WWE Monday Night Raw: June 9, 2025

Tonight, it’s a huge Monday Night Raw as we are in the shadows of Money in the Bank and Worlds Collide. We’re on the road to Evolution, Saturday Night’s Main Event and Night of Champions as the grind never stops. There is a LOT announced for tonight and it feels like a very big show, so let’s see what is in store for us.

Then, Now, Forever, Together.

We’re in Phoenix, sold out on Netflix and presented by Snickers. Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch – wearing a Ms. Rachel shirt! – arrives with her belt, as WWE Hall of Famer and Phoenix’s own Nikki Bella also rolls in. Gunther sports a nice black polo shirt for his arrival as he prepares to challenge World Champion Jey Uso, who arrives with his son. Is he ready to go tonight? Michael Cole has doubts.

The drone zooms over the PHX Arena crowd – 14,361 in attendance – as we flash back to Money in the Bank and Worlds Collide highlights. Both were good shows, but I’d highly recommend you go give Worlds Collide a watch on YouTube.

The screens fade to black as “My Time is Now” plays and our Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena walks out. The King and Queen of the Ring crowns are in display cases on each side of the entrance. The great Alicia Taylor gives John a proper entrance as he lays out his purple “The Last Time is Now” towel. It’s a mixed reaction really, a lot of cheers mixed in with the boos. Amid “let’s go Cena” and “Cena sucks” chants, John points to Alicia who gives him his long form “greatest of all-time” intro.

After another few minutes of the crowd chanting back and forth, Cena – standing on the Papa John’s logo – says that the crowd taught him that “truth is a lie because you opened your mouth and wasted your energy saving a sideshow comedian whose greatest achievement is pretending to be me.” The “we want Truth” chants get going full force as John asks the fans if they think it actually accomplished anything. He calls the crowd keyboard warriors and armchair activists who have no real power to change anything. He says the fans will spit out R-Truth in a year and not care anything him. “You’ll never use me to benefit one of your garbage pity parties ever again.” He yells about having limited time in his farewell tour as he runs through the dates again – 27 dates on the Raw after WrestleMania, dropping down to Phoenix as the 19th date left.

John tells the crowd to not send him the class clown, but to use their voice to send him competition. So far he’s run through Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and Truth and beaten our best. That cues “Cult of Personality” and CM Punk as well as the Living Colour singalong, which is always welcome. Punk has chosen a Ramones sweatshirt and jeans tonight, sleeves rolled up because it’s June and who wears a s sweatshirt in June. After the mandatory “CM Punk” chants, Mr. Punk has a mic of his own. He wants John to be comfortable because he has a lot of things he wants to get off his chest. Punk talks about how iconic it is that Cena is here to bring down the establishment and Punk is here to save it. “The more things change, the more things stay the same.” Punk says he isn’t “stanning for TKO,” but he’s here to defend the people.

Punk remembers that the people picked him in 2011. Punk tells Cena he has faced the best competition and Cody’s the best they’ve got because Cena took shortcuts. “I’m not here to kiss my Final Boss’s ass like you.” Punk says his job is to give the crowd what they want, and if it’s the truth, they’re going to get Ron Killings. Punk recalls being spokes on a wheel, and it’s time to teach Cena that he is a spoke on the wheel too. That starts by taking the title off Cena’s shoulder. He knew at Elimination Chamber and knows now that what Cena is doing is wrong. The fans chant, “you sold out.” Punk tells Cena he’ll spend the rest of his dates crisscrossing the country apologizing when Punk takes his title. Punk shoves Cena and says the title corrupted him and knows it did the same thing to him in 2012. Punk is afraid of the man he becomes when he has the belt and says that he has to become a monster to stop the monster. He’ll leave it up to Cena to decide which of those dates left he’ll give Punk a shot. He tells him if he’s more Red Sox than Yankee, he’ll decide it is tonight.

Cena: “John Cena, CM Punk, one final match. The best in the world against the greatest of all time for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Let’s do it!” The fans cheer but know there’s a catch. “Not tonight. A match like this, you’re going to follow me to Saudi Arabia and we’re going to do it at Night of Champion. Ball’s in your court, hero. If you want a title match, it’s going to be at Night of Champions.” Punk nods in agreement as Seth Rollins’ music hits. Punk has an amazing green suit, and I need the link for it. Cole notes that he is Mr. Money in the Bank as Rollins laughs, holding up his briefcase. It’s a reminder that Rollins can cash in it at any point, reminds Cole.

Michael Cole is joined by Wade Barrett at ringside, proving this is the best episode I’ve reviewed yet. We have a Queen of the Ring tournament first round match tonight with Rhea Ripley, Kairi Sane, Roxanne Perez and Liv Morgan. On the men’s side, Adam Pearce has a mystery spot in the bracket but tonight the four men battling are Sami Zayn, Dominik Mysterio, Bron Breakker and Penta.

Chad Gable (with Brutus & Julius Creed) vs AJ Styles

Chad’s right elbow is taped up as we learn this match is brought to us by Cash App. Cole talks about Gable’s injury happening at Worlds Collide and Money in the Bank, which is weird since Gable didn’t wrestle at MITB. El Grande Americano pinned Styles last week on Raw, which is coincidental to mention during a Chad Gable match. The fans chant for AJ as Gable locks in an early headlock. While the Creeds distract Style, Gable chops Styles down to the arena floor as we head to a commercial break.

Following the break, Styles splashes Gable in the corner. Gable locks on a torture rack and spins it into a pin attempt, which is nice. Gable suplexes Styles on the back of his head and lands a flying headbutt but only gets a two count. Styles powerbombs Gable out of the moonsault position, then goes for the Styles Clash. Brutus distracts the ref and Julius pulls Gable out, so Styles attacks both Creeds. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm but is pulled into an ankle lock. Styles rolls out and rolls into a Styles Clash for a three count. AJ Styles pins Chad Gable. AJ is holding his ankle as we head backstage.

Liv Morgan is warming up and is joined by Roxanne Perez. Liv says she’s advancing in the tournament and will win her title from Iyo Sky. Roxanne thinks they should work together so one of them wins. Liv tells Rox to stay out of her way and flips her hair, promising to win.

Queen of the Ring First Round: Liv Morgan vs Roxanne Perez vs Rhea Ripley vs Kairi Sane

Liv gets the pre-commercial intro, while we come back to find Kairi heading to the ring and Rox already in it. Rhea gets a TV entrance of course, and she should because the noise for her by this crowd was as loud if not louder than it was for Punk. I say this most weeks, but the constant screaming during her entrance – and not just when the music hits but all the way to her taking her vest off in the ring – shows that the audience is not just men.

Rox and Kairi break off as do Rhea and Liv, though that quickly changes. Rhea chokes Liv with her thighs in the corner, but Rox saves her potential Judgment Day friend. Rhea breaks out of a Codebreaker and goes for the Riptide, but Roxanne attacks Rhea’s knee to again save Liv. They team to do a Codebreaker on Rhea before catching a flying Kairi, sending her flying out of the ring and onto Rhea, who is outside. Commercial!

Kairi has control when we come back, drop kicking Liv in the corner. Rox tries for Pop Rox but is drop kicked by Rhea, who has a dropkick of her own for Mami as well as a springboard Codebreaker. Kairi breaks up the pin and Rhea rolls back out. The fans chant “this is awesome” as Kairi goes up for the elbow, Liv stopping her to save Rox. Liv and Rox climb up to do a joint superplex on Kairi, but Rhea runs in and powerbombs both women off the ropes. Kairi jumps into Rhea with a flying forearm but can only get a two count. Liv hits a backstabber on Kairi – an homage to Carlito, Cole notes – as Rhea rises up and takes down both Liv and Rox. Kairi jumps into a Rhea boot, Rhea headbutts Rox and then Liv tries for Oblivion, which Rhea blocks. Rhea hits Riptide and Raquel Rodriguez is there to break the pin, Cole reminding us that a fatal four way has no DQ. Rhea and Raquel brawl as Kairi jumps on them both. Kairi goes for the big elbow, nailing Liv for a two count before Roxanne rolls Kairi into a pin to steal the win. Roxanne Perez qualifies for Queen of the Ring by pinning Kairi Sane. I’ve said this about all the multi-women’s matches since taking over the Raw recaps, but go out of your way to catch this one. Rhea is on a level of her own, but Liv continues to wrestle her ass off.

Cole and Barrett take us to a video package on Worlds Collide, full of footage and headline quotes from USA Today and Variety. It’s the biggest livestream on WWE YouTube ever, with over 4.1 million views.

Becky Lynch passes Grayson Waller and Austin Theory, who are arguing, and is on the way to the entrance. We’ll talk to her next!

WWE Fact of the Night: Seth Rollins joins CM Punk as the only male superstar to win Money in the Bank twice! Thanks, Cash App!

Jey Uso paces backstage while Gunther stretches. It’s the main event tonight.

Celebrities love Raw! John McKeever and Steve Gerben, creators of a show called “Tires “ on Netflix, are ringside. I am told that they are celebrities.

We go to a video package on Nikki Bella, focusing on her being the longest reigning Divas Champion and her previous return at the Royal Rumble.

Natalya and Maxxine Dupri are backstage talking to Nikki, bringing me some Total Divas vibes. I should get back on those recaps one day. Nikki walks up on Iyo Sky and Kairi. Nikki tells Iyo she respects how Iyo represents the women’s division and Iyo thanks her for paving the way.

“The Man” Becky Lynch and her Intercontinental Title head towards the ring as we continue our stream of women’s wrestling content. Becky grimaces holding up her title on the way out as Cole tells us that Becky cheated to win at Money in the Bank. Becky says she doesn’t need “you deserve it” chants because she knows she does. She says she doesn’t get opportunities to celebrate doing new things often now because of how much she’s done in her career, but now she has a new title. She says this title is about making opportunities, but its greatest opportunity is her winning it and welcoming it to the big time. She says she should have spent the weekend celebrating with her hot husband and beautiful child, but Lyra Valkyria ruined everything by disrespecting her. You see, Lyra raised her arm so aggressively that she thought her shoulder was dislocated.

She demands the “crazy bird lady” come out to apologize to her and to raise her arm correctly. Our bird lady and former champion comes out, the fans woo-ing to her theme as Lyra walks out with anger. Bayley attacks Becky from behind, the fans roaring. Becky runs out of the ring and backs into Lyra, who throws her right back into Bayley. Becky rolls out of a Rose Plant attempt and runs through the crowd.

Michael and Wade discuss what just happened as a man in a black hoodie pushes them aside, revealing himself as R-Truth and standing on their table. “Don’t let nobody tell you that you don’t matter. Don’t let nobody tell you that your voice doesn’t matter. They heard, they listened, they felt, and they understood. I am back because of y’all!” The fans chant “Truth.” He says they wanted R-Truth and they got it. He says he’s back for all of us, but he’s also back for himself. “Not only did y’all bring Truth back, you got me. Now, we all love R-Truth. I love R-Truth too. R-Truth can be too funny all the time. R-Truth can be too nice and he’s too forgiving. Not me!” He says he feels different, he feels alive and for anyone that thinks he’s a sideshow act and a gimmick… he pulls out scissors and cuts off his hair as we see fans being shocked. The fans chant “holy shit” as he holds up the hair. “R-Truth, the truth has set me free. I am Ron Killings! I am the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! Now put some respect on my name.” Damn. Hell of a segment.

Dominik Mysterio is joined by Finn Balor and JD McDonough in the Judgment Day clubhouse. Finn questions if Dom thinks it is weird he is the one representing Judgment Day in King of the Ring. JD says he and Finn will go after the tag titles as Roxanne appears, thanking them. Dom tells her she did pretty well as Liv and Raquel walk up, asking what they’re celebrating. Liv thinks nobody should be celebrating and congrats Liv, walking away.

Seth talks to his crew backstage. He says they’ll take the titles by his MITB or by heist, looking at Bron.

We get a MR. IGUANA SEGMENT, as we watch highlights of his Worlds Collide match. They know where the money is.

King of the Ring First Round Match: Penta vs Dominik Mysterio vs Sami Zayn vs Bron Breakker (with Paul Heyman)

Cole advertises the UFC 3:16 t-shirt, available now on WWE Shop. All four men get solid reactions during their entrances. Cole notes previous Kings, including Don Muraco and Bret Hart as well as his broadcast partner Wade Barrett. Penta dives out onto Dom as we start the match. Penta leaps into Bron’s slam as the fans are barking. Dom is turned inside out from a Bron clothesline and the barking is very loud. We zoom in on Bron’s eyes and head right on to the commercial.

After the commercial, Bron is suplexing Penta across the ring. All three opponents try to take Bron down, with Dom trying to steal a rollup pin on Penta. Penta stomps Mysterio for a two count as we plug the next episode of Cody’s podcast, featuring Damian Priest and Wheatley American Vodka. Sami gets a two count after a top rope leap, the fans singing for him. Bron shoves his way out, slamming Sami again and then beating him down against the ropes. “Sami Uso” chants as Sami and Bron trade blows. Sami leaps onto Bron outside as Penta follows from the top rope, nailing Sami. Dom dives out onto Penta as well, turning it into a DDT. And that leads to Bron, leaping from the apron and sending Bron into the announce table as we go to break again.

Penta powerbombs Dom off the top as we return, at the same time Bron hits Sami with a Frankensteiner from the top rope. “This is awesome.” Penta runs into a flying knee from Bron, who then runs into a Penta kick. Bron lifts Penta up, who reverses it into a DDT. Dom throws Penta out and tries to steal the pin like Rox earlier, but no luck. Dom is reversing the hell out of Sami’s moves and lands two of the Three Amigos, being turned into a Blue Thunder Bomb on the third for a near fall for Sami. Penta lands a driver on Sami, as Dom tries to steal the pin again but doesn’t have the shoulders down. Bron breaks up a very close nearfall as we’re all back in the ring again. The straps are down for Bron, who heads out and starts his run around the ring, spearing Penta near the Prime Hydration Station. As Bron celebrates, LA Knight runs out and takes down Bron before leaping into the crowd. Sami hits an Exploder and Helluva Kick on Dom, falling on him for the three count and to move forward. Sami Zayn pins Dominik Mysterio to advance in the King of the Ring tournament. I thought it started a bit slow, but it picked up and turned into a very fun match.

Unbiased journalist Cathy Kelley is with AJ Styles. Cathy slides over to catch New Day, who say they just defended their belts two weeks ago and they’re looking for a clear front-runner as the next challenger.

Nikki Bella is headed to the ring… next! Take this moment to realize that while you, Internet wrestling fan, might not be excited for Nikki, there is a WHOLE crowd that adores her and the entire Total Divas generation. Not everything is specifically for you.

Tomorrow night on NXT, Oba Femi faces LFG season one winner Jasper Troy.

Tonight, Raw on Netflix is presented by Snickers. Cole and Barrett discuss next year’s WrestleMania, as we replay the package of Triple H announcing we’re going to Vegas again. You can register for pre-sale information now as well as Priority Pass experiences if you’d like. Then we look ahead to next week, including the return of Asuka compete with a hype package. They spoiled this with the brackets earlier, but it’s probably a small percentage that actually noticed. I’m glad to finally have her back. Next week, she’s in Queen of the Ring action against Ivy Nile, Stephanie Vaquer and Raquel Rodriguez. On the men’s side, it’s Sheamus, Bronson Reed, Rusev and a mystery man or iguana.

Nikki Bella comes out to the screams of many women as Alicia welcomes the Hall of Famer back. We get lots of shots of excited women in the audience. Wade: “Bella Army, we are eating good tonight.” Thank you, Wade. Nikki does the hand heart and tells the crowd how great it is to be back home and back in the ring. She says she is here to talk about something special happening next month, the all-women PLE Evolution. She remembers main eventing the first one and it’s been incredible to see how the women’s division has grown since, naming women like Rhea, Stephanie, Bianca and Giulia. She tells us how grateful the women of the past are of the women in the division as Liv storms out, cutting off her own music.

She demands Nikki mention her name as one of the best in the division. Liv yells at her that she is the best woman in this division and spits out facts about the year she’s had. She tells Nikki that she’s lucky she wasn’t around in her time, because she would have beaten her too. “You didn’t mention me because you’re jealous of me because I have everything that you don’t. I have respect, I have a championship, and I have a man.” Ooof. Nikki responds that she knows Liv is angry because she’s had a bad night. Nikki is trying to figure out who Liv’s man belongs to and invites Liv to congratulate Rox for taking her title shot and her man. Liv points at her belt and says she’s still a champion while all Nikki will ever be is a reality show diva. Liv hits Nikki with Oblivion and yells that this is her division.

I like it. Nikki is a good pairing for Liv, who is probably in dreamland wrestling Nikki. It could also go tag team against the Bellas. I’m content either way.

Adam Pearce has made it official: Cena/Punk at Night of Champions. We’ll see if that holds up over the next few weeks. Cole and Barrett take us through a look at the last week of abuse that Jey has had, continuing the narrative that Gunther is here to pick the bones.

WWE World Heavyweight Title: Jey Uso vs Gunther

Jey is in a sea of people and Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city, as is his son. Are they going to have this man lose in front of his kid? Jey heads down the stairs and yeets with his child as Cole wisely chooses to not yeet tonight due to Gunther being in the ring. It’s a full crowd of yeeting including a sea of kids in Yeet glasses and shirts. Cole mentions that Gunther is fresh, having had only one match since WrestleMania as the drone zooms around the sea of waving arms. Jey goes for the sleeper as the bell rings, but Gunther fights out quickly. Jey tries again and is slung off by Gunther, who rolls outside and rolls us into our final commercial break.

Jey leaps off with a crossbody onto Gunther as we return, getting a two count. Jey favors his midsection as Cole questions the rumors that Jey has internal injuries from his previous two matches. Gunther smiles across the ring, noticing the injury. He goes on the attack, ripping off Jey’s shirt and revealing the tape around his ribs. Gunther works over Jey, chopping him in the corner. Jey sidesteps a charge by Gunther and hooks the sleeper, but Gunther quickly reaches the ropes. Gunther catches Jey in a sleeper, but Jey slings him outside and then runs right into a right hand as he tries for a suicide dive.

Uso is able to sling Gunther into the steel post, but Gunther takes Uso down with a release German suplex and we go to our final break. We come back to the men countering vertical suplexes, Jey being the one to finally land it. The men trade blows, Jey getting the upper hand. Gunther ducks out of a hip attack and tries again for the sleeper, but Jey rolls out. Gunther locks it on yet again, but Jey drags Gunther over the top rope to break it. Jey dives and lands the suicide dive this time as both men are down. Jey is up to his feet first, but Gunther chases and slams him rib-first into the barricade before dropping him on it. Rolling Jey in, Gunther goes up and jumps into Jey’s knees. Jey spears Gunther and heads up top, splashing Gunther and getting a 2.75 count.

Barrett wonders if Jey is doubting his ability to win. Jey measures and tries for another spear but runs into a clothesline. Gunther tries for a powerbomb but Uso counters into a two count. Jey hits a superkick and locks on that sleeper, Gunther suplexing out of it. Gunther powerbombs Jey again for a near fall. This leads Gunther to the corner, showing doubt in himself. Gunther smiles, waiting for Jey to rise, spears Jey and covers, Jey again kicking out. Jey works to his feet as Gunther taunts him, trading blows again. Jey runs into a sleeper, but knocks Gunther into the corner, hits a superkick and a spear and heads up top. Gunther rolls out of the way of the splash. Gunther locks on the sleeper on the mat, putting his weight on Jey. Jey stretches for the ropes but Gunther rolls him to the center of the ring. Jey scrambles again and touches the rope but pulls him back in and the referee doesn’t break it. Gunther has Jey down and we watch the light starting to go out in Jey’s eyes as he tries to fight back and the fans chant “yeet.”

Gunther lays in elbows and Jey slips behind, locking the sleeper on Gunther. Gunther starts to fade but elbows his way out, locking HIS sleeper back on. Jey is fading… Jey is out. We have a new World Heavyweight Champion. Gunther wins the WWE World Heavyweight Title from Jey Uso.

Gunther holds his title high as the fireworks explode behind him, smiling at his belt as the credits roll and Jey is consoled by his child.

Really good last match and not the result I was expecting. I’m interested to see where Jey goes from here. I expect Gunther goes towards a special attraction match against a man that Bret Hart doesn’t like, but we’ll see next week! Thank you for joining me as always.