WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 06.30.25

The gang from WWE has returned from Saudi Arabia, so it must be time for another exciting edition of Monday Night Raw! This week, we’re airing two hours early as they’re taping SmackDown afterwards to give the talent the weekend off for Fourth of July. America!

To review the last week in WWE: Raw / NXT / EVOLVE / SmackDown / Night of Champions / LFG

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER. Dun dun dun.

A video package takes us back to Night of Champions and the various kickoff and post shows that surrounded it. Content, content, content!

Sami Zayn arrives, as does Penta – they team up tonight against Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. New Day arrives, ready to face Judgment Day. Sheamus walks in all smiles, a faceoff with Rusev coming. Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcome us to downtown Pittsburgh, sold out with 14,033 in the PPG Paints Arena live on Netflix and presented by Snickers.

THIS IS MY BRUTALITY. The screams are loud and consistent as always for our favorite Mami, Rhea Ripley. She’s very glittery tonight and introduced by the great Alicia Taylor. She’s favoring her ribs a bit as the “Mami” chants kick up. “Welcome to Monday Night Mami!” It’s my favorite night. Saying that Raquel and the Judgment Day are behind her – “hopefully for good this time” – she is wondering what’s next for Rhea Ripley. With Evolution around the corner, she needs to get her priorities straight.

“Tokyo Shock” hits and Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky arrives, all smiles. The fans chant for Iyo. “Rhea, you cannot have Evolution without Iyo Sky. But you are wrong about one thing – you are not on top.” She says you have to have the belt to be on top and Adam Pearce has given her the choice of her Evolution opponent. She wants to defend against the best, and she says that means defending against Rhea. Rhea tells Iyo she has nothing but respect for her, and if that’s what she wants she will stop at nothing to get her title back. “If that’s what you want Iyo, I just want you to know that what happens at Evolution… that’s what you wanted.” Rhea tells Iyo that she’s on and Iyo holds up the title, smiling and staring at Rhea.

The Judgment Day is backstage with Dominik Mysterio being confronted by AJ Styles. Dom pulls out his doctor’s note and tells AJ to read it. He tells AJ if he puts one finger on him before he’s cleared, he will never get a title shot. AJ pulls out his glasses and reads it, noting the doctor says Dom is a punkass. AJ promises to take the title and that Dom will need more than a doctor’s note.

WWE World Tag Team Titles: New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) vs The Judgment Day (Finn Balor & JD McDonough)

Cole says he’s shocked New Day are in a match, having defended their titles only twice since WrestleMania. He didn’t express the same for Iyo, who has yet to defend her title since Mania. Kofi taunts Finn with a piece of bread, joking that Finn hasn’t had carbs in weeks. Cole mentions that a lot of this is the fault of Karrion Kross, who got in New Day’s ear in the first place. The internet tells me that a lot is Karrion’s fault. The action spills outside as JD punts Kofi, who is able to tag in Woods. Woods delivers a flying stomp to JD and does the Double J strut as we go to commercials.

Woods flies off the top onto JD as we come back. Cole promises an announcement about the Women’s Tag Team Titles from Adam Pearce tonight. Woods and JD trade chops and kicks, Xavier cockily trying for a powerbomb that is countered by McDonough. Kofi tags in and prevernts the tag briefly, but JD crawls to Finn for the hot tag. JD springboards to the outside on Xavier, then goes back in and moonsautls right into Woods’ boots. Xavier doesn’t realize Finn is legal, so we get a cool spot where JD holds Xavier and Finn stomps JD accidentally. New Day hit the Midnight Hour on Finn but can only get a two count. Kofi misses Trouble in Paradise. Woods smacks Finn from behind with the title and still Kofi only gets a two.

“This is awesome” chant. Xavier is tagged in and Finn bounces Kofi off the ropes, knocking Woods down. JD is tagged in, springboards up and hits a Spanish Fly for a two count. Kofi jumps out after Finn, who hits him with a Slingblade. Balor tags in, JD hits a moonsault and Balor hits the stomp, getting a three count to the crowd’s delight. Finn Balor pins Xavier Woods, Finn Balor and JD McDonough are the new WWE World Tag Team Champions. A FANTASTIC tag match. Watch it. Dom comes out to celebrate with his partners as now the Judgment Day hold five different belts, at least until Adam makes an announcement later about the Women’s tag belts.

Cole and Corey send us to the Jurassic World Highlight of the Night, a look at last week’s Women’s Intercontinental Title match. Jackie Redmond is back with Bayley, saying she’s still going for the title. Lyra Valkyria appears and complains about Bayley not texting her back. Lyra tells Bayley she doesn’t even know who she is any more. Adam Pearce interrupts their arguing, and tells them he’s arranged for them to settle it in the ring tonight. The winner is the #1 contender for the Intercontinental Title. Lyra: “See you in the ring, friend.”

Sheamus is stretching backstage and met by Natalya, Maxxine Dupri and Tozawa. Tonight, he faces Rusev!

We take a look back at the career of Goldberg, even hearing the voices of Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay and Jim Ross through the package. It’s set to the Three Days Grace song “Dominate,” which apparently came out in June and will be on their new album in August. It’s a really good hype package for Goldberg. He’ll face Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta.

Corey & Michael tell us that SmackDown moves to two hours this Friday. This sends us into Chad Gable being attacked by Penta backstage last week, Penta snapping Chad’s arm with the Sacrifice. Earlier today, Gable in a sling talks to American Alpha and Ivy Nile. Pearce interrupts to wish Gable luck in his surgery, and jokes about how we won’t see El Grande Americano for a while. Gable says you never know when the world’s greatest luchador will appear. Gable tells Ivy to dominate Stephanie Vaquer and for the boys to win the tag titles. Ludwig Kaiser is again lurking behind them.

Big Bronson Reed presents us with a special look at Jurassic World: Rebirth. That’s nice of him! The video package mixes footage from the movie and WWE. In theaters Wednesday! Jurassic Park, not Reed.

Pearce is talking backstage with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis and are interrupted by Finn & JD. Finn suggests that Raquel Rodriguez has worked hard for the titles and Roxanne Perez should be her partner. Pearce and Aldis confer, then tell Finn they will allow it under one condition – Raquel and Roxanne defend the titles at Evolution against a team from Raw, a team from SmackDown and a team from NXT. I am having issues thinking of other teams from Raw outside of Nattie & Maxxine, who haven’t teamed in the ring yet. Hopefully they’ll put in the world – again – to flesh out the tag division (and then not release them).

Bring the juice, Use. Hey, this commercial worked. I bought Minute Maid today with Jey Uso’s face on it. It took six weeks of hammering me with the ad, but it worked. I feel at least 28% more Usey already.

WWE 2K: now with basketball players! If you’ve ever wanted to play as Shaquille O’Neal in a match against Tozawa, now is your chance. Well, you have to buy the DLC to do it.

Rusev vs Sheamus

This is a big meaty men battle. Cole walks us through the history of the League of Nations, both he and Corey blaming their broadcast partner Wade Barrett for the group’s demise. We do some big meaty men stuff early, trading clubbing blows and fighting into the corner. They brawl to the apron, Sheamus powerslamming Rusev to the ringside mat and a commercial break.

We come back to Rusev kicking down Sheamus in the ring. I’m afraid the heat has fallen off Rusev a bit. Sheamus goes up after a few minutes and drops a top rope knee, but Rusev kicks out at one. They fight some more and we take another commercial so we can look at all of the exciting programming coming to Netflix, including a new Madea movie. Perhaps Madea will be in the crowd one week.

Back for our third segment of this match, they’re trading clubs again. Sheamus gets fifteen smacks on Rusev’s chest this week, then stops to listen to the fans cheer. That seems ill-advised and is, as Rusev dodges the Brogue Kick. Rusev drops Sheamus with a kick of his own. He locks on the Accolade, but Sheamus lifts his way out. They brawl outside and Sheamus hits Rusev with a Brogue outside, both men barely beating the count back in. They battle up on the turnbuckles, Rusev thumbing Sheamus’s eye and exposing the turnbuckle. He rams Sheamus into it sternum-first and kicks Sheamus right in the head, picking up the win. Rusev pins Sheamus. This was certainly a match, one that took three segments and wasn’t my thing.

Earlier today, Nick & Adam have some thoughts on Evolution. Noting the amount of talent in the women’s divisions, they are hosting a battle royal with the winner going into a championship match at Clash in Paris. Well, that’s how they get more women on the show and maybe a surprise or two. I’m down.

Jackie has caught up with the Creeds and Ivy. Ivy promises to get herself in the battle royal as… El Grande Americano appears. His build seems a little different, but I’m glad he’s feeling okay after that hard Money in the Bank match. Ivy has no comment on what we’ve seen. As they leave, Jackie finds Sami Zayn and congratulates him on his win. Karrion Kross immediately attacks Sami, yelling at him to “SAY IT.” Kross grabs a pole and smacks Sami in the ribs, being pushed out by the referees.

Evolution rundown thus far: Rhea/Iyo, the battle royal and the tag match. Evolution: presented by Maybelline! There’s also a NXT Women’s Title match they didn’t talk about.

Celebrities! They love wrestling! There are Pittsburgh Steelers here, a team that is apparently having a big day.

World Heavyweight Champion Gunther is joining us in the ring. Cole again mentions Goldberg saying it is an “interesting dilemma” if he wins the title in his last match. He waits out Goldberg and “you tapped out” chants. “Yes, you guessed right, I came out here tonight to talk about Bill Goldberg.” He says he is capable of beating Goldberg in under three minutes, but his goal is to take his time, take him apart, blow him up and embarrass him in front of everything and everyone near and dear to his heart. He promises to bully Goldberg and there is nothing he can do about it. Gunther says that not only does Goldberg not still have it, but he’s never had it. He says he will walk out after Goldberg and raise the question – “who’s next.”

Don’t be shocked, but the music of Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins brings out Seth and Paul Heyman. The MITB has been customized to a black and gold design, which I’m sure you can already find on WWE Shop. After the fan chanting, Gunther tells Seth that he travelled very far and has accomplished absolutely nothing. He congratulates Gunther and tells him he’s coming for him. “Cult of Personality” hits and CM Punk runs out, attacking Rollins. Seth runs out and up Jey Uso’s set of stairs, Punk calling him a coward. As Punk tries to walk out, Gunther grabs his arm and Punk shoves him down. Seth goads Punk from the top of the stairs, where LA Knight smashes a popcorn bucket over his head and brawls with him backstage and into a crowd of fans in the concourse. Rollins throws a drink in Knight’s face and runs.

The Judgment Day is celebrating backstage with their belts. Raquel walks in and is upset about Liv Morgan being replaced. Finn tells her he’s had a shoulder injury and it’s going to take a while, but he just wants Raquel to stay champion. Finn says they should vote to see if Roxanne should become the newest member. Finn is a yes, JD votes yes, Dom wants to talk to Liv but votes “alleged yes.” Raquel sighs and tells “chiquita” that she better hold up her end of the deal. Raquel says she’s starting by getting revenge on Kairi Sane.

Cole gives us a look at Bayley announcing the #2 and #30 picks for her hometown team, the San Jose Sharks, at the NHL Draft.

Bianca Belair and Montez Ford visited Perth, which will host some events including Crown Jewel in October.

A promo video looks at Kairi Sane. She’s been NXT Champion, a two tag Tag Team Champion, and tells the champions that she will have their gold. “I don’t run from the storm, I run into it.”

Evolution is presented by Maybelline New York, the official cosmetics partner of WWE. Well, it’s better than Dude Wipes.

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Title #1 Contender’s Match: Bayley vs Lyra Valkyria

The women go back-and-forth early, Bayley jumping into Lyra’s arms and trading counters. Lyra jumps into a catapult into the turnbuckle, then Bayley hooks the Boston Crab. Lyra rolls through for a two count. They collide mid-air and we use this as a perfect commercial break.

Back from break, the bird lady is up top but Bayley headbutts her. They roll out and Bayley jumps off the steps and drops Lyra with an elbow. Cole notes the winner faces Becky Lynch for the title “at some point down the road.” They trade pins, ending with Bayley using a sunset flip bomb to smash Lyra into the turnbuckles. Lyra is able to work out a gut-wrench powerbomb of her own for a two. Lyra leaps into Bayley and they knock each other down.

Up again, they trade blows as we trade “let’s go Bayley / Lyra” chants. They roll through near-fall pins again, but Bayley rolls into a three… or does she. Jessika Carr says both women’s shoulders were down for a three and this is a draw. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria pin each other, going to a draw. They brawl after the match. They brawl into the timekeeper’s area and into the fans, being broken up by the officials. I… didn’t like that result at all. It wasn’t a bad match and I’m sure this was to set up more with Becky, but what a bummer of an ending.

It’s official for SNME – Seth Rollins vs LA Knight. Jackie catches up with CM Punk. Punk thinks Rollins’ knees haven’t worked that well for years, but then he notices LA Knight. He tells LA to get to the back of the line, and Knight tells him he can have him six days a week but he is the line, YEAH.

Elsewhere, Sami is having his taped ribs checked out by a medic. Penta joins him and says he’ll see him out there, Sami now cleared for the match.

Corey sends a special thank you to Cardi B, creator of the official SummerSlam theme song “Outside.” Outside is a place we should visit more often instead of talking about Cody Rhodes for 23 hours a day.

Tonight, WWE Raw is presented by Jurassic Park: Rebirth!

Sami Zayn & Penta vs Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed (with Paul Heyman)

Heyman tells Breakker that Rollins is already on a jet, perfecting plan B. Breaker interrupts, saying the plan is for him to smash anyone in his way. Heyman says that is a plan and Breakker says it starts right now. Penta gets the edge on Bron early, double teaming him after a tag to Sami. Sami hits the Penta smooth operator walk. They dive outside onto the Brons, Heyman showing “pain” as we head to commercials.

Back from those commercials, Bronson is working on Penta. Sami is tagged in and works over Bronson in the corner, then tries to take Bron down with clotheslines. Sami clotheslines Reed over, then tosses a charging Bron over. Sami leaps right into their arms with the Arabian Press and points to the sky, an homage to Sabu.

Sami lands a top rope sunset flip powerbomb on Reed, only getting a two. He grabs at his ribs, which gives Bronson a chance to hit a DVD for a two count. Bronson tags the very orange Bron, who looks to being going for the Steiner top rope clothesline but is knocked down by Sami. Things change quickly though, as a minute later Bron is leaping through Sami and the announce table as we go to our final break of the evening.

Reed stops Sami from a pin attempt but misses a Senton. Sami leaps into Penta’s hand, who flies onto Bron. Penta hits the Sacrifice on Breakker. Bron lifts Penta into a military press, but Penta reverses into a two. Heyman distracts the ref on the apron, giving the Brons a chance to regain the lead. Sami saves Penta from a pin and Bronson tosses Sami out. Bronson goes up and misses the Tsunami, Penta rolling out of the way.

Sami gets the hot tag and an Exploder to the corner but runs into a jumping clothesline from Bron as the fans bark. Sami sets up the Blue Thunder Bomb as the fans chant “this is awesome” but isn’t able to land it but does duck out of the way. He tries again and suplexes Bronson, holding his ribs again and walking right into a flying spear. That’s an easy three. Bron Breakker pins Sami Zayn. A good tag team match, but I almost feel like Bron and Bronson didn’t get enough offense.

After the match, the assault is on. Bron spears Sami. Bronson goes up for the Tsunami and Jey Uso’s music hits, causing an absolute explosion from the live audience. The yeeting is on as Jey walks from the entrance ramp with a chair. He hits Bron, taking him down. He takes Bronson down after several shots. Jey helps up Sami and Penta as the executive producers’ credits roll. Next Monday, we head to Rhode Island.

May you have a great America Day or America Sucks Day, whichever you might be celebrating on Friday. Please don’t blow any body parts off with fireworks. Unfortunately, Netflix is not giving us their own hot dog eating competition this year, but we’ll always have last year.