vision overly happy. The rest of the show is probably starting to come together and that should start getting developed even more this week. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of last week’s main event tag, which set up the four way World Title match at Clash In Paris.

Here is the Vision to get things going. We’re in Philadelphia so Paul Heyman brags him status in this city and how no one is greater than him around here. That makes him the GOAT, but the Vision is full of GOAT’s. Heyman praises each member of the team, including the one who took Roman Reigns’ shoes.

After insisting that they’re chanting PAUL E. rather than OTC (and the fans switch chants in a hurry), Heyman talks about how many times Seth Rollins has taken Reigns out. Before Rollins can speak, cut Jey Uso in the crowd, with some fans saying YEET in a great moment. He’s not afraid of any of those people, including Bron Breakker. Rollins accuses Uso of disrespecting Breakker’s family, including calling his dad and uncle FATA****!

Breakker is ready to go into the crowd but Heyman cuts him off and goes into an amazing rant about how people used to handle things in a Bingo hall not far from here. He lists off some ECW greats, including “the late great Tommy Dreamer. Yeah I know he’s not dead yet but he should be!” Breakker: “HE’S STILL ALIVE???” After one of the hardest laughs I’ve had in a very long time, it seems we have an Extreme Rules match tonight. That line about Dreamer was hilarious, as was Breakker getting annoyed at Uso allegedly mocking his family. Good segment here, with Heyman’s love of ECW shining through.

We recap Iyo Sky’s issues with the Kabuki Warriors last week.

Sky and the Warriors seem to make amends, but Sky wants to do this by herself.

Raquel Rodriguez vs. Iyo Sky

Rodriguez powers her around to start, including an early headscissors. Sky snaps off a headscissors but Roxanne Perez trips her from ringside, allowing Rodriguez to hit a heck of a big boot. We take a break and come back with Rodriguez missing the spinning Vader Bomb, allowing Sky to hit the missile dropkick. Rodriguez blocks the running knees in the corner though and gets caught with the spinning Vader Bomb for two.

A hard clothesline gets two more but Sky is back with a tornado DDT. Sky dives onto Perez and then does the same to Rodriguez…who pulls her out of the air. Rodriguez drops her hard onto the apron but the Tejana Bomb is countered into a headscissors into the corner. The running knees in the corner set up Over The Moonsault to finish Rodriguez at 10:20.

Rating: B-. Sky can work well with anyone, but Rodriguez has turned into quite the star in her own right. She is figuring out how to do the power game rather well and that was on display here. Good match, with Sky showing that she can win on her own and overcome the odds, which won’t sit well with the Kabuki Warriors.

Post match the beatdown is on until Rhea Ripley makes the save.

CM Punk interrupts LA Knight in the back and suggests and alliance until Clash In Paris. Knight doesn’t buy this at all because of their fight last week and says he’ll win the title. Knight: “YEAH!” Punk: “No.”

We look back at AAA TripleMania XXXIII.

Rhea Ripley checks on Iyo Sky in the back, with Sky being grateful for the help. The Kabuki Warriors come in to yell about how they can’t help her but Ripley can. Sky yells at them to stop arguing and runs off screaming. Asuka tells Ripley to stay out of their business.

Xavier Woods vs. Penta

Penta strikes away to start but Woods cuts him off rather quickly. Woods shouts CERO DINERO and drops him hard onto the apron as we take an early break. We come back with Woods kicking him in the head for two but Penta hits the Sling Blade. A backbreaker sends Woods outside for a big dive, followed by a slingshot dropkick back inside. The Penta Driver is countered into a reverse suplex to give Woods two. The Honor Roll is countered into the Penta Driver for two, with Kofi Kingston putting the foot on the ropes. Back up and the Canadian Destroyer finishes Woods at 9:48.

Rating: C+. Good enough stuff here, though WWE has seemed to completely give up on the idea of New Day being a regular team and turning them into…whatever they are now. It does help that Penta is getting a win, though I’m not sure what he is going to be doing anytime soon. Just find something for either of them to do though, as they’re big enough stars to have something better than this.

We look at AJ Styles costing Dominik Mysterio the Mega Title.

Dominik yells about Styles when Rey Mysterio comes in to mock him.

Judgment Day vs. Dragon Lee/Mr. Iguana

Non-title and Dominik Mysterio is here with Judgment Day. Lee and McDonagh lock up to start with McDonagh backing him into the ropes. Some chops in the corner have McDonagh in trouble but Lee misses a charge into the corner. Balor comes in to take over on Iguana and snaps off a suplex for two. That doesn’t get him very far as everything breaks down, with the Judgment Day being sent outside. Big flip dives take them down and we take a break.

We come back with McDonagh getting caught in a sitout powerbomb for two. Iguana comes back in and uses the puppet to take over, including a big dive to the floor. Lee plants Balor but gets caught with the Sling Blade. Back up and Mysterio distracts Iguana, allowing Balor to hit the dropkick to the back. The Coup de Grace finishes at 10:05.

Rating: B-. Good stuff here, as it’s nice to have the Tag Team Champions actually doing something involved with a tag team match. It’s not like they have anyone else to come after the titles so just have them face a random lucha team. If nothing else, I’m sure WWE will make some money off the Iguana stuff so it could be far worse.

Post match the beatdown is on but El Hijo del Vikingo (AAA Mega Champion) comes in for the save. Vikingo goes after McDonagh but gets caught with a belt shot to the back. The villains stand tall.

We look back at Becky Lynch beating Maxxine Dupri and attacking Natalya last week.

Lynch denies attacking Natalya and says she was provoked. Tonight, Lynch will prove herself.

We get another video from Bayley, who still seems to be going insane, with a voice talking about how she hasn’t been making sense in a long time. Bayley starts talking back to the voice, which seems to want her to be evil. She isn’t sure what she needs, but the voice offers her a hug.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Natalya vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is defending and Natalya has the Academy with her. Natalya tries the power to start and they’re quickly on the floor. That’s fine with Lynch, who sends the arm into the post and we take a break. We come back with Lynch working on an armbar until Natalya does the powerbomb counter that is used fairly often. Natalya hits the discus lariat for two but Lynch goes right back to the arm. The Disarm-Her retains the title at 7:41.

Rating: C+. As usual, it’s fine from a technical perspective, but was there going to be any drama over Natalya taking the title? She doesn’t win titles these days and Nikki Bella is already waiting in the wings for Lynch. At least they didn’t make this into a long, stretched out match, as there was no reason to go in that direction.

Post match the beatdown is on but Nikki Bella runs in for the save.

Sheamus talks about his rivalry with Rusev, who interrupts and wants to fight again. Adam Pearce comes in to make the match for Clash In Paris in a Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook. Rusev says he’s going to beat the Irish curse out of Sheamus and Pearce needs a drink.

CM Punk comes in to see Jey Uso and says he has Uso’s back tonight. Uso says no disrespect but he’s got this himself. Punk says he’s just trying to get Uso to Paris but Uso doesn’t want to owe anyone any favors. Everything seems to be cool but Punk seems to think Uso is making a mistake.

Here is Naomi to make a big announcement about the future of the Women’s Title. She says this is hard for her and shows us a clip from Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, where Jimmy Uso reveals what was expected to be the announcement: Naomi is pregnant. Adam Pearce is ready to take the title from her but Naomi says this isn’t going to happen because her hormones are jumping and she isn’t giving him s***.

She tells him to get to stepping and thanks Big Jim for loving to Netflix and chill (there’s a BIG smile at that line) because otherwise, she would have beaten up the women’s division all year. The fans chant YOU DESERVE IT and Naomi seems to be touched. Naomi: “On the bright side, I guess the Bloodline continues baby!”

We get quite the maniacal laugh and an OTC chant before Naomi lays the title down. The division has nine months and some change, but she’ll come back and win the title again, even if she’s breastfeeding at the time. Whomever has the title next, proceed with caution. It’s sad to see the title vacated when Naomi is doing such great work, but this is far more important than anything she’s doing in the ring.

Judgment Day doesn’t know where Dominik Mysterio is but find him talking to El Grande Americano. Mysterio tells the team that he’s just making sure the team always stays on top. Everyone else is fine with this, but Finn Balor doesn’t seem to like it.

Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker

Extreme Rules and Paul Heyman is here with Breakker, who comes out with a shopping cart full of weapons. Uso slips away from the power to start and hits a clothesline to send Breakker legs first onto the shopping card, which is about as dumb of a thing as I’ve seen in wrestling in a LONG time. Uso takes a good while to give Breakker a chance to make sure his leg is ok while setting up a table.

The suicide dive hits Breakker and we take a break. We come back with Breakker seemingly ok and the ring full of weapons. A chair is loaded up in the corner but Uso sends him into it instead. One heck of a Steiner Line drops Uso though and Breakker drops him ribs first onto two open chairs. The clothesline over the announcers’ table connects as well and we take a break.

We come back with Breakker hitting the super Frankensteiner but spending too long taking the straps down. Uso’s spear gets two and another spear into the Superfly Splash connects, only for Bronson Reed to pull the referee (AND STEAL HIS SHOE!). LA Knight runs in for the save but Seth Rollins cuts him off.

Cue CM Punk to brawl with Rollins, who gets jumped by Knight. Rollins escapes the GTS though and sends Punk into Knight, who crashes through a table at ringside. Punk shrugs it off and chases Rollins through the crowd, leaving Breakker to pull out another table. That takes a good while….and Roman Reigns is here. The spear drops Breakker and a Superfly Splash puts Breakker through the table for the win at 20:26.

Rating: B. This was the kind of wild brawl that it should have been, with all of the interference and violence making for a main event that was better than I was expecting. It did feel extreme with a lot of ECW overtones (without going too far) and Uso getting a big win on his way to the title shot in Paris. At the same time you have Reed stealing another shoe, which is more of a crime than anything else, but it’s rather funny anyway.

Post match Reed tries to get some more shoes but Reigns tells Reed that he’ll see him in Paris. Cole thinks that means Clash In Paris, though he isn’t sure to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. What mattered here was they got the momentum going on the way to Clash In Paris. The main event was about doing some wild brawling to hype up the four way at the pay per view, which worked well. The rest of the show was kind of messy, but they’re hyping up the Paris show and the next Worlds Collide at the same time. Get through next week and we should be fine, though Clash is pretty one sided on the Raw half. If they can keep the four way hot through next week though, it very well could work out.

Results
Iyo Sky b. Raquel Rodriguez – Over The Moonsault
Penta b. Xavier Woods – Canadian Destroyer
Judgment Day b. Dragon Lee/Mr. Iguana – Coup de Grace to Lee
Becky Lynch b. Natalya – Disarm-Her
Jey Uso b. Bron Breakker – Superfly Splash through a table

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 4, 2025
Location: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re done with Summerslam and it was certainly not a quiet weekend. On the Raw side, Seth Rollins came back in a stunning and shocking (WWE told me so) moment to win the World Title from CM Punk. In other news, CM Punk won the World Title. We’re on the way to Clash In Paris at the end of the month so let’s get to it.

Here are is Summerslam if you need a recap.

We open with a long recap of both nights of Summerslam.

Here are Seth Rollins and company, including Bron Breakker (who got hurt at Summerslam but seems ok here) to get things going. Paul Heyman declares himself not just the GOAT but also the Oracle. He talks about the people next to him and says that normally he would be here introducing the Tribal Chief, but Reigns hasn’t been champion in a year and a half.

Or maybe he could be introducing CM Punk, who won the title on Saturday and thought he would have it forever. But then Rollins took the title away from him and stole the honeymoon, which was very good to Rollins. After some loud booing, Rollins talks about how the fans all turned their backs on him. You should never bet against him because he is the World Heavyweight Champion.

Shame on everyone who turned their back on him, because he had a plan b. He only told two people about this plan: his beautiful wife and his oracle. They are the past, present and future of wrestling and they are the vision. Cue LA Knight to interrupt, who greets the champ, the oracle and the morons. Knight accuses Rollins of faking his injury to get out of their match but Knight beat him anyway. Well that makes things interesting because he’s ready to beat Rollins again, right here and right now.

Rollins sounds interested but eventually says no, which brings out Adam Pearce. It wouldn’t be normal to run a title match with no promotion, but it’s also not normal to have someone lie to his medical team like Rollins did. That’s why tonight the title is on the line, and Reed/Breakker are banned from ringside. That’s a big one and does tie up something of a loose string.

Judgment Day runs into the LWO in the back and Dominik Mysterio doesn’t think much of them. Dragon Lee requests and receives a match tonight but AJ Styles comes in to say he’s still coming for the title.

Rusev vs. Sheamus

Rusev jumps him at the bell and starts the beating in a hurry. The forearms to the back keep Sheamus in trouble but he gets his boots up in the corner. Rusev kicks him down again but gets caught on top, where Sheamus grabs a super White Noise. We take another break and come back with Sheamus hitting the Irish Curse. The ten forearms are broken up so Sheamus settles for sending him over the announcers’ table. Rusev is able to send him into the steps and they fight into the crowd, with Sheamus hitting the forearms to the chest. Those keep on going until it’s a double countout at 9:10.

Rating: B-. Hard hitting brawl here but that ending feels like the calling card of a Last Man Standing match or something similar, likely over in Paris later this month. That’s a good way to go, as there is always room for two big guys hitting each other really hard. The ending keeps both of them looking strong and gives them a reason to run it back, as they were more interested in fighting than winning, which fits for them.

Post match the beatdown stays on despite referees and agents trying to break it up.

New Day is still in mourning, including Xavier Woods with his three and a half foot wide hat, when Grayson Waller comes in to ask where they were last week. The team shrugs it off but blame Adam Pearce for the issues. Waller goes to yell at Pearce, who is talking to Penta. Pearce says New Day can have a title shot when they earn it, while Waller can face Penta tonight.

Penta vs. Grayson Waller

Waller struts away to start and grabs a headlock but Penta reverses for a strut of his own. Penta sends him outside and cue New Day, with the distraction letting Waller get in a clothesline on the floor. We take a break and come back with Penta hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker into a slingshot dropkick in the corner. Waller knocks him back down but misses the middle rope elbow as New Day, now on commentary, brags about their success without Big E. The rolling Stunner is cut off with a superkick though and the rolling Canadian Destroyer out of the corner finishes for Penta at 8:20.

Rating: C+. This is the kind of win that stars like Penta need on occasion: a simple victory over someone where there isn’t much doubt about the better man, but Penta gets the win anyway. He got to do a lot of his stuff and the fans reacted without taking up a ton of time. Waller isn’t going to be hurt by the loss and Penta looks good.

Post match New Day goes after Penta, who clears the ring and steals Woods’ hat. Said hat is thrown at New Day and Penta takes them down with the big flip dive. Kingston’s look of “What was THAT” is great.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are in the back when Sheamus and Rusev run up, still in their big brawl.

We look at Brock Lesnar’s return to lay out John Cena last night.

Michael Cole says he talked to HHH and Nick Khan about Lesnar’s return. Apparently they agreed weeks ago that it was time to bring him back “home” and he was happy with that.

Here are Charlotte and Alexa Bliss for a chat. Charlotte says that might be her first YOU DESERVE IT chant, but she has to get used to the idea that THEY are champions instead of SHE. Maybe if Bliss could stop hitting her in the face, they could be….something. Bliss: “I think you were about to say the F word.” Charlotte: “You are such a pain in my A word.”

Either way, Charlotte is happy with winning another title and brags about her success but here is Judgment Day to interrupt. They get right to the point and the title match is made. Cue Adam Pearce to say not so fast because that’s not normal…but nothing tonight is so let’s do it.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs. Judgment Day

Charlotte and Bliss are defending and we’re joined in progress with Perez sending Bliss into the corner. Bliss reverses into a whip of her own and it’s off to Charlotte to pick up the pace. Rodriguez comes in as well to cut her off though and Perez sends Charlotte outside. Back in and Judgment Day seems to get a bit confused, allowing Charlotte to take out their knees. Bliss comes in and gets to clean some house, only to be sent outside and kicked into the timekeeper’s area.

We take a break and come back with Charlotte getting the tag to clean more house, including a (slingshotless) Buckshot Lariat to Rodriguez. The double moonsault gets two on Perez, who is back up with a failed Pop Rox attempt. Charlotte sends her into the buckle for a breather but Perez manages a hurricanrana. Bliss comes in for the save and is promptly sent outside for interfering. Charlotte kicks her way to freedom though and brings Bliss in, with the Sister Abigail DDT finishing Perez at 12:45.

Rating: C+. I’m only so interested in these titles in the first place, but Charlotte and Bliss teaming together is doing wonders for Charlotte. She’s acting like a completely different person these days and that is letting her talent shine through. Maybe it’s the personality, but getting her away from the singles title scene has helped a lot. She and Bliss work well together too and it’s a lot better than I was expecting.

The Kabuki Warriors and Iyo Sky are in the back when Rhea Ripley comes up. The Warriors leave, with Ripley saying she heard Sky got a one on one match with Naomi. Sky says she didn’t get pinned at Summerslam, with Ripley telling her to go win the title so Ripley can take it from her. Sky: “Rhea, you are never going to beat me.”

We look at Bayley costing Lyra Valkyria the Women’s Intercontinental Title match against Becky Lynch at Summerslam.

Bayley finds Valkyria, who wants nothing to do with Bayley anymore. She needs to get out of this “Bayley vortex”. They aren’t friends or enemies, but stay away.

Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee

Non-title and Lee starts very fast with a suicide dive to take Mysterio out on the floor. Mysterio is right back up with a slingshot hilo and some choking on the ropes. It’s way too early for the 619 so Mysterio settles for a DDT onto the apron. We take a break and come back with Lee hitting some superkicks, including the slingshot version in the corner. Mysterio tries to bounce out of the corner but gets caught in a sitout powerbomb to give Lee two.

Back up and Lee catches him in the corner, setting up the top rope double stomp. Cue El Grande Americano (facing Mysterio, Lee and El Hijo del Vikingo this weekend for the AAA World Title)….and the other Grande Americano…..and a THIRD Grande Americano as well, with the distraction allowing Mysterio to get in a boot (off foo) to the head. That and the feet on the ropes finishes Lee at 8:14.

Rating: C. Well, I’m curious about where the Americano stuff is going. If nothing else is has me wondering who is under the masks and how many we might see, so points for trying something new. At the same time, we could be looking at Mysterio becoming a double champion sooner rather than later, and that has some potential for his future.

Post match AJ Styles runs in to swing the boot at Mysterio and then throw it up the aisle as Mysterio leaves.

Sami Zayn is happy to have defeated Karrion Kross but happier to have thrown the steel pipe away instead of winning on his own. Yes he wanted to do it, but he also wants to be a World Champion on his own. Cue Sheamus and Rusev to brawl some more, with Zayn getting hit in the face by Rusev.

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. Lynch: “Ding dong, Lyra is gone!” She’s not getting any more title shots as long as Lynch is champion, which will be for a very, very long time. It’s time to open the door to new competitors…but we won’t be doing it tonight. Cue Nikki Bella to interrupt, saying she thought she left the women’s division in great hands, but Lynch has been such a disappointment. Bella is back to prove herself but why did Lynch come back? Is it because Hollywood isn’t what she thought it would be?

Lynch brings up her role in Happy Gilmore 2, while Bella’s role was cut. Bella laughs it off and says that Lynch is like Seth Rollins, but no one believes Lynch’s BS. Lynch does not like Rollins being brought up because they are the hottest couple in WWE. That used to be Bella and….someone, but now we can’t see them. That’s a BIG gasp from the audience but Bella gets to the point with the title challenge. Lynch hits her in the face and bails instead. That John Cena reference was one heck of a burn, even if it’s the easiest line in the world to use against Bella.

Naomi says she is indeed facing Iyo Sky next week but Stephanie Vaquer interrupts. Naomi threatens to snap Vaquer’s horns off and stick them in a certain place to leave her with a limp. Then she imitates the limp to make it work.

Gunther is out of action indefinitely after being injured at Summerslam.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Natalya, with the Alpha Academy, yells at Becky Lynch for being mean to Nikki Bella. Lynch agrees to a match next week…against Maxxine Dupri.

Raw World Title: LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins, with Paul Heyman, is defending. After the Big Match Intros, Rollins stomps away in the ropes but gets dropped with a clothesline. Knight’s suplex gets two and he knocks Rollins outside for a brisk walk chase. Heyman doesn’t work as Rollins’ shield but Rollins manages a quick stomp (not quite the Stomp) from the barricade and we take a break. We come back with Knight jumping to the top for the superplex, followed by the neckbreaker out of the corner for two more.

Knight’s powerslam connects but Rollins blocks the jumping elbow. There’s the buckle bomb but it’s too early for the stomp. Instead Knight grabs a reverse Death Valley Driver for two and they’re both down. The Pedigree is countered and Knight grabs a DDT, allowing him to pop back up. Knight’s jumping top rope elbow gets two but the BFT is countered. They go out to the floor and crash over the announcers’ table, with Rollins getting the better of things. Rollins peels back the floor mats….and CM Punk comes in for the DQ at 13:05.

Rating: B-. This was another match where there wasn’t exactly much drama about a title change but it’s a rather good sign for Knight’s future if he can be in there at this level. It wouldn’t stun me to see him getting the shot in Paris or at a Saturday Night’s Main Event, which is quite the rise for his career. The Punk interference wasn’t exactly shocking, as it was about the only way this was going to end.

Post match Punk goes after Rollins and Knight is not pleased. Cue Bron Breakker to spear Punk and Bronson Reed is in to crush Knight. The Stomp hits both of them and the villains pose….but Roman Reigns is here. House is quickly cleaned but Reigns goes after Reed, allowing Rollins to hit the Stomp. Reed hits a bunch of Tsunamis on Reigns and Adam Pearce comes out, with Rollins yelling at him. Reed steals Reigns’ shoes AGAIN (please let there be a payoff for that down the line, like Reigns putting a mousetrap in one of the shoes or something) and the villains stand tall to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was about setting up Clash In Paris and that went well enough, but I wasn’t able to get into the show. The wrestling was fine enough, but it felt like it was more about getting ready for later rather than doing a bunch of stuff that mattered here. The angle at the end was a big one, even if it was the third straight night where a villain stood tall to end the show. That being said, I’m having a great time with Reed stealing the shows so we’ll call that a silver lining. Not a bad show, but it’s a stepping stone to the stuff that matters.

Results
Rusev vs. Sheamus went to a double countout
Penta b. Grayson Waller – Spinning Canadian Destroyer
Alexa Bliss/Charlotte b. Judgment Day – Sister Abigail DDT to Perez
Dominik Mysterio b. Dragon Lee – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Seth Rollins b. LA Knight via DQ when CM Punk interfered

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