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

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

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: July 14, 2025
Location: BJCC, Birmingham, Alabama
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

We’re finally out of Atlanta after a weekend of shows in the city. The big story is Seth Rollins, whose knee seemed to be really badly banged up during Saturday Night’s Main Event. There is a good chance we’ll find out something about his status tonight. In addition, there is a fight person gauntlet match to crown Gunther’s next challenger. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with long recaps of Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution.

Here is Naomi to get things going after cashing in her briefcase to steal the Women’s Title at Evolution. She told everyone to not guess her next move because no one knew what she would do. Now she is the new champion and she has left Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill in the dust. It was a plan months in the making and look where she is now. Anyone who is wanting to come for the title can proceed with caution and here is Rhea Ripley to interrupt.

She’s not happy with what Naomi did and Ripley doesn’t proceed with caution. Naomi interfered in her match so she is now on Ripley’s list. Cue Iyo Sky to interrupt, saying Ripley can wait her turn. Naomi says shed cash in to become champion and that’s what she did. Cue Adam Pearce to say he doesn’t want any violence. He congratulates Naomi on here win and makes the triple threat for the title at Summerslam. Makes sense.

We run down the card.

Judgment Day is polishing their belts but Dominik Mysterio is worried about AJ Styles stalking him. Finn Balor isn’t worried but thinks Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez could use some help against the Kabuki Warriors. Balor thinks Mysterio should accompany them so it seems to be all ok.

Judgment Day vs. Kabuki Warriors

Non-title and Dominik Mysterio is here with Judgment Day. Asuka chokes Rodriguez to start but gets taken into the corner for the tag off to Perez. That’s fine with Asuka, who fires off some kicks to put Perez in trouble. Sane comes in to strike away as well and everything breaks down. The Warriors get stereo submissions but Rodriguez makes the save.

Asuka kicks away at Rodriguez and knocks her out to the floor. Mysterio’s distraction doesn’t do much as Asuka posts Rodriguez anyway. Back in and Perez gets German suplexed, with the Warriors hitting the assisted Insane Elbow. Mysterio offers a distraction though and Perez steals the pin on Asuka at 10:18.

Rating: C+. This was a bit of a surprise but at least the champs got a nice win to make them feel more established. They have a long way to go and it’s not going to feel right as long as Liv Morgan is out but this is as good as we have for the moment. It helps that Perez and Rodriguez work well together though and the win is a good sign.

Paul Heyman and company aren’t going to talk about Seth Rollins’ health, as he has until June to cash in Money In The Bank. As for tonight, Bron Breakker is running the gauntlet to go to Summerslam and become World Heavyweight Champion.

Miz was at a celebrity golf tournament over the weekend where his partner kicked him in the face.

Lyra Valkyria wants to beat Bayley tonight, but Bayley comes in and says she needs to win. Maybe what’s best for Valkyria is to just stay out of her way.

Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

2/3 falls for the shot at Becky Lynch at Summerslam. Valkyria armdrags her down to start and Bayley misses a charge to the floor. Back in and Bayley grabs a quick rollup for the first fall at 1:27. Valkyria is stunned and we take an early break. We come back with Valkyria kicking her in the head and hitting a tornado DDT. A suplex puts Bayley down again and Valkyria stomps away in the corner.

Back up and Bayley whips her hard into the barricade and we slow down. Valkyria gets sent hard into the corner but comes back by sending her outside. Bayley gets in a belly to back suplex onto the apron though and the back is banged up even more. Back in and a spinning slam gives Bayley two as frustration is setting in. Bayley loads up la majistral but Valkyria stacks her up for the pin at 9:35.

A running knee drops Valkyria again though and we take another break. We come back with Bayley favoring her knee but managing a Stunner over the ropes. The Bayley To Belly is blocked and Valkyria goes up, only to dive into the Bayley To Belly for two. Valkyria catches her up top with something like a super snapmare, followed by a gutwrench powerbomb for two.

They go to the apron where Bayley hits a fisherman’s suplex. Back in and they trade cradles for two each before heading outside again. A sunset bomb sends Valkyria into the steps and the top rope elbow to the back gets two. The crossface goes on but Valkyria powers up and reverses into Nightwing for the pin at 19:58.

Rating: B. This got rolling by the end and it’s nice to see another good in-ring performance from Valkyria. She’s perfectly fine between the bells, but they might need to find a way to make her feel more serious. Maybe starting by dropping the bird stuff, as it doesn’t make her come off like a main eventer. For now though, good match and a very important win for Valkyria’s career.

Post match Becky Lynch comes out for the staredown with Valkyria.

We look at Stephanie Vaquer winning the Evolution battle royal.

Vaquer is excited about her win and ready to fight for the title at Clash In Paris, but Chelsea Green, with the Secret Hervice, comes in to say she should get the shot instead. Green mocks her nickname and says she’s off to face a Hall Of Famer.

Karrion Kross, with Scarlet, says your favorite bad guys are here to save the day. Sami Zayn isn’t here though, because Kross helped take him out. Kross thinks Zayn is hiding at home, where he needs to stay until he is ready to say Kross told the truth.

Chelsea Green vs. Nikki Bella

The Secret Hervice is here with Green. Bella strikes away to start and they go out to the floor, where Green takes over. Bella gets sent into the steps to keep her in trouble and we hit the chinlock back inside. That’s broken up and they both need a breather. Bella gets in an enziguri out of the corner for two but Green is back with a neckbreaker. The Unprettier is countered into a Bella Buster but Niven offers a distraction. They have a lot of trouble setting up the Rack Attack until Bella switches to the Rack Attack 2.0 (and that wasn’t great either) for the pin at 6:25.

Rating: C-. This was a rough one at times as Bella didn’t look like she was exactly on the same page here. The sequence at the end looked like Green had to walk her through the finishing move, which isn’t a great sign. Then again it very well may have been ring rust as Bella hasn’t had a singles match in a good while, but this wasn’t a great showing.

Post match the Hervice lays Bella out but Stephanie Vaquer runs in for the save.

New Day, with Grayson Waller, is in the third stage of grieving for the death of their title loss: barbecue. They offer Adam Pearce a pair of well done….toupees. Pearce says they’ll find the new #1 contenders next week so don’t flip your wigs (which Pearce does). Pearce goes over to the Judgment Day and says Dominik Mysterio is going to be reevaluated next week. If he’s cleared, he’ll be defending against AJ Styles at Summerslam. The team leaves and Styles is praying that Mysterio is cleared. Mysterio: “God please don’t let me be cleared.” Styles: “Don’t listen to him God!” This was hilarious.

Rusev says he’s better than Sheamus, who comes up from behind. Sheamus says he isn’t going to jump Rusev, but they’re going to have a rematch because Rusev cheated the first time.

Summerslam rundown.

We look at the setup of Randy Orton/Jelly Roll vs. Logan Paul/Drew McIntyre from Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Here is Gunther to brag about retiring Goldberg. He beat Goldberg up, blew him up and finished him off. Now Gunther wants to know who is next and promises an answer soon. We’ll find that out next in a gauntlet match, which Gunther will be watching from his suite…and here is Bron Breakker to interrupt.

Paul Heyman shakes Gunther’s hand and loads up the catchphrase but Gunther says he knows Heyman’s name and doesn’t want to hear it. Gunther and Breakker have a staredown and Heyman explains the gauntlet match, saying that Breakker isn’t someone as easy as Goldberg. You aren’t looking at just another contender, because he’s a STEINER. Breakker is going to win the title, with Gunther eventually walking away. This isn’t giving me confidence in Seth Rollins’ future.

Gauntlet Match

Five entrants for the title shot against Gunther at Summerslam with Bron Breakker in at #1 and Penta in at #2. They run the ropes to start and Breakker hits him with the hard clothesline, allowing Breakker to glare a bit. Back up and Penta sends him to the floor for the big running flip dive and we take a break.

We come back with Breakker having sent him into the steps and then dropping Penta onto the steps for the big crash. Back in and Breakker sends him flying off a suplex, with the kickout leaving Breakker a bit surprised. Penta fights back with a sling blade into the slingshot dropkick in the corner. The Backstabber out of the corner gets two and Penta tries a springboard, only to get speared out of the air for the fall at 9:47.

LA Knight is in at #3 (Gunther seems interested in his suite) and hammers away, followed by a neckbreaker. Knight starts in on the arm and the gorilla press doesn’t work as a result. A running clothesline sends Breakker to the floor and a dropkick through the ropes drops him again. They take turns sending each other into the announcers’ table before Breakker drops him back first onto the turnbuckle back inside.

We take another break and come back with Knight still in trouble with a waistlock keeping him down. Knight elbows his way to freedom and a double clothesline leaves both of them down again. The jumping top rope elbow connects for Knight and he strikes away, only to have the BFT broken up. A gutbuster sets up the Super Spear to give Breakker the pin at 19:58.

Jey Uso is in at #4 and knocks Knight out to the floor for a suicide dive and then does his entrance again as we take a break. We come back again with Breakker catching him on top but getting knocked down. Uso’s high crossbody connects and the running Umaga Attack gets two. Breakker is back up with the running super Frankensteiner for two and Breakker can’t believe the kickout. Uso fires off some superkicks and hits his own spear for two more. The Superfly Splash is loaded up but Bronson Reed breaks it up (Cole: “There are no disqualifications!” Since when?), meaning another Super Spear can finish Uso at 28:56.

CM Punk is in at #5 to complete the field and strikes away to start fast. We take another break and come back with Punk working on the arm and getting two off a Russian legsweep. Punk’s armbar is broken up though and Breakker knocks him into the corner, where he can ask Punk if it’s clobberin time. A catapult sends Punk throat first into the rope and the chinlock goes on. Punk fights up and Breakker cuts it off in a hurry, meaning it’s time to talk more trash.

Another super Frankensteiner connects but Punk rolls through into a sunset flip for two. They knock each other down for a double breather, with Punk fighting up to make the comeback. Punk goes up top but has to kick Reed away before dropping the top rope elbow for two. The Anaconda Vice goes on but Reed comes in for the save. Cue Jey Uso to cut Reed off and the Super Spear is countered into the GTS to give Punk the pin and the title at 41:20.

Rating: B. This was a heck of a showing from Breakker, who went 40+ minutes and looked like he had another half hour in him. That’s not something you see very often and it worked well here. Other than that, this felt like a near guaranteed win for Punk, who very well may be getting the title at Summerslam. Either way, it was a good match with some solid action, most of which is attributable to Breakker. They seem to know what they have with him and if he is brought along properly, the sky is the limit.

Post match Reed jumps Punk again so Uso comes in for the save. Breakker hits a spear to Uso and another one to Punk and the double Tsunami is loaded up. And then none of that matters because Roman Reigns is back. The Superman Punch drops Reed and Reigns beats up Breakker. Another Superman Punch hits Breakker and the spear drops Reed. Reigns and Punk stand tall to end the show. I’m guessing Reigns/Uso vs. Breakker/Reed for Summerslam?

Overall Rating: B. Now this is more like it from Raw, with two and a half hours of mostly good to better than good wrestling. More importantly though, this show went a long way towards setting up Summerslam, as the card is mostly together. I like this a good bit and the Bella/Green match was the only weak spot. This show did a great job of making Summerslam feel like a big deal, which is more than could be said for the build towards Evolution. Strong show this week, and hopefully they can keep it up for the next few weeks.

Results
Judgment Day b. Kabuki Warriors – Rollup to Asuka
Lyra Valkyria b. Bayley 2-1
Nikki Bella b. Chelsea Green – Rack Attack 2.0
CM Punk won a gauntlet match last eliminating Bron Breakker

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: July 7, 2025
Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re coming up on a major weekend as we have both Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution coming up. While Saturday Night’s Main Event is mostly covered, there is still some space to fill on the other show, which is feeling more than a bit thrown together. Let’s get to it.

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

Various people came to work today.

Here are Seth Rollins and company to get things going. Bron Breakker talks about how Paul Heyman has a vision of Breakker as the top star of WWE for the next twenty years. Breakker has his own vision of WWE, and that is one without Sami Zayn. Breakker doesn’t like Zayn’s music, he doesn’t like how he looks and he doesn’t like anything about him. He doesn’t understand why people cheer for someone who looks like they never go to the gym or never play sports. If Zayn comes out here tonight, Breakker will take him apart. Rollins: “You good Breakker?”

The fans sing Zayn’s song as Bronson Reed takes the mic, saying that Breakker is a tough act to follow, but so is he. Reed is the one who gave Rollins six Tsunamis, which was enough to get him into this group. He’s ready to find a way to get rid of CM Punk. Paul Heyman says he’s not going to try to follow that promo but he knows that Roman Reigns isn’t brave enough to come back and fight them.

As for tonight, Seth Rollins is facing Penta, with Heyman insulting him in Spanish. Rollins to Reed: “Did you know he spoke Spanish?” Heyman has no idea what the hand signals mean, but after tonight, Penta won’t be able to do them anymore. Rollins hits the catchphrase and they’re out. Breakker was the highlight here, as he went off the hinges for a bit there.

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

In the clubhouse, Roxanne Perez has set up a tribute to Liv Morgan, though Raquel Rodriguez reminds Perez that Morgan isn’t dead. Rodriguez wants to retain the titles and they’re off, with Dominik Mysterio being happy with the Get Well Soon Dominik cake….which is from AJ Styles. A cabinet moves and Styles is watching him, causing Dominik to grab his doctor’s note to chase after him. This was hilarious in multiple ways.

Roxanne Perez vs. Kairi Sane

Raquel Rodriguez is here with Sane. They run the ropes a bit to start with Perez grabbing a rollup for two. An exchange of rollups gets two each until Sane hits the Cutless. Sane knocks her to the floor and nails a big dive off the apron for a knockdown. Perez gets in a shot to the arm though and we take a break.

We come back with Sane striking away and hitting a neckbreaker. Perez gets in a running shot to the back of the neck though and adds a Lionsault for two. Something like Penta’s Sacrifice keeps Sane in trouble and a DDT on the arm makes it worse. The cartwheel knees to the head hit Sane but she knocks Perez off the top. A dive takes out Rodriguez and a backslide gives Sane the pin at 11:12.

Rating: B-. It’s good to see Sane get a win, though unfortunately it had to come at Perez’s expense. At the same time, Perez is freshly in the title scene thanks to Liv Morgan’s injury and it’s a bit annoying seeing her lose. At least it wasn’t in a tag match though, so it’s a bit more excusable.

Post match the beatdown is on but Asuka runs in for the save, including a bunch of strikes. Sane gives Perez the Insane Elbow. Odds are we have the Raw team for Evolution.

We look at Karrion Kross injuring Sami Zayn last week, resulting in him losing in the main event. Jey Uso made the save to prevent a further beating.

Zayn says he isn’t managing all of this and he would love to deal with his ribs or Kross or the revenge he’ll be getting on Kross, but he has to think about Bron Breakker. Zayn leaves, with Scarlett coming in…and saying she has nothing to say.

American Made is confused about El Grande Americano being in action tonight, with Brutus saying “but Chad Gable is hurt”, earning himself a smack in the head. Ivy Nile is put in the Evolution battle royal and the team leaves. Asuka and Kairi Sane come in to say they want in the Women’s Tag Team Title match and Adam Pearce makes it happen. I’ll take it over another qualifying match.

Nikki Bella didn’t expect to get in a fight with Liv Morgan, who then got hurt. She wants to be back in the ring so she’s in the battle royal.

Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn

Actually never mind as here is Karrion Kross to jump Zayn with a pipe. Post break Zayn insists that he can wrestle so here is Breakker, with Paul Heyman, to do the thing. Breakker drives him into the corner for the shoulders to the bad ribs before shouting that HE’S A BUM. The tape is ripped off the ribs and a gutbuster has Zayn in more trouble. Zayn tries to fight back and gets knocked out of the air for a nasty crash. The Super Spear hits on the floor, followed by another one for the pin at 5:12.

Rating: C. This was more a storyline advancement than a match, as Zayn was basically destroyed here. There is only so much he can do when he’s attacked before the match and then gets smashed by Breakker. Zayn is going to be back for revenge later on and that requires him to be knocked down on the way there.

New Day is in black with flowers because they are in mourning. They want their rematch for the Tag Team Titles but Adam Pearce isn’t sure. Becky Lynch comes in to show them support.

Here is Lynch to complain about having to defend her title in a triple threat. The odds are against her and that isn’t fair when she’s the biggest star in women’s history. She should get to pick her own opponent, like Tiffany Stratton and Iyo Sky got to do. Maybe she could pick a woman in the front row and beat her in about a second.

Cue Bayley to interrupt but Lyra Valkyria comes out before she can say a word. Valkyria says Lynch has completed her transformation into a total raving lunatic. She wants the title back but Bayley blames Valkyria for her loss a few weeks ago. Valkyria: “She’s really speaking to me!” Bayley rants about it a bit and Lynch is impressed.

Lynch mocks Bayley for finally having a backbone but Valkyria brings up that Lynch called her after attacking Bayley to take her place at Wrestlemania. Valkyria says Bayley finally admits she doesn’t care about friendship when it comes to being a champion, which makes Bayley just like Lynch.

On Sunday, she has to regain the title from two failures. Bayley talks about being there every step of the way for Valkyria, including when she raised Lynch’s hand like a b****. Valkyria swings but hits Lynch by mistake. The brawl is on and Bayley is sent outside, only for Valkyria to give them a Nightwing each. Valkyria mockingly raises Lynch’s hand again. Valkyria still feels in over her head, but she’s still giving it all she’s got and it’s far from a disaster.

We look at Rusev beating Sheamus last week.

Bron Breakker is annoyed that Karrion Kross helped him because it suggests he can’t do it himself. Seth Rollins says that’s nonsense but Paul Heyman comes in to say that Zayn is out of action indefinitely. Rollins wants Bronson Reed to do something similar to Jey Uso, which works for Reed.

Bronson Reed vs. Jey Uso

Paul Heyman is here with Reed. Uso gets knocked down fast to start and the big elbow crushes him again. A superkick gets Reed out of trouble though and the suicide dive sends him into the announcers’ table. Reed gets superkicked in a chair…which he throws at Uso for the DQ at 3:17.

Rating: C. Again there was only so much you can do here, as it was similar to the Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn match. Reed gets to go through Uso and there is a good chance of a big beatdown coming after the match. It’s been the divide and conquer night so far and that’s a story that is working rather well.

Post match Reed hits a pair of Tsunamis to leave Uso laying.

LA Knight wants revenge on Seth Rollins, who sent Bronson Reed after him but Knight was back in one week. This weekend, Knight will take him out at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Video on Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley, focusing on Ripley never being able to defeat her.

El Grande Americano vs. Dragon Lee

Americano snaps off an anklescissors to start but a headscissors does the same to put Americano down. Cole thinks Americano used to be Chad Gable, with Graves saying Cole probably thought Giant Machine was Andre and the Midnight Rider was Dusty Rhodes. They fight over wrist control as commentary agrees that the referee should be wearing a mask. Americano sticks the landing on a monkey flip but gets knocked to the floor as Cole makes claims about missing tattoos on Americano.

Lee gets pulled outside and sent into the timekeeper’s area and we take a break. We come back with Lee getting two off a sitout powerbomb. Lee goes for the mask (rudo) before settling with a knee to the face. Lee’s slingshot kick to the mask rocks Americano again and a running basement dropkick gets two. Americano gets tied in the Tree Of Woe for the top rope double stomp and a near fall. Back up and Americano loads up the mask, setting up a running headbutt for the pin at 9:24.

Rating: B. I’m curious about where this is going, but there is something rather interesting about keeping the story going with Chad Gable out. There are a few ways that this could go and that’s a good sign for the story. Lee is still someone who can go out there and work with anyone, including a great luchador like Americano.

Paul Heyman comes in to see Penta, setting up an argument in Spanish. Bron Breakker comes in to say he doesn’t know what Penta said, but watch your tone. Breakker and Heyman hate those hand signals.

Video on Stephanie Vaquer.

Here is Gunther to say that Goldberg is afraid of him but cue Goldberg in a snazzy car to interrupt. Goldberg wants to fight right now and knocks the mic out of Gunther’s hand. The threat of a spear sends Gunther running. That’s probably better, as spearing someone wearing a big gold belt isn’t advised.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Evolution rundown.

Penta vs. Seth Rollins

Penta wastes no time in superkicking him to the floor but the chop hits the post. Back in and Penta sends him into the corner but it’s too early for the slingshot dropkick. Instead Penta clotheslines him to the floor for the big flip dive. We take a break and come back with Rollins wiping his forehead with the tie from Penta’s mask. Penta fights out of a waistlock and hits the reverse Sling Blade, followed by a Backstabber for two.

Rollins is back with a fireman’s carry gutbuster into a frog splash for two of his own but Penta catches him on top. Penta’s running anklescissors brings Rollins back down and the Penta Driver gets two more. Rollins is able to hit a buckle bomb, only for Penta to snap back with the Canadian Destroyer for another near fall as Rollins grabs the rope. Back up and a low blow slows Penta down and the Stomp gives Rollins the pin at 13:35.

Rating: B. The important thing here is how smoothly Penta has been slotted into the upper midcard scene. No he isn’t winning here, but he also doesn’t feel like he is in over his head. That is quite the accomplishment for someone who debuted about six months ago and it shows how far talent can get you. The match was another good showing, with Penta making a top star like Rollins sweat.

Post match Rollins tells Heyman to call someone so Heyman summons Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. Here they come but cue LA Knight to give Rollins the BFT to end the show. Sidenote: Cole says Rollins and company had a clean sweep. That’s true, except it’s not.

Overall Rating: B. I can always go for a show with a story running throughout and that’s what we got here, as Rollins and company smashed through most of their competition. That makes Knight surviving at the end and getting to Rollins all the better, as it sets up their match on Saturday perfectly well. Other than that, we got a bit of a last minute push towards Revolution, which fits the fairly thrown together feeling the show has had. This was a good week for Raw as they accomplished quite a bit going into a very busy weekend.

Results
Kairi Sane b. Roxanne Perez – Backslide
Bron Breakker b. Sami Zayn – Super Spear
Jey Uso b. Bronson Reed via DQ when Reed used a chair
El Grande Americano b. Dragon Lee – Loaded running headbutt
Seth Rollins b. Penta – Stomp

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: June 30, 2025
Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re done with Night Of Champions and about a month away from Summerslam. That means it is time to start setting up the card and some of the bigger matches are set. Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill won the Of The Ring tournaments and will be getting title matches at Summerslam. There is more that needs to be set though so let’s get to it.

Here is Night Of Champions if you need a recap.

Long Night Of Champions recap.

Here is Rhea Ripley to get things going. After welcoming us to Monday Night Mami, Ripley is cut off by Iyo Sky. Ripley isn’t pleased but Sky says she needs to defend the title at Evolution. That includes against Ripley, who says she respects Sky and she’ll stop at nothing to get the title back. The match is on for Evolution. Well they go to the point quickly this time.

Dominik Mysterio gives the Judgment Day a pep talk but AJ Styles comes in. Dominik says he’s still injured so there’s no title match yet. Styles even puts on his glasses, which let him know that the doctor’s note says Dominik is a “punk a**.” Threats of violence are made but Dominik holds up the doctor’s note.

Tag Team Titles: New Day vs. Judgment Day

New Day is defending. Balor and Kingston start things off with Kingston offering Balor some bread because he hasn’t had carbs in such a long time. Commentary argues about whether or not Graves likes the New Day as Balor hits a basement dropkick to rock Kingston. It’s off to McDonagh, who gets draped over the top rope for Woods’ top rope stomp to the back. Woods gets in a strut as we take a break.

We come back with Kingston hammering on McDonagh, who counters a powerbomb with an X Factor. Kingston can’t prevent the tag and it’s Balor coming in to clean house to quite the positive reaction. The running double stomp hits Balor but it’s back to McDonagh vs. Woods. McDonagh gets to clean house but a moonsault hits raised knees.

The Coup de Grace hits McDonagh by mistake and the Midnight Hour gets two on Balor. A belt shot gets two more but Woods gets crotched on top, setting up McDonagh’s super Spanish Fly for two more. Balor hits the Sling Blade on Kingston on the floor and it’s McDonagh’s moonsault into the Coup de Grace to pin Woods for the titles at 12:23.

Rating: B-. They needed to change the titles here as New Day’s reign was just dying. There’s nothing for them to do and it was becoming more and more obvious week after week. Judgment Day might not be much better, but at least they’re something fresh for a change. The match started slowly but got better, with the last few minutes being rather good. If nothing else, it was bizarre to hear the fans that into Judgment Day.

We look back at Lyra Valkyria costing Bayley the Women’s Intercontinental Title last week.

Bayley isn’t happy when Valkyria comes in. Valkyria doesn’t know who Bayley is anymore and they argue about not knowing each other anymore. Adam Pearce breaks it up and announces he has made a match between the two of them. The winner challenges Becky Lynch.

Video on Goldberg, from his time in WCW to his first WWE run to his multiple returns.

We look at Penta attacking Chad Gable last week, including injuring Gable’s arm.

Earlier today, Gable, with his arm in a sling, told American Made to hold the fort while he’s gone. Adam Pearce comes in to say we won’t be seeing El Grade Americano either. The team isn’t sure what they’ll do without Gable, who tells them to listen to Ivy. Of note: Ludwig Kaiser could be seen watching them from behind.

Judgment Day meets with Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce, who need to make a decision about the Women’s Tag Team Titles. The solution is to give Raquel Rodriguez a new partner, which can be Roxanne Perez. Works for the GM’s, but they think Perez and Rodriguez need to prove themselves in a title defense at Evolution against teams from Raw, Smackdown and NXT.

Sheamus vs. Rusev

They fight up against the ropes to start and Rusev knocks him down. Sheamus is back up with a shot of his own and grabs the Predator (Dublin Smile) to keep Rusev down. Rusev knocks him to the floor but a dive is countered into a powerslam and we take a break. Back with Sheamus fighting out of a chinlock and firing off the ax handles.

The Irish Curse plants Rusev but Sheamus doesn’t cover as the referee stops to talk to Rusev. It’s ok enough for Sheamus to drop a top rope knee for one and Rusev is back up with a spinwheel kick for two. A superplex drops Sheamus again and we take a break. Back with the slugout from their knees, followed by another one from their feet.

A tilt-a-whirl powerslam drops Rusev again and the ten forearms put him down. The running knee rocks Rusev and gives Sheamus a near fall. Back up and Rusev superkicks him into the Accolade, with Sheamus managing to power up and crash through the ropes for the break. Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick on the floor but Rusev beats the count at nine. Back in and they slug it out on the apron, where Rusev sends him into an exposed buckle. The basement superkick finishes for Rusev at 20:22.

Rating: B. These guys know how to hit each other really hard and that’s something that is always going to work. They advertised this as these two beating the fire out of each other and Sheamus is exactly the one you call for this kind of a match. That being said, I’m really not sure what Rusev is going to be doing anytime soon, as he’s just kind of floating around most of the time.

Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce announce an Evolution battle royal with the winner getting a title shot in Paris.

Ivy Nile is ready for the battle royal….but El Grande Americano walks up and poses. Nile and American Made is stunned and go follow him.

Karrion Kross jumps Sami Zayn and demands that he SAY IT. Kross hits him in the ribs with a steel pipe, so a bunch of officials and Scarlet come in to break it up.

Here is Gunther for a chat. He liked the dominance and destruction he was in the Goldberg video, but the whole thing was just like his matches: summed up in three minutes. Goldberg has said that he doesn’t like bullies but he has run into the biggest bully of them all. After he exposes Goldberg, the question is who is next for Gunther…and here are Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman.

Rollins says he hasn’t seen Gunther since he won the briefcase but he was only there at Night Of Champions to prevent CM Punk from winning the World Title. Cue Punk to chase Rollins off and call him a coward before shoving Gunther down. Rollins runs into the crowd, where LA Knight jumps him from behind. They into the concourse where Rollins throws a beer in his case and runs off.

Judgment Day is happy with their titles but Raquel Rodriguez isn’t happy with Roxanne Perez just being handed her title, despite Liv Morgan working so hard in rehab. They have a vote, with Balor and McDonagh being in and Dominik giving an alleged yes, though he’s not sure how Morgan will like it. Rodriguez really doesn’t seem convinced but agrees, meaning Perez is officially part of the team.

Kairi Sane is still a pirate and wants all of the treasure, in the for of championship gold. I can always go for more pirates in wrestling.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Bayley

For a future shot at Becky Lynch. Feeling out profess to start with Bayley taking Valkyria into the corner. Bayley takes her down for an early Boston crab, before both of them try crossbodies. The stereo crashes sends us to a break and we come back with Bayley grabbing a superplex. Valkyria rolls outside so Bayley elbows her off the apron for two.

Back up and Valkyria grabs a swinging neckbreaker for two of her own but Bayley rolls her up for the same. Valkyria’s sitout powerbomb gets two but they ram heads coming out of the corner. The Rose Plant and Night Wing are both blocked and they go into an exchange of rollups for a double pin at 10:12.

Rating: B-. They might as well have had a big countdown to the draw here, as that was all but guaranteed to happen once the prize was announced. The match was good enough as Valkyria is fine bell to bell, but I’m still not sure if this is bringing her up to that next level. That being said, WWE is certainly trying and it’s not a total failure, so points for doing the right thing.

Post match the brawl stays on and they fight into the crowd where it has to be broken up.

CM Punk tells LA Knight to get to the back of the line to fight Seth Rollins. Knight says Punk can have Rollins six nights a week, but not on Saturday, because it’s Knight vs. Rollins at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Penta makes sure that the banged up Sami Zayn is ready for the main event. Zayn is game.

Sami Zayn/Penta vs. Bron Breakker/Bronson Reed

Zayn has heavily taped ribs. Breakker shoulders Penta into the corner to start but everything breaks down in a hurry. Zayn comes in to knock Reed outside and stereo dives to the floor take out the villains as we take a break. Back with Zayn fighting up to knock Reed outside, with Breakker being sent out as well.

Zayn’s Arabian moonsault takes both of them down and Paul Heyman is worried. Back in and Zayn’s sunset powerbomb gets two on Reed but he’s back up with a Death Valley Driver. Breakker comes in and puts Zayn on the announcers’ table for the clothesline and we take another break.

We come back again with Zayn sending Breakker to the floor and avoiding a backsplash from Reed. Penta comes back in with an enziguri to Breakker and a slingshot dropkick in the corner. The Sacrifice snaps Breakker’s arm but the Penta Driver is blocked. Breakker’s gorilla press is countered into a DDT for two but Heyman offers a distraction. That’s enough for Reed to get in a cheap shot, allowing Breakker to hit the super Frankensteiner.

Reed sitout powerbombs Penta for two with Zayn making the save, only for Breakker to cut Zayn off with a clothesline. The Super Spear is cut off with a kick to the face but Reed makes the save this time. Penta and Breakker go to the floor and Zayn suplexes Reed, only to get speared by Breakker for the pin at 18:26.

Rating: B+. These guys really got going near the end and it was one of those matches which could have gone either way, which is often one of the best things that you can see. I had a great time with this and Zayn’s ribs being banged up give him a bit of protection with the loss. Also, points for Penta already feeling like he belongs at this level, which is more than some stars who have been trying to make it work for years with less success.

Post match Breakker and Reed go after them again but Jey Uso makes the save with a chair.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a show that hit the ground running after Night Of Champions and the road to Summerslam is off fast. What matters the most is that they are already setting things up for both Summerslam and Evolution, the latter of which has gone a long way in such a short time. We also had a title change and four good to rather good matches. That’s a heck of a use of a Monday night and I had a really good time with this one, which covered a lot of ground.

Results
Judgment Day b. New Day – Coup de Grace to Woods
Rusev b. Sheamus – Basement superkick
Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria went to a double pin
Bron Breakker/Bronson Reed b. Penta/Sami Zayn – Spear to Zayn

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

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Monday Night Raw
Date: June 23, 2025
Location: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the last Raw before Night Of Champions on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. That means it’s time to start getting the card finalized, including the King and Queen Of The Ring finals. On top of that, Bayley is challenging Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Title, which should be quite good. Let’s get to it.

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

We get the drone shot flying into the arena and dang that is so cool.

Here are Seth Rollins and company to get things going. We see a clip of LA Knight being attacked by the team on Smackdown, putting him out of action indefinitely. After hitting the catchphrases, Rollins says the people here are giving him mixed signals. Rollins asks the people here what they want, which earns him a CM PUNK chant. The fans keep chanting and singing for different people and Rollins isn’t sure what’s going on.

Rollins says the fans are confused and they want the things that they’re asking for because of him. He created Roman Reigns, Punk is back because WWE wanted to capitalize on how much Rollins hated him, Cody Rhodes needed Rollins to put him on the map. On top of that, Rollins was the first NXT and World Heavyweight Champion. He is the creator and the prime mover and this is the future of this company. Rollins and Paul Heyman know a thing or two about revolutions and sometimes you have to stop someone from messing with you.

That’s what happened to LA Knight (pause for the YEAH), who got Tsunami after Tsunami. In a few minutes, Penta is going to be taken out as well. There are a lot of people who think they can exist at the very top. Those are people like John Cena and Gunther, plus others like the ones in the King Of The ring or CM Punk and Goldberg. What those people don’t understand is they are all running a race for second place. The briefcase is the finish line and the end game and it has always been Seth Rollins. This was the “we’re dangerous” promo and didn’t really change much else, but you have to get these guys on the show.

Penta vs. Bron Breakker

We’re joined in progress with Penta in trouble in the corner but coming out with a running kick to the head. A springboard spinning crossbody drops Breakker and Penta hits the handstand slingshot dropkick in the corner. Back up and Breakker runs him over, setting up a quick suplex to send Penta flying. Breakker’s backbreaker gets two and one heck of a clothesline drops Penta again.

Breakker talks some trash before putting Penta on top for a hard shot out to the apron. Penta manages to knock him out to the floor for a breather but Breakker pulls the dive out of the air. That’s broken up as well and Penta sends him into the post, setting up a big running flip dive.

We take a break and come back with both of them having crashed over the announcers’ table thanks to Breakker’s apron clothesline. Back in and Penta seems to be favoring his knee but it’s fine enough for the gorilla press gutbuster for two. Breakker grinds away on a headlock of all things, which is reversed into a Sling Blade. Penta comes up favoring his own leg but manages a suplex into a bridge (as in he hooked the leg after they landed) for two.

The Destroyer is blocked so Penta goes up, only for Breakker to roll through into a jumping knee (that was sweet). The super Frankensteiner gets two on Penta and it’s time for the straps to come down. Penta cuts off the Super Spear with a superkick and grabs a spinning DDT. Now the Destroyer can connect for two as the fans are WAY into this. Back up and Penta tries a springboard but dives into the Super Spear for the pin at 14:09.

Rating: B. These two had chemistry together and it’s another solid win for Breakker, who can hit that next level like few others. Penta was doing everything he could but there is no way around that kind of power and explosion. That was a heck of a match and I had a much better time with it than I thought I would.

Post match here are Seth Rollins and Bronson Reed, with Rollins telling Penta to stay out of his way.

Liv Morgan is confirmed to be out of action for several months.

Adam Pearce (hey he’s back) meets AJ Styles, who is told Dominik Mysterio is apparently being out with an injury. Styles: “What did he do? Strain his mustache?” Therefore, the title match at Night Of Champions is off, but Styles will get his shot at the first chance. Styles isn’t happy but understands and leaves. New Day and Grayson Waller (no Austin Theory) come in and are told that next week, Judgment Day gets a title shot. Xavier Woods is NOT happy and Waller hits the catchphrase, leaving Pearce confused.

Earlier today, Goldberg sat down with Michael Cole to talk about why he wants to face Gunther. Last year at Bad Blood, Goldberg took his family to a show for fun and got verbally assaulted by Gunther. That was so disrespectful and that is never going to happen. Gunther isn’t getting away with that and as long as Goldberg can get in that ring, he’s making Gunther pay.

He going to beat the **** out of Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event. After the interview was over, Goldberg apparently said it was his last match, but it’s an interesting dilemma if he wins the title. Goldberg was bringing the intensity here and the story makes perfect sense, but it’s still Goldberg in 2025. After all of his previous comebacks, it’s pretty hard to get up for another one.

Judgment Day is upset about what happened with Liv Morgan but Finn Balor gives them a big pep talk. Balor says something that upsets Raquel Rodriguez and that’s the fire that Balor has been wanting. Go take it out on Rhea Ripley.

Bayley is warming up when Lyra Valkyria comes up, wondering why Bayley has ignored her. Bayley apologizes and says she’s been focused on the title match. When Bayley wins, Valkyria gets the first title shot, which seems to smooth things over.

Queen Of The Ring Semifinals: Jade Cargill vs. Roxanne Perez

Perez gets smart by bailing from Cargill to start but does get in a quick slap. The chase lets Perez get in a few shots of her own on the way back in but a sunset flip attempt is blocked. Cargill starts in with the muscle but gets caught with the throat snap over the top. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets Perez out of trouble and they go to the floor, where Perez dropkicks the knee out.

We take a break and come back with Perez staying on the leg, followed by a running uppercut to the back. A springboard moonsault gives Perez two and she grabs a sleeper, which is muscled up into a fall away slam for the big crash. Cargill’s knee is banged up but she boots Perez into the ropes for the spinebuster. A chokeslam gives Cargill two but Jaded is countered into a bridging rollup for two. Something like La Mistica sets up cartwheel knees to the head to give Perez two of her own. Pop Rox is blocked though and Cargill hits a powerslam, setting up Jaded for the pin at 11:50.

Rating: B-. They were trying here but Cargill doesn’t have the skill to hang in a match like this just yet. Cargill’s big appeals are her incredible power and athleticism and she got to show those off, but Perez was there to do a lot of the more complicated work. It’s a good enough match, though Cargill is still rather green.

Post match Asuka comes out for the staredown.

Video on Cody Rhodes vs. Jey Uso.

Sheamus and the Alpha Academy console each other but Rusev interrupts. Rusev asks if Sheamus is still pretending to be everyone’s friend and Sheamus is ready to fight anytime. We even get a League Of Nations reference and Sheamus says it’s time to put up or shut up. Rusev slaps him on the chest and walks away.

Here is Gunther for a chat. Last week was supposed to be his big celebration but Goldberg had to interrupt him. It’s true that Goldberg was the man in 1999 but it’s 2025 and now Gunther is the man. Gunther sees a 58 year old man who can’t lace his boots, so now he’s apologizing for everything that he’ll do to the man who used to be Goldberg. At Saturday Night’s Main Event, it is his responsibility to destroy the myth of Goldberg once and for all. Same as before: good intensity, but the idea of the match itself only does so much for me.

Becky Lynch thinks Lyra Valkyria and Bayley are working together (uhhh….) and storms off but we go over to Sami Zayn. He is about to say how he’s processing his loss on Smackdown when Karrion Kross and Scarlet interrupt. Kross was almost believing him last week but then Randy Orton took Zayn out. The reality is Zayn will never be World Champion. Zayn: “Ok.” Then he hits Kross in the face. He’s done talking to Kross and their match is official.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Bayley vs. Becky Lynch

Lynch is defending and in a nice touch, Bayley is wearing the gear she had planned for Wrestlemania before Lynch took her out. Bayley takes her into the corner and hammers away to start before doing it again in another corner. Lynch can’t get a Disarm-Her but the Rose Plant is blocked as well. They fight to the floor for a bit with Bayley getting the better of things and knocking Lynch out of the air back inside. Back up and Lynch snaps the arm over the top rope to take over as we go to a break.

We come back with Bayley hitting some clotheslines but the Bayley To Belly is blocked. The Rose Plant is blocked again and Lynch suplexes her down. The Manhandle Slam is blocked as well and now the Bayley To Belly connects for two. Lynch’s springboard kick to the face is blocked though and Bayley hits a sunset bomb into the corner for another near fall.

Lynch is right back up with a superplex into the cross armbreaker but Bayley slips out again. A half crab works on Lynch’s leg (as Bayley’s arm is too banged up for a full version) but she’s over to the ropes in a hurry. Back up and Bayley hits her own Manhandle Slam, with Lynch bailing out to the floor.

Bayley goes after her and gets knocked over the announcers’ table, where Lynch buries her with a bunch of stuff. Cue Lyra Valkyria to save Bayley with Lynch decking Valkyria, who won’t go after Lynch. Bayley pulls Valkyria off the apron, allowing Lynch to baseball slide Valkyria down. Bayley fights back and loads up the top rope elbow but Valkyria comes in to jump Lynch for the DQ at 13:36.

Rating: B-. This was hurt by the Lyra Valkyria factor, as it wasn’t a question of whether she would get involved but when she would get involved. As a result, it was hard to get invested in the majority of the match as Valkyria wasn’t there yet. Things picked up once she got there and it was far from bad, but this was running with an anchor.

Post match Bayley yells at Valkyria as Lynch kisses the title.

Chad Gable explains some things to Ivy Nile but goes over to mock Penta. This earns Gable an arm snap.

Here is Raquel Rodriguez to call out Rhea Ripley for a fight. Cue Ripley and the fight is quickly on, with Ripley getting the better of things. Rodriguez fights back on the floor and loads up a table but Ripley is on the announcers’ table for a jumping forearm. Cue Roxanne Perez go break up the Riptide though and the numbers game results in Ripley going through the table.

Post break Ripley demands and receives a street fight with Rodriguez. Sounds like a Night Of Champions replacement match and that’s perfectly fine.

Video on CM Punk vs. John Cena, looking at how they’re in different places than during their famous matches.

Night Of Champions rundown.

King Of The Ring Semifinals: Jey Uso vs. Cody Rhodes

They stare at each other to start and we do get a handshake. Uso’s headlock doesn’t get him anywhere so Rhodes shoulders him down for a staredown. Rhodes works on the arm for a bit before they trade armdrags, with Rhodes having the smallest of advantages. Back up and Uso takes him down for a change and a YEET takes us to a break.

We come back with Uso making the ropes to escape a Figure Four. An exchange of strikes sets up a Samoan drop to give Uso two and the running Umaga Attack connects in the corner. The Superfly Splash hits raised knees though and Rhodes goes way different with a kimura. That’s broken up and Uso gets the sleeper but Rhodes powers up and dumps him over the top. A suicide dive is cut off though and they fight up to the top. Rhodes runs the corner for a top rope superplex and they’re both down off the crash.

We take another break and come back again with another slugout until Rhodes hits a running forearm. Uso snaps off a powerslam but his Cross Rhodes is countered into a Cody Cutter to give Rhodes two. The Disaster Kick misses as well though and Uso’s spear gets another near fall. Another spear is cut off though and a top rope Cody Cutter gets a rather near fall. Uso counters Cross Rhodes into one of his own for two more and another spear drops Rhodes again. The Superfly Splash is cut off though and a super Cody Cutter plants Uso hard. Cross Rhodes finishes Uso at 20:06.

Rating: B+. The rise of Uso turned this into a match where the ending wasn’t obvious and that’s great. Uso isn’t on Rhodes’ level but he’s a genuine main eventer and that made him a threat to pull off the upset. It helped that they beat the heck out of each other until one of them was left standing and it felt like an awesome main event style match. Rhodes winning makes more sense, but he wasn’t a lock and that’s a great feeling.

Post match respect is shown and they’re all cool to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a pretty great show with four good matches, but they had to scramble to change some of the Night Of Champions undercard. Thankfully what we are going to get is good enough and I’m fairly interested in the show so what we got here worked well. This one was built around the in-ring side of things and that worked rather well, with that opener in particular being rather entertaining.

Results
Bron Breakker b. Penta – Super Spear
Jade Cargill b. Roxanne Perez – Jaded
Becky Lynch b. Bayley via DQ when Lyra Valkyria interfered
Cody Rhodes b. Jey Uso – Cross Rhodes

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: June 9, 2025
Location: PHX Arena, Phoenix, Arena
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re done with Money In The Bank and Seth Rollins and Naomi have the briefcases. That means we could be having some cash-ins teased soon, with Gunther challenging Jey Uso for the World Title tonight being a legitimate possibility. We’re also ready to start up on the King and Queen Of The Ring qualifying matches so let’s get to it.

Here is Money In The Bank if you need a recap.

Various people came to work today, including Becky Lynch in a Ms. Rachel shirt (if you have young kids, that probably either makes you smile or glare).

We get a long Worlds Collide and Money In The Bank recap.

Here is John Cena, who insists on his special entrance. Cena says that the fans teach him something every time they open their mouths. At Money In The Bank, Cena learned that the truth is a lie. The fans wanted a sideshow comedian whose greatest achievement is pretending to be him. These people are all spineless keyboard warriors and armchair activists with no real power to change anything.

R-Truth is a gimmick that the fans will spit out in a year and not care about at all. This is his farewell tour and he has limited time left. We run down the number of dates he has left, which leaves him at 19. If you want to accomplish something, send him competition instead of the class clown. Every time someone has come to him, he has shut their mouth and beaten his best….and here is CM Punk to interrupt.

Punk asks if Cena is comfortable because he has a lot to say. He’s comfortable with having this conversation with his fists but one way or another, he’ll get through this. Punk thinks it’s ironic that Cena wants to ruin wrestling and Punk is the one defending the establishment. That’s not what he’s doing, because he isn’t standing for TKO or defending the billionaires. Instead, he’s here to defend the people. Is Cena mad because he was picked by the establishment but not the people?

Cena has said that he hasn’t had real competition, but he’s stolen the title from the best WWE has. Punk is here because the people are his boss and if they want the truth, they’re going to get Ron Killings. They are all just spokes on the wheel and it’s time Cena learned that too. That starts by Punk taking the title from Cena’s shoulders. Remember when they locked up at Elimination Chamber?

Punk felt it then, just like when Seth Rollins gave him a Stomp. Cena said I’M SORRY because he knows what he’s doing is wrong. That title is corrupting him and even though Punk didn’t want to get it when he came here. Now though, Punk is going to have to become the monster to stop the monster. Punk counts 18 dates left after tonight and he’ll let Cena pick the date he takes the title from him.

If Cena is more Boston Red Sox than New York Yankees, he’ll do it tonight. Cena says Punk is on but not here, because Punk is going to have to follow him to Saudi Arabia at Night Of Champions (Punk has been VERY vocal about not wanting to do those shows). Punk seems in but here are Seth Rollins and company to hold up the briefcase.

There was a lot going on here but anything involving Cena and Punk together is a great way to go. At the same time, Punk feels like someone who could take the title from Cena given their history together. I do like the idea of tying it in with Punk’s known issues about Saudi Arabia, so the whole thing has a few different angles at the same time.

AJ Styles vs. Chad Gable

The Creeds are here with Gable. Feeling out process to start until Styles hits the drop down into the dropkick to send Gable outside. Gable is ready for a dive though and takes out the legs as we take a break. Back with Styles getting in a shot of his own but a nasty German suplex puts him back down. The top rope headbutt gives Gable two but Styles catches him on the top. That’s fine with Gable who gets the ankle lock, which is reversed into a quick Styles Clash for the pin at 7:57.

Rating: C+. It’s good to see Styles getting a win and for once, there is something reassuring about what is next for Gable. It made for a nice opener, even though they didn’t have much time to set things up. Styles could be getting ready to go after the Intercontinental Title and that means he needs some wins like this one.

Roxanne Perez comes up to Liv Morgan in the back to pitch an alliance to help win the Women’s Title for Judgment Day. Morgan isn’t interested and blows her off.

Queen Of The Ring First Round: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Kairi Sane

Ripley picks up Morgan to start but gets knocked down, with Sand taking down Morgan and Perez at the same time. Ripley gets back up for the staredown but Morgan breaks it up. Perez saves Morgan, who gets kicked in the head by Ripley. The Riptide is broken up by Perez and Ripley is sent out to the floor.

Sane gets tossed onto her for the big crash and we take a break. Back with Morgan hitting a Codebreaker on Ripley and taking Sane up top. Ripley powerbombs the villains down but walks into a top rope forearm from Sane. Back up and Sane hits a quick sitout Stunner for two on Ripley with Morgan and Perez making the save.

Sane is kicked to the floor but Ripley pulls herself up and goes after Perez and Morgan. Ripley headbutts sane and blocks Morgan’s Oblivion. Riptide connects but Raquel Rodriguez breaks up the pin. Sane dives onto both of them and then drops the Insane Elbow on Morgan…but Perez steals the pin at 12:48.

Rating: B. As much as I never need to see that “steal the pin” ending again, this was a heck of a match with quite a bit of action throughout. Perez going forward is a smart way to advance both her status on the main roster and the issues with Judgment Day. At the same time, Ripley needs something fresh, as she is starting to feel pretty ice cold. As hard as that might be to fathom, that needs to change.

Video on Worlds Collide.

Video on Nikki Bella.

Bella introduces herself to various women backstage and exchanges terms of respect with Kairi Sane.

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. She isn’t sure where her YOU DESERVE IT chants are and lists off her various accomplishments. Lynch has raised the status of the Intercontinental Title just by winning it. On Saturday, Lyra Valkyria injured Lynch’s shoulder and Lynch, just trying to finish their issues, asked Valkyria to put the title on her waist. Then that crazy bird lady tried to kill her!

Lynch wants Valkyria out here to raise her hand properly so here is Valkyria, who Lynch says has that crazy look in her eyes again. Cue the returning Bayley from behind to jump her, sending Lynch bailing. That’s a good way to go as Bayley is a fresh opponent for Lynch, which Valkyria was cheated out of the title.

Commentary argues about what they just saw but R-Truth climbs onto the announcers’ table. Killings says don’t let anyone ever tell you that you don’t matter. They heard and they understood so he is back because of these people. He’s back and while the people love R-Truth, he can be funny all the time. Or too forgiving all the time, but not him.

He’s not a side show or a gimmick…and he takes some scissors out to cut his hair off. The truth has set him free and he is Ron The Truth Killings, so put some respect on his name. And with that he walks out through the crowd. I have no idea what is next for him, but it better be something special after a pretty awesome promo that showed a VERY different side of Killings.

Finn Balor isn’t sure why Dominik Mysterio is getting a match in the King Of The Ring. Mysterio makes sure Balor is cool with it, with JD McDonagh saying he and Balor are going to win the Tag Team Titles. Roxanne Perez comes in to celebrate her own win but Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez come in to not be pleased with her. Balor approves. As the clubhouse continues to turn.

Video on Mr. Iguana from AAA.

Seth Rollins give Bron Breakker a pep talk before his match.

King Of The Ring First Round: Dominik Mysterio vs. Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker vs. Penta

Non-title. Penta and Mysterio go to the floor to start, leaving Zayn to hammer on Breakker in the corner. Breakker is right back up with a running clothesline to Mysterio and we take a break. Back with Breakker suplexing Penta so all three others go after Breakker at the same time. Mysterio’s rollup gets two on Penta but Zayn is back up for the corner climbing tornado DDT.

Zayn dives onto Breakker on the floor so Penta dives onto Zayn, setting up Mysterio’s suicide DDT. Breakker hits his clothesline off the apron to crush Mysterio and we take another break. Back again with Breakker running the corner for a super Frankensteiner and then catching Penta with a jumping knee.

Breakker’s gorilla press is countered into a DDT for two and Mysterio is back in. Zayn gets caught with Two Amigos but reverses the third into a Blue Thunder Bomb for his own near fall. Back up and Penta Sacrifices Zayn’s arm and hits the Penta Driver, with Mysterio stealing the two. Breakker is back up and takes the straps down, allowing him to run around the ring to spear Penta. Cue LA Knight of all people with a BFT to Breakker, leaving Zayn to exploder Mysterio into the corner. The Helluva Kick gives Zayn the pin on Mysterio at 17:06.

Rating: B-. This got a lot of time and while it felt really similar to the four way for the Intercontinental Title at Wrestlemania (which only had Finn Balor in Zayn’s place), Zayn winning was a surprise. The match felt like it was designed for Breakker to win as he is known to smash through almost anyone. Zayn winning the whole thing is certainly an option and that is quite the interesting option.

AJ Styles isn’t happy with Seth Rollins sending Paul Heyman to threaten him last week. If you threaten Styles, he’ll hit you in the mouth and he’ll go tell Rollins that himself.

New Day is not happy with being asked who is next for their Tag Team Titles. Instead you should be thanking God for them being champions.

Video on Asuka, who is back next week after about a year away. I’m hoping this wasn’t meant to be a surprise as her name was listed in the graphics earlier in the night.

Here is Nikki Bella to thank us for having her back. She gets to the point, which is Evolution II taking place next month. Bella talks about the various women who will be around for the show and all of the talent we have here (including Stephanie “Vaquay”), which brings out a furious Liv Morgan. She isn’t happy with Bella not mentioning her and goes off about all of her accomplishments.

Morgan knows that Bella is scared of her because Morgan would have beaten her if Bella was still around. Morgan brings up that at least she has a man, unlike Bella. That makes Bella laugh, and she asks who Morgan’s man belongs to. Bella goes to leave but comes back when Morgan calls her a reality Diva. The Oblivion leaves Bella laying. Bella being in the ring again at Evolution seems like a layup, and it wouldn’t stun me to see her sister show up to try and win the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

John Cena vs. CM Punk is set for Night Of Champions.

Raw World Title: Jey Uso vs. Gunther

Gunther is challenging. Uso starts fast and tries some early sleepers, with Gunther bailing to the floor as we take an early break. Back with Uso hitting a high crossbody but coming up favoring his ribs, which gives Gunther a target. Gunther rips Uso’s shirt off and goes after the bad ribs with some knees to the back. A suplex drops Uso again and it’s time to rip the tape off as well. They go to the floor with a German suplex dropping Uso again and we take another break.

Back again with Uso winning a battle over a suplex and striking away. The enziguri rocks Gunther again and they go to the apron, with Uso knocking Gunther out to the floor. Gunther pulls him down again though and tries the top rope splash, which hits raised knees. Back in and the spear sets up the Superfly Splash for two on Gunther, leaving them both down.

The powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana and Uso hits a superkick. Uso gets the sleeper but gets caught with a backbreaker. Gunther’s powerbomb gets two and he hits his own spear for two. Uso can’t get the sleeper but he can hit a spear. The Superfly Splash misses and Gunther grabs a choke, even pulling it back to the middle.

Uso fights up but gets pulled back down, with Gunther letting go for some reason. Back up and Uso grabs his own sleeper, which is countered into the elbows to the head. Gunther elbows him in the head and gets the sleeper again to finally finish Uso and win the title at 22:01.

Rating: B-. They were really starting to get me here, but then the sleepers just kept going and took a lot of the energy out of the thing. That being said, I was rather stunned by the ending, as it felt like a situation where something big was going to happen to end the match. Instead, Gunther just won clean in a major moment. I’m not sure where this is leading, but there are certainly options available. Just try to find something other than the sleeper whenever we get there.

Gunther celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Sweet goodness what a show. You had some very good action, some great talking and a major title change to wrap it up. This was one of the times where the show felt red hot again and has me wondering what is going to happen next. That isn’t a feeling that happens very often and dang did it work here. Awesome show, both for tonight and for the future.

Results
AJ Styles b. Chad Gable – Styles Clash
Roxanne Perez b. Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan and Kairi Sane – Rollup to Sane
Sami Zayn b. Dominik Mysterio, Penta and Bron Breakker – Helluva Kick to Mysterio
Gunther b. Jey Uso – Sleeper

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

Money In The Bank 2025
Date: June 7, 2025
Location: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Corey Graves

It’s time for one of the biggest shows of the year as we find out who gets to be annoying with the briefcases for the next few hours to several months. The good thing is that WWE has done a nice job of making the titles feel that much more important and like the most important things in the promotion. Hopefully they can keep up that momentum so let’s get to it.

The opening video focuses on how important money is for everyone and how it makes the world go around. This shifts into a look at the various matches, as tends to be the case, though at least it is kept brief.

Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match

We have Stephanie Vaquer, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, Roxanne Perez, Giulia and Naomi. Bliss, Ripley and Naomi clear out the other three to start, leaving Naomi to baseball slide a ladder into Vaquer. With Naomi outside, we get a staredown between Ripley and Bliss but Giulia and Perez break it up. Vaquer comes back in with a ladder of her own and takes care of them, only to get X Factored onto a ladder.

Bliss puts Naomi and Perez onto a ladder for a running flipping backsplash but Giulia sends Bliss into a ladder in the corner. Ripley comes in for the staredown with Giulia and hits a hard dropkick to send her into the corner. Perez is back in with a hurricanrana to send Ripley into a ladder laying against the ropes for the big crash. Perez and Giulia go up the ladder at the same time but have to stop to crush Ripley in a ladder (which doesn’t exactly go well).

Ripley is buried under a bunch of ladders on the floor, leaving Naomi to go for the ladder. Vaquer breaks that up and cleans house, including a dragon screw legwhip out of the corner to Naomi. That lets Vaquer go up, but Giulia jumps on her back for the climb. A German suplex brings Vaquer down but Bliss makes the save and climbs as well. Perez, Giulia and Vaquer go up too so Bliss drops down and cuts Vaquer off.

The other two are brought down and the ladder is knocked down, leaving Perez to send Giulia into the ladder a few times. Ripley gets out from the pile of ladders though and starts wrecking Giulia, much to the fans’ appreciation. A toss Razor’s Edge sends Giulia into Naomi and takes Vaquer down in a crash as well. Ripley bridges a ladder in the corner but gets caught with the Devil’s Kiss to a heck of a reaction.

Bliss and Perez both go up so Naomi follows, with another ladder being bridged in. Perez and Bliss hit stereo Code Reds to take out Naomi and Vaquer in an awesome looking visual. Giulia and Perez go up to slug it out but Bliss and Ripley make some saves. Bliss and Ripley plant the two of them and go up but Naomi shoves the ladder over, sending them into another ladder. Naomi gets the briefcase at 25:12.

Rating: C+. I wasn’t feeling this one of the most part, partially because it just went on so long. It didn’t help that there was almost nothing that made it stand out, with only the Devil’s Kiss to Ripley feeling different. This wasn’t so much bad (it wasn’t) as much as it was dull, with the women just kind of doing stuff until Naomi won. That’s not overly interesting and that’s not making for a good car crash match.

Some stars from AAA are here.

Earlier today at Worlds Collide, Dominik Mysterio taunted Octagon Jr. for being a big Rey Mysterio fan. The brawl was on, setting up an Intercontinental Title match tonight.

Intercontinental Title: Octagon Jr. vs. Dominik Mysterio

Mysterio, with Liv Morgan, is defending. Octagon jumps over him to start and sends Mysterio to the floor for an Asai moonsault. Back in and Mysterio crotches him on top and ties part of the mask to the ropes. Mysterio stomps away and hits a driver, only to miss the 619. Octagon kicks him in the head and hits a corkscrew hilo for two, followed by a fisherman’s neckbreaker. Morgan offers a distraction though and now the 619 connects. The frog splash finishes for Mysterio at 4:54.

Rating: C+. This is the kind of match that the show was needing, as a four match card was feeling rather weak. This was a nice way to tie things up with Worlds Collide and even gave Mysterio a quick win. Nothing noteworthy here, but nice job of at least fleshing out the card a bit, which was needed.

Chad Gable shows American Made the OFFICIAL Fireball ladder (because yes, we have sponsored ladders to go with the sponsored tables from this week’s Smackdown).

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria

Valkyria is defending after beating Lynch last month. This is Lynch’s last shot at the title, but if she wins, Valkyria has to raise her hand. Valkyria jumps her to start the brawl fast and sends Lynch outside…but has to have the referee fix her top (which has been an issue for her before). Lynch takes over on the floor and sends Valkyria into the barricade. Back in and the Manhandle Slam is countered so Lynch settles for two off a reverse layout DDT.

Valkyria is sent into the buckles a few times but comes back with the forearms, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two. One heck of a DDT gives Lynch two of her own but Valkyria catches her on top with a superplex. A fisherman’s buster gives Valkyria two and she nails Lynch in the head with a spinning kick. Lynch mixes it up with a cross armbreaker but Valkyria escapes and pulls on the leg while standing on Lynch’s head (ouch).

They go outside, where an ax kick from the barricade hits Lynch on the floor. Back in and Valkyria dives into a powerbomb to put them down for a needed double breather. They go up top again and a super Manhandle Slam gives Lynch two, resulting in the shocked kickout face. Another Manhandle Slam to the floor knocks Valkyria silly but she manages a Nightwing from the apron to the floor to drop Lynch as well. They both roll in to beat the count so Valkyria grabs the same rollup she used to win last month for two. That’s reversed into a rollup from Lynch, who grabs the trunks for the pin at 15:17.

Rating: B. These two work very well together and that was the case again here. They had to give Lynch the win here though, as there was no way you could have her lose twice in a row, especially so soon after her return. This is also the kind of star power that the title needs and comes after Valkyria beat Lynch clean. Good stuff here, and I’m curious to see where Valkyria goes next.

Post match Lynch, eventually, gets her hand raised and of course is rather gloaty. That’s not good enough for Lynch though, as she insists that Valkyria put the belt on her. Valkyria suplexes her into Nightwing and it looks like a rubber match is coming.

The announcers play with action figures. Lucky.

Men’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match

We’ve got LA Knight, Andrade, El Grade Americano, Penta, Seth Rollins and Solo Sikoa. Cole goes on a rant about Americano being Chad Gable because they both have taped up elbows, with McAfee not having it with this nonsense. Rollins, who has been the focal point of the build to the match, is surrounded to start and the beating is on rather quickly. Andrade, Knight and Penta knock Rollins to the floor, leaving Sikoa to stare at all three of them instead.

Sikoa tries to put something together with them and is promptly destroyed. Rollins is back in to hammer on Penta and Andrade hits a big running flip dive onto a pile. Penta hits a dive of his own and Americano grabs a ladder. Americano and Penta head back inside, with Rollins using a ladder to the ribs to knock Penta to the floor. Sikoa is back in to slam Americano onto a ladder but Knight hammers Sikoa into the corner.

Knight elbows him onto the ladder and goes up, only to get in a slugout with Penta. A bigger ladder is set up with Rollins and Americano going up, followed by Sikoa and Andrade going up their own ladder. The six way brawl is on until everyone goes down, giving us a Sikoa vs. Rollins staredown. Rollins gets the better of the fight and hits him in the ribs with the ladder.

The Stomp plants Sikoa again and Rollins is alone in the ring with a ladder….so he goes to get another ladder. Rollins goes up gets cut off by Americano, who grabs an ankle lock to leave Rollins hanging upside down. Andrade is up with a sunset bomb to plant Americano and Penta suplexes Rollins onto a ladder in the corner. Andrade and Penta go up the big ladder before Andrade hits him in the back with another ladder.

The ladder is bridged into the standing one and Penta hits a Canadian Destroyer to plant Andrade onto the bridge. Sikoa is back in and is promptly pulled back out by Knight, who bridges a ladder onto the barricade. Back in and Penta powerbombs Knight but Americano is back up with the “Gable like” German suplexes. Americano busts out the Fireball ladder for the helicopter spot but gets taken down again.

Penta knocks Rollins off a ladder but Knight sends Americano into a ladder at ringside, allowing him to ride a ladder from the corner onto the ladder in the middle to headbutt Penta down. That was a cross between “OH COME ON” and “DANG THAT WAS AWESOME” so we’ll let it slide. Knight belly to back suplexes Americano down and Rollins goes up but Penta and Andrade make the save (Michael Cole is on his feet over this stuff).

Andrade and Penta slug it out on top but here are Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker, with Breakker spearing the heck out of Americano. Another spear hits Knight and Paul Heyman gives him the last rites. Reed Tsunamis Andrade and goes after Sikoa but here are JC Mateo and Jacob Fatu to even (I think?) things up a bit.

The brawl is on and Breakker spears Mateo through the barricade, leaving Fatu to hit a pop up Samoan drop on Reed, followed by a heck of a suicide dive to send him into the announcers’ table. Fatu sets up the ladder and Sikoa….wants another one, but does stop to hug Fatu in a nice moment. Sikoa makes the slow climb with Fatu standing guard and….yeah there’s the look up at Sikoa, with Fatu grabbing his leg.

Sikoa looks down to see who has his leg and he knows this isn’t good. Fatu shouts that he hates Sikoa and pulls him down for a superkick. The triple jump moonsault connects as well and a release Rock Bottom sends him through the bridged ladder at ringside. Rollins grabs another FIREBALL ladder and goes up but Knight comes back to life to cut him off. Rollins pulls him back down though and goes up to win at 33:48.

Rating: B. Now this was more like it, as not only did it not feel long, but it also had quite a few moments that stood out. Rollins being the big threat was the story of the match and while it didn’t quite feel like anyone was going to be a big threat (Knight and Sikoa came closest), the idea of everyone trying to stop him worked. This felt like what Money In The Bank is supposed to be these days and the more than half an hour time span flew by.

Wrestlemania XLII is officially (for the second time) in Las Vegas again. Because of course it is.

Nikki Bella is back on Raw. Ok then.

Cody Rhodes/Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul/John Cena

Cena stole the title from Rhodes and is teaming with Paul, who he thinks is the future of WWE. Uso doesn’t like Paul either and Rhodes saved him at Saturday Night’s Main Event, setting up the tag match. After the Big Match Intros, Rhodes chases Cena around and gets Paul instead. It’s already back to Cena, who gets caught in a headlock.

That’s broken up so Rhodes runs him over with a shoulder, followed by a delayed gordbuster. Uso comes in and hits a pop up neckbreaker for two on Paul. A shot to the face cuts Uso down though and it’s off to Cena to whip him hard into the corner. Cena distracts the referee so Paul can get in a cheap shot on the apron in a simple yet effective trope.

Back up and Uso reverses Cena into the corner for the Bret Hart bump but Paul isn’t about to let Rhodes come back in. Cena’s running shoulder drops Uso and Cena even curtsy’s a bit to really ham it up. Uso fights to his feet but gets driven hard into the corner to leave both of them down again. Paul cuts off the tag again though and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up so Cena cuts the tag attempt off again, which draws Rhodes in, allowing the double teaming in the corner.

Cena grabs the chinlock as this beating continues. Back up and Cena teases knocking Rhodes off the apron but gets hit in the face this time, allowing Uso to score with an enziguri. Paul and Cena get into an argument of their own though and that’s enough for the tag to Rhodes (with the villains’ stunned faces being a great visual as they knew they screwed up).

House is quickly cleaned with a Cody Cutter to Cena and a big dive to Paul. Back in and a quick AA gives Cena two, with Uso making the save. The Buckshot Lariat doesn’t work as Paul slips and Uso superkicks him down. Cross Rhodes hits Cena so Paul springboards in for the save, which hits Cena by mistake. Uso spears Paul and everyone is down. Cena and Uso are up to slug it out but Paul is back up to deck Uso.

The Paulverizer plants Rhodes so Paul goes up and grabs a drone (whose perspective we’re seeing), which takes too long so Rhodes superplexes him down (with Paul still holding the drone), setting up Uso’s Superfly Splash (with the shot still from the drone so we just see Uso crashing down). That was AWESOME and the kind of thing that makes this WWE feel so much more modernized with some outside the box thinking after decades of the same style. Anyway, Cena hits an AA each, with the one to Rhodes getting two.

Cena goes outside and loads up the announcers’ table but Rhodes slips out, leaving Uso to catch Cena with a spear. Not to be out done, Paul Asai moonsaults Uso through the announcers’ table and everyone is down again. The referee is distracted and Cena gets in a belt shot. Cue someone in a black hoodie to spear Cena down and hammer away…..AND IT’S R-TRUTH to quite the reaction. Cena gets dropped with a belt shot and R-Truth leaves (looking WAY more serious than usual). Cross Rhodes gives Rhodes the pin at 24:00.

Rating: B+. Oh sweet goodness there is a lot to cover here. First and foremost, I have no idea if R-Truth actually left and he was brought back after the backlash or if it was a huge work, but WOW that was a great reveal. At the same time, it didn’t last long but I really did love that drone shot deal. It was clever and unique and I can always go for something like that.

As for the rest of the match, it was kind of a match in two parts. The first half had me losing my mind out of boredom, as that heat segment on Uso probably could have had a good five minutes cut out. That being said, the tag off to Rhodes was the turning point, as it was all full gear from then on, making for a heck of a finish. They went from a dull match to something close to outstanding, with the R-Truth deal at the end making it even better. Trim down a few minutes and this is a classic, but as it is, it’s just very good.

Cena and Paul look crushed to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show that took its time to get going but once you get on to the Valkyria vs. Lynch match, the whole thing is a heck of a ride. Even the first two matches are far from bad, making this a pretty awesome show. I was more than impressed with the last three matches and the show was this close to being a great one. Rather nice show here and a lot better than I was expecting.

Results
Naomi won the Women’s Money In The Bank ladder match
Dominik Mysterio b. Octagon Jr. – Frog splash
Becky Lynch b. Lyra Valkyria – Rollup with trunks
Seth Rollins won the Men’s Money In The Bank ladder match
Cody Rhodes/Jey Uso b. John Cena/Logan Paul – Cross Rhodes to Cena

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

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It’s time for one of the many themed pay per views that give someone else a guaranteed title shot, because there just aren’t enough of those going around in WWE. This time around we do have a bit of a twist as it’s all about climbing a ladder and then getting to pick the time of the ensuing title match. WWE has done a nice job in building those matches up, and that’s a good thing as we only have four matches on the card. Let’s get to it.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Lyra Valkyria(c) vs. Becky Lynch

This is a rematch from last month, where Valkyria beat Lynch clean in one heck of an upset. In this case, it’s Lynch’s last shot at the title but if she wins, Valkyria has to raise her hands. That makes me think this is even more obvious of a result than they had coming into Backlash, but that was quite the surprising ending. I’m a bit unsure, but that starts to go away a bit more every time I think about it.

In theory, there is no reason for Lynch to lose twice in a row so we’ll go with her winning the title. I like that WWE is trying to push Valkyria as the new thing but she just has not been clicking with the promos. Lynch can instantly boost the title up to the next level and that’s what it needs. Granted that’s what I said almost verbatim last month and it didn’t happen, so I have to be right at least once….right?

Women’s Money In The Bank

So as usual, these things are all about the process of elimination. In this case, that’s a bit difficult to do as there are multiple possible winners. I’ll write off Roxanne Perez, as I just can’t imagine her winning as it doesn’t quite fit at the moment. Alexa Bliss is almost getting pushed too much at the moment to win and Stephanie Vaquer seems like she is going to get a title shot without the briefcase sooner or later. Giulia is hunting the Women’s US Title so odds are she’s not winning either. That leaves us with two, and I’m not sure where it’s going.

As much as I’d like to see Rhea Ripley win and cash in for a title match against Iyo Sky, I’ll go with Naomi, as she’s the kind of weaselly heel who could do some good things with the briefcase. At the same time, she’s been losing a lot recently, which for some reason is something that happens with some of the briefcase winners. It might not be the most exciting at the moment, but it has me curious about how it could go and I’ll take that enough.

Men’s Money In The Bank

Normally I would do the same elimination process here, but this match has been built up in a very different way. This match is ALL about Seth Rollins vs. the field, as WWE has made it clear that he’s the main focus of the whole thing. It’s almost a stretch to imagine anyone else winning at this point, but that’s if you leave out everyone who isn’t involved in the match. CM Punk and possibly Roman Reigns are almost guaranteed to be lurking and that makes things interesting.

Honestly at this point though, I’m going with Rollins for lack of anyone else. Who else is a viable option to win the thing? Maybe Solo Sioka? LA Knight is a tiny option I guess, but it’s not going to be Andrade, Penta or El Grande Americano (at least I don’t think on the last one, but maybe a bit of a chance). I’ll go with Rollins, but this is going to be the big wild match that has a bunch of interference, which should be a lot of fun.

Cody Rhodes/Jey Uso vs. John Cena/Logan Paul

I’m not sure if this is going to go on last, but this is the main event for all intent and purpose. Rhodes is back to get his hands on Cena again after what happened at Wrestlemania and there is a very realistic possibility that we’ll be seeing those two go at it again on a big stage. The same is likely true of Paul and Uso, which could make for something interesting.

In this case, I’ll go with…..I think I’ll take the villains here, with Paul beating Uso to set up the title rematch. I’m not sure where that goes as Uso already has Gunther on Monday and very well could have a briefcase to deal with as well. This could go any way and Rhodes beating Cena is an option, but I’m thinking they’ll wait a bit longer before we get to that big showdown (which almost has to happen).

Overall Thoughts

This is a great illustration of how WWE is setting up the World Titles as the most important things in the company. The focus on this show is all about the titles and we have heard about how important they are for the last few weeks in particular. That has me wanting to see what happens with them and the show itself should be quite the spectacle. Just don’t do anything stupid.

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

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Monday Night Raw
Date: June 2, 2025
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

It’s the last Raw before Money In The Bank and there are still some spots left to fill in the show’s namesake matches. At least one of those spots is going to be filled in this week and that should make for some interesting changes to Saturday. There are other things to cover before we get there though so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Seth Rollins qualifying for Money In The Bank last week, with some shenanigans setting up this week’s tag match.

We run down tonight’s card.

Michael Cole has lost a bet to Pat McAfee over the NBA Playoffs so Cole will be doing this show in a tank top. It happens to be a Pacers tank top (as in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s opponent) so Cole is not exactly popular this week.

Here is CM Punk to get things going. After making some NBA Finals references (and saying that if they’re on, you should be watching Raw or Smackdown instead), Punk moves on to Money In The Bank, which he has won twice. He’s looking forward to doing it for the third time because it’s time for him to get some gold. There are two names on top of that mountain, with one of them being Jey Uso.

Punk considers him a friend and if Punk comes after Uso, it’s just business. The other name on top is John Cena and it’s a bit personal there. Punk has always had Cena’s number and he might come pick the bones a bit. It’s time for Punk to become champion one more time, so he’ll see us at Money In The Bank after he qualifies tonight. Cue Sami Zayn, with Punk saying he usually hates being interrupted but he loves that song.

Punk has said that he wants to be World Champion but that’s what Zayn wants too. It just won’t be through Money In The Bank, though it still could be for Punk. Tonight, Punk has to win because he needs to be there to stop Seth Rollins from winning. If Rollins wins, everything is over for them around here. However, if Punk winds up winning the title, Zayn will be coming for it, which Punk likes too. Everything seems to be serious but ok. Punk getting back into the title picture is interesting, as it almost has to happen sooner or later. That being said, Zayn finally winning the big one could be an incredible moment.

We look back at Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez arguing last week, resulting in Kairi Sane pinning Liv Morgan.

Perez offers Morgan help tonight but Morgan says the best way to help is to stay out. Rodriguez yells at Perez as Morgan leaves. Morgan runs into Iyo Sky and promises to use Money In The Bank to take the title back. Sky says that’s not gonna happen. Morgan: “Watch me.”

Video on Stephanie Vaquer, who is officially on Raw.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer, Ivy Nile

Vaquer starts fast and sends Nile into the corner, setting up the Devil’s Kiss to Morgan for a nice reaction. Nile gets the same treatment but Morgan breaks it up with a dropkick. Morgan hits some running shots in the corner until Nile cuts her off. Nile German suplexes both of them at once and we take a break.

Back with Vaquer dragon screw legwhipping Nile out of the corner for two with Morgan making another save. Vaquer and Morgan slug it out until Vaquer gets her into the corner as well. Nile is back up with a Tower Of Doom and gets to trade near falls with Vaquer. Morgan gets up top for a double Codebreaker and a double near fall, followed by Oblivion to Vaquer. Nile tries and fails to steal the pin and brawls to the floor with Morgan. With Morgan sent into the steps, Vaquer grabs the SVB (double underhook backbreaker) for the win at 10:17.

Rating: B-. It’s kind of remarkable to see what Vaquer has become in so little time. She signed with the company less than a year ago, has already won two titles in NXT and feels like she belongs on the main roster. It would not surprise me to see her as champion within the next few months and that is an amazing rise. As for the match, they did well at the end, as I thought they might actually have Nile steal the win, so points for a good head fake.

Paul Heyman comes in to wish AJ Styles a happy birthday and offers him some information. Dominik Mysterio is the Intercontinental Champion and that means the title needs someone better, like Styles. That’s what Styles should focus on while leaving Money In The Bank to Seth Rollins. Styles asks if Heyman is tired because he must have thought this was going to work. He’ll get back to the Intercontinental Title later, but for now, it’s time to win Money In The Bank.

Rusev tells Sheamus to not mess with him. Sheamus has a body of granite but a neck of sand. Now stay away or he’ll snap Sheamus’ neck. Can you snap sand?

Sheamus gives the Alpha Academy and Natalya a pep talk. As for Rusev, his time outside of WWE lasted about as long as Rusev Day while Sheamus has been putting on banger after banger. If Rusev wants to prove himself, just remember that Sheamus bullies bullies.

War Raiders vs. Judgment Day

New Day is on commentary. We get some WE WANT TRUTH chants (and not for the first time tonight) as Erik gets taken into the corner for some choking to start. Erik gets beaten up in another corner but avoids a charge, allowing Ivar to come in and clean house. A handspring kick to the face even sends McDonagh to the floor and into the announcers’ table. Ivar gets slammed onto McDonagh and New Day bails from the threat of a crash.

The threat of a retaliation earns New Day an ejection and we take a break. Back with Ivar still in trouble but giving McDonagh a Tour of the Islands. Erik comes back in to clean house, including the pop up headbutt for two on Balor. Back up and Balor drops Erik but misses the Coup de Grace. Ivar’s seated senton out of the corner sets up the Bronco Buster but cue Roxanne Perez for a distraction. McDonagh breaks up the Doomsault and the Coup de Grace finishes Ivar at 11:07.

Rating: C+. You know how I keep talking about how cold this division feels? Well this was the latest example of the same issues. There is just nothing here that makes me want to see what is coming for any of the teams and these segments are feeling more and more like filler every time. It’s just not clicking and no one in the division feels even remotely important. That needs to change, but I have no idea how that is going to happen.

Becky Lynch has only been back for six weeks and Lyra Valkyria has already cost her a bunch. That’s because she has already forgotten everything Lynch has done for her, both here and in NXT.

Stephanie Vaquer speaks some Spanish but Rhea Ripley comes in (oh the fans REALLY like this one). The cheers are so loud that I can’t hear what Ripley says as she shakes Vaquer’s hand.

Here is Lyra Valkyria for a chat but she wants Becky Lynch out here to say this to her face. Cue Lynch, with Valkyria talking about how Lynch’s mind has been poisoned to believe that Valkyria couldn’t be champion. Lynch, who is backing up against the ropes, talks about how Valkyria is really the one whose mind is poisoned for thinking she can be the replacement.

The only think that Valkyria needs to learn is how to raise Lynch’s hand after Lynch beats her. Lynch goes to leaves so Valkyria challenges her for right now…but it’s not happening in Tulsa. Valkyria charges up the ramp and the brawl is on with referees breaking it up. As usual, Valkyria is trying but it’s not quite clicking.

We look at the Indiana Pacers beating the New York Knicks.

Penta is ready to win Money In The Bank.

Sami Zayn/Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker/Bronson Reed

Zayn has his own classes and you know he can get fired up for this kind of an entrance. Paul Heyman is here with the villains as Breakker drives Uso into the corner for some shoulders to the ribs to start. Breakker runs him over and we take a break. Back with Zayn fighting out of the corner but getting crushed right back into said corner. Breakker’s jumping knee puts Zayn down again but Zayn manages a DDT on Reed.

That’s enough for the tag back to Uso, who slugs away. Breakker’s fireman’s carry gutbuster gets two on Uso but the Super Spear is cut off with a superkick. Reed misses a splash on the apron and Breakker is sent outside, with Zayn’s slingshot dive being pulled out of the air. Uso dives onto all three of them though….and here is Seth Rollins to Stomp Uso for the DQ at 9:02.

Rating: B-. The action was good, but there was pretty much no way one of these four was taking a fall in this match at this point. They have too much going on at the moment and if they’re going to lose, it will be on a much bigger stage. For now though, Reed looked good in his new role as a monster for the heel stable and the whole thing continues to feel like it has a great deal of potential.

Post match the beatdown is on and Zayn is loaded onto the announcers’ table. CM Punk makes the save with a chair.

Liv Morgan isn’t happy with Finn Balor using Roxanne Perez to win but Balor says Morgan might be jealous. Balor insists there is no plan. Morgan trusts Dominik Mysterio but Balor wants her to trust him. With Morgan gone, Balor assures Mysterio that things are good.

Kairi Sane vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Liv Morgan is here with Rodriguez. Sane tries a waistlock to start and gets spun around without much trouble. A headscissors staggers Rodriguez again but she manages to swing a charging Sane into the apron. Morgan gets in a cheap shot and Rodriguez powers Sane into the corner back inside. Sane knocks her back and tries a high crossbody but gets pulled out of the air.

That’s reversed into a DDT (as we get a botched graphic saying that the Zayn/Uso tag match is still to come) and Sane is able to start the comeback. Sane strikes away in the corner and dropkicks the knee out, setting up a basement Blockbuster. Morgan gets on the apron for a distraction so here is Iyo Sky to cut her off. Rodriguez goes after Sane and gets kicked head first into the post. The Insane Elbow gives Sane the pin at 6:04.

Rating: C+. The match was pretty much just a reason for the interference and teasing Morgan vs. Sky. The good thing is that it did give Sane another pin after the unintentionally messed up return. That Insane Elbow is still great and makes Sane feel like she could beat anyone, though right now she’s just having random matches.

Sami Zayn is in the trainer’s room when Karrion Kross comes in. Kross doesn’t like what Zayn has been doing and Zayn asks what Kross wants from him. Kross says Zayn could be a ten time World Champion if he’ll just do the right thing and be evil. The reality is Zayn is just like him, but Zayn says Kross is wrong. Kross: “I may be wrong…..but I may be right too.”

Worlds Collide rundown.

Money In The Bank rundown.

Video on Gunther, who is getting his rematch against Jey Uso next week.

Gunther comes up to Uso in the back and talks about how Uso is trying to be a great champion. The problem is Uso refuses to think with his head instead of his heart, which is the wrong way to go. Next week, Gunther is getting the title back because he has known he would do this since the title loss at Wrestlemania. Next week, the party is over. Uso doesn’t take kindly to this and says he’ll see Gunther.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: AJ Styles vs. CM Punk vs. El Grande Americano

Americano gets double teamed to start and is quickly sent outside. Punk and Styles are cool with each other until Punk grabs a headlock. The drop down dropkick puts Punk down and might have taken out a tooth. Americano gets back in as Punk sends Styles into the corner a few times. Styles’ springboard is broken up and Americano flip dives onto Punk. Americano knocks Zayn over the announcers’ table and we take a break.

Back with Punk hitting the top rope elbow on Styles but Americano throws Punk down. American’s high crossbody is rolled through but Styles breaks up the GTS. Styles hits a double DDT for two each so Americano tries the ankle lock on both of them. That’s broken up and the Styles Clash hits Americano with Punk making the save.

The Styles Clash to Punk is countered into a failed GTS attempt but Americano moonsaults onto both of them for two on Styles. Another moonsault misses and the GTS hits Americano…with Bron Breakker pulling the referee out. Breakker and Bronson Reed beat him down but Jey Uso and Sami Zayn run in for the save. Styles hits a big springboard dive onto the pile but the Phenomenal Forearm hits the loaded headbutt to give American the pin at 11:48.

Rating: B. I wasn’t sure which way they were going here, but they are teasing the heck out of Rollins winning the briefcase again. That is far from guaranteed from happening, but the storm clouds seem to be forming around Raw. Americano is rolling in this spot, and they’re doing the smart thing by not having him out there every week to run out his welcome. On the other hand, Styles needs to get to the Intercontinental Title feud as soon as possible, as he is the most “and he’s here too” name in WWE right now.

Post match Punk goes after Breakker and Reed but Seth Rollins runs in and keeps up the beatdown. The villains wreck the heroes and Reed drops some Tsunamis to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Money In The Bank season is such a weird time for WWE as so much of the shows are built around getting to the ladder matches. Saturday will see all kinds of things reset at once, but it makes for some hyper focused shows and they can be a bit tedious. The good thing here is that the action was enough to carry the show, even if it feels like it was the end of the first part of a season.

Results
Stephanie Vaquer b. Liv Morgan and Ivy Nile – SVB to Nile
Judgment Day b. War Raiders – Coup de Grace to Ivar
Sami Zayn/Jey Uso b. Bronson Reed/Bron Breakker via DQ when Seth Rollins interfered
Kairi Sane b. Raquel Rodriguez – Insane Elbow
El Grande Americano b. CM Punk and AJ Styles – Loaded headbutt to Styles

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