WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 07.07.25

Welcome to another big edition of Monday Night Raw! This week, we’re making our final moves before Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution.

First, a look at the last week of WWE: Raw / NXT / EVOLVE / SmackDown / LFG

If you’d like to read about some women’s action, I’ve written about Rhea Ripley vs Liv Morgan from SummerSlam 2024 here. I’ll have some more stuff coming this week on Substack – including a review of Sunday night’s Evolution -and I also will have a special feature later this week right here (pop!) on Blog of Doom.

Alright, I have poured a glass of delicious Minute Maid fruit punch out of a carton with Jey Uso on it and I’m ready to go. Let’s get Raw!

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER. Duh dun dun.

Michael Cole welcomes us to the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence as the drone flies from outside, through the concourse and right to the stage. Tonight, Raw is live on Netflix and presented by Snickers!

Sami Zayn arrives and will face Bron Breakker tonight. Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city and faces Big Bronson Reed. Penta does the smooth operator strut in and he’ll be facing Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins. Judgment Day walks in with all the gold, and Roxanne Perez will face Kairi Sane tonight on Monday Night Raw.

BURN IT DOWN. We start, as we often do, with the fans singing for Seth Rollins, who arrives with Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. The great Alicia Taylor introduces Rollins, who will be facing LA Knight this Saturday on Saturday Night’s Main Event. The singalong goes for about a minute after the music stops. Seth reaches for the microphone and Bron cuts him off, taking it from Heyman instead. The fans bark, Bron says he is standing here because Seth and Paul have a vision for the business that has him as the face of WWE for the next two decades. He has a vision of his own for WWE, and that’s a WWE without Sami Zayn. Bron doesn’t like Sami’s face, beard, music, that people sing it… Bron’s pretty frustrated. The fans chant for Sami, of course. Bron says he’ll never understand why people cheer for people with the athletic ability of a dead fish, someone hoping for five more years. “Sami Zayn has an expiration date and I’m gonna put a stamp on it tonight. I promise you Sami, I promise – if you come walking down this ramp, I’m gonna maul your head off and you’re gonna be looking at the lights by the end of it.”

Bron gives the mic to Paul, who gives it to Seth as originally intended. “You good, Breakker?” Bronson nods and Seth gives him the mic to say his piece. Reed says Bron is a tough act to follow, but so is he. Reed sees the vision of Seth and knows he will get the respect that he deserves. “Jey Uso, Yeet Man, you do not respect me so tonight I will Tsunami the respect into you just like I did Seth Freakin’ Rollins.”

Seth finally gets the mic for himself and the fans start chanting for CM Punk. Seth gives the mic to Paul, says it’s all his and leans into the ropes. Heyman introduces himself and says that tonight, the empire strikes back. He says scratch that, the empire strikes first. If Sami hasn’t run back to Montreal, it’s his ass, not Paul’s. Paul says the OTC is MIA and after tonight, Jey Uso will be MIA thanks to Bronson. He speaks a sentence in Spanish to Penta and says he’s not bougee enough to understand Penta’s hand signals. Paul says Penta will not be in shape to do hand signals ever again – that’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler. And now Seth gets the mic for the fourth time as the fans chant for Punk again.

Seth says the boys covered everything, so Providence – welcome to Monday Night Rollins. He drops the mic and we head to Michael Cole, joined again this week by Corey Graves. Cole takes us back to Judgment Day winning the tag titles from New Day last week, which was a great match if you missed it. Good promo for Seth’s crew, by the way – it added some personality for both Bron and Bronson and I think they needed it.

Judgment Day joins us in their clubhouse, five belts being shined by Finn Balor. Raquel Roderiguez sees a candle-filled shrine to Liv Morgan, which Roxanne says she made for Dom. Raquel reminds her that Liv is alive, and Finn says he’s not sure Liv can recover as he is an expert in shoulder injuries. After the women leave, JD challenges Finn to go ask Adam Pearce what’s up for them. Dom finds a “get well soon” cake, looking closer and seeing it says “from AJ.” AJ Styles peeps his head out from behind a gear case and points fingers at Dom. “I have a note,” exclaims Dom, who turns back around to find out AJ has disappeared. This was great, all of it.

Kairi Sane vs Roxanne Perez (with Raquel Rodriguez)

Cole reminds us that Roxanne & Raquel will defend their Women’s Tag Titles in a four-way at Evolution, facing Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Zaria & Sol Ruca and a team TBD from Raw. I assume we’ll find that out tonight once they find any tag teams at all on Raw. Rox and Kairi counter each other early as Cole delves into the history of Evolution, having one show in its past. Kairi slides under and rolls up Rox, who counters it into a two count of her own. The women continue to trade pin attempts, Kairi locking Rox into headscissors but Perez reaching the ropes. Roxanne walks into a massive backfist from Kairi, then rolls out and is jumped on again by Kairi. Kairi throws Rox in, goes up top but is pulled off by Rox. Rox works Kairi’s wrist as we go to break.

Kairi is fired up as we come back, walking the plank and dropping a flying elbow into Rox. Kairi goes up but Rox ducks it, scooping Kairi into a pin attempt. Rox hits Kairi with a moonsault for a two count. Rox works the arm again. Kairi muscles Roxanne up for an Alabama Slam attempt, but Rox bounces out and works the arm again. We need more Alabama Slams. Roxanne flips a knee right into Kairi’s neck and gets a two. Kairi takes Perez with a flying forearm and charges into the corner, missing. Kairi hits an Alabama Slam this time and goes up for the elbow, but Raquel pulls Rox out of the ring. Kairi flies onto them on the outside instead, taking down Raquel and almost the camera person. Rox rolls Kairi in, Kairi bounces out of Poprox for a backslide and a surprise three count. Raquel attacks Kairi and the music of Asuka hits as we have our Raw team, Asuka running out and taking down both women. Asuka is a badass without makeup too.

Kairi Sane pins Roxanne Perez. The match itself was a bit rough, but the post-match angle was fun. Welcome back, Kabuki Warriors.

Tonight, Raw is brought to you by Minute Maid – bring the juice!

Jackie Redmond is backstage with Sami Zayn, who has taped ribs. Sami says he’s not managing things well and has too much on his plate. He has to think about Bron Breakker tonight because he’s one of the most dangerous people on the planet. Karrion Kross, he’ll deal with later. As Jackie runs things down, Scarlett appears. She has nothing to say, but I’m glad to see her. Also I miss Cathy Kelley.

Adam Pearce is joined by the Creeds and Ivy Nile. Brutus is shocked that El Grande Americano has a match tonight because Chad Gable is injured. Adam asks him what that has to do with Gable. Ivy asks for a match in the Evolution battle royal and she’s in. They wander off and Asuka and Kairi storm in, wanting the tag match at Evolution. They enter by default. Sorry, Natalya and Maxxine. One day you’ll have a match together as Raw’s only other team. Kairi and Asuka dance off.

Nikki Bella joins us in a promo video, wanting one more moment. She enters the battle royal and says she will do whatever it takes to win because she wants that title match at Clash in Paris. I’m glad she’s still getting something, though it’s not the spotlight match with Liv that was in the plans. I wouldn’t be shocked to see her win and she’d be a decent month-long foil in the post-SummerSlam period, especially for an international crowd. I’m not sure they go that direction, but I imagine she’ll stick around a bit.

The official theme song for Evolution is “Tombstone Town (Outlaw Country Remix) by Dorothy featuring Lanie Garner and Slash.

Sami Zayn vs Bron Breakker

As Sami enters, Karrion Kross attacks Sami. Scarlett hands Karrion a pipe, which Karrion takes right to poor Sami’s taped ribs. Much like DDP, the taped ribs are a target. Adam Pearce and the gang usher Kross away – as the fans chant “We want Kross” – and we head to commercials.

After commercials, Sami is in the ring and demanding to wrestle. The medical team clears him because they’re not great at their job, and Adam Pearce says it can go forward because he also is not great at his job. Bron beats Sami down early, pulling the tape off. After a few minutes of Bron cockily beating down Sami, Sami is able to fight back for a few hope spots. Sami leaps from the second rope into a spear and he’s probably done. Sami rolls outside and Cole calls for the referee to end the match. Bron stalks Sami, running outside and spearing Sami again. Cole is very upset, but maybe he should be upset at the incompetent GM that let his wrestler compete in this condition. The fans chant “one more time” and Breakker agrees, spearing Sami in the ring and getting the three count.

Bron Breakker pins Sami Zayn. It was fine for a “tough guy beating up the injured guy” match. Maybe Pearce needs another vacation. Or maybe Sami’s getting one now.

Cole and Graves switch gears and look back at last week’s Bayley/Valkyria match, Jessika Carr counting both women down for the pin.

Adam Pearce talks to the War Raiders, promising to keep their name at the top of the list. New Day shows up wearing all black. Xavier Woods: “WE’RE IN MOURNING!” Kofi Kingston tells Pearce that he killed the entire tag division, asking when their rematch happens. The Raiders say they don’t get automatic rematches and Becky Lynch walks in, apologizing for New Day’s loss. She agrees with them that Pearce has terrible ideas, but New Day getting rid of Big E was a great idea. Becky walks towards the Gorilla position and we’ll see her next.

Cole runs down the big weekend – Saturday has Great American Bash and SNME, Sunday has Evolution and its countdown and post-show.

Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch is in ring, and we are reminded she has a triple threat match at Evolution against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. Becky has a great tracksuit tonight. Lynch asks how two losers who lost last week to each other have a title match against her at Evolution, where she is statistically at a disadvantage. She gets it though, Pearce thinks she is the greatest women’s wrestler ever and he needs her on Evolution, but she’s beaten Bayley and Lyra and neither of them deserve an opportunity. She says she deserves to pick her own opponent like Iyo and Tiffany did, then says she would pick a woman in the audience. “It’s all a show, it’s a rouse – Bayley and Lyra, they’re in cahoots.” Paranoid Becky is great.

Bayley’s music hits and she comes down to argue. Before she gets there, Lyra Valkyria’s music hits and she marches past Bayley with her own microphone. Lyra congratulates Becky on becoming a “total raving lunatic” and says her title is wrapped “around a bucket full of crazy.” Bayley says she should be standing here as Intercontinental Champion, but because of Lyra she isn’t. Becky laughs at Bayley’s thirteen years of failed friendships, telling Lyra that Bayley dropped her like a hot potato. Lyra tells us that Becky attacked Bayley and called her, and Becky adds that Lyra sure didn’t hesitate when she called. Lyra and Bayley get into it, Lyra saying she has to rescue the champion from two massive disappointments. Bayley tells Lyra that she raised Becky’s hand “like a little bitch” and they brawl, Becky walking into the Nightwing afterwards. Bayley walks into one as well as Lyra stands tall, holding up the title she once held. I liked this. Lyra continues to do well on the mic when paired with the two WWE vets.

Jelly Roll will be on SmackDown in Nashville. Yay. We revisit Sheamus/Rusev from last week, which was a match that happened and felt six hours long.

Seth and the gang are backstage. Seth tells Bron he is proud of him, but Bron wonders what they can do about Kross because it seemed like Bron couldn’t win by himself. Heyman walks in, looking upset. “Sami Zayn is out of action – indefinitely.” Bron sings a song about Bron, which is something for sure, and Bronson promises Jey will not leave in one piece.

Jey Uso vs Bronson Reed (with Paul Heyman)

And here is Main Event Jey, entering through the fans to his usual wild entrance. The drone flies through the crowd full of yeeters. Cole clarifies that Heyman is now known as “The Oracle Paul Heyman.” Bronson works down Jey early to boos. They battle outside, Jey knocking Reed over the announce table. He strips the cover and monitors off, rolling back in to break the count. Reed headbutts him and Jey kicks him right into a conveniently placed chair, yeets at him and superkicks it over. Jey rolls in, runs for a suicide dive and Bronson throws the chair right at Jey’s head. Jessika Carr calls for the bell and Bronson goes up and hits one Tsunami, then a second. Adam and crew run Reed off, and Corey tells us this was about making a statement.

Jey Uso defeats Bronson Reed by disqualification. Short but fun.

Minute Maid WWE Fact of the Night: Goldberg could culminate a 28-year career at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Yes, we’ve heard about that.

A video package looks at LA Knight, who tells us that Seth has something that belongs to him. He calls the briefcase a burden and says it’s going to be really heavy.

We take a look at Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, who face each other at Evolution. This includes a look back at Rhea never being able to defeat Iyo in singles competition. Mami promises to win the title because she’s always on top. Fair reason.

El Grande Americano vs Dragon Lee

El Grande Americano gives us the usual – the peace signs, kisses to the ring – and the crowd is honestly kind of dead for it. Cole notes that El Grande is a foot taller and without the tattoo that he usually has. They discuss that El Grande won the Speed Title from Lee and Cole wonders if this guy holds the Speed Title before Cole declares Graves the voice of lucha libre, having announced AAA. Well, commentary is entertaining at least.

Grande has trouble with his mask but leaps onto Lee for a two. Lee kicks Grande into the announce table and Cole takes a look up close at the lack of tattoo. Lee runs right into a kick and Grande whips him into the steps. Grande tosses Lee over the timekeeper’s railing and we go to break.

After said break, Lee powerbombs Grande off the top rope and into a two count. Americano is struggling with his mask, which is for some reason much smaller on him than usual. Lee tries to unmask Americano but has no luck. Lee ties Americano up in the corner and stomps him for another two. Lee misses a top rope dive and Americano hits a diving headbutt, scoring the three. A replay catches Americano sticking the steel plate in.

El Grande Americano pins Dragon Lee. This didn’t do much for me or the live crowd, but the story of El Grande Americano continues. This is the match from the show thus far to just catch the YouTube clip.

Penta warms up backstage and is joined by Paul Heyman. Bron walks in, doesn’t know what Penta just said in Spanish, and tells Penta to watch his tone. Breakker is on one tonight and I love it.

It’s time for another video package, this one on Stephanie Vaquer. Corey tells us that NXT GM Ava will announce the brand’s battle royal participants tomorrow night on NXT and Corey tells us the NXT women’s division is stacked.

Big Gunther is here for a live chat. The crowd chants for Goldberg. He says they’re right; he’ll defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Bill Goldberg at Saturday Night’s Main Event. He says he has verbally abused Goldberg for two weeks and Goldberg has done nothing about it, so he can only assume Goldberg is afraid. We hear an engine roar and a red and black car pulls up, Goldberg at the wheel. The fans chant and he joins us. Lucky us! Hey, at least he’s here. The fans chant “holy shit.” He smacks the microphone out of Gunther’s hand and tells him to take a shot. Gunther does and Goldberg drops him with a right hand. Goldberg tries for a spear, but Gunther runs out, Goldberg yelling “five days” at him as the fans chant for the bald man. Cole and Graves run down the SNME card as well as the Evolution card.

Penta walks by New Day and Grayson Waller, while Seth has found his furry coat. They battle next!

Seth Rollins (with Paul Heyman) vs Penta

Corey sends a shout out to friend of WWE Ozzy Osbourne on his last live performance. Penta attacks Rollins outside the ring to start, and they brawl outside. Penta chops Seth around the ring but misses one and chops the ring post instead. Rollins dumps Penta into the timekeeper’s area, but Penta leaps back out of it with a flying hurricanrana. Penta dives out and onto Seth, which gives WWE the perfect thing to replay and take us to break.

We come back to Rollins bleeding from his hairline, wiping it with Penta’s mask. Penta tries for the Penta Driver but Rollins knees out, trying and failing to hit a buckle bomb. Penta lands a Backstabber for a two. “This is awesome” chant. Rollins catches Penta on his shoulders in a good move and hits the gutbuster, then a beautiful frog splash for a two count. Punk chant. Penta dodges the stomp. On the second rope, Rollins fights out of a superplex. This gives Penta a chance to run into a hurricanrana instead, landing the Penta Driver and getting a very near three. Back up, Rollins hits a buckle bomb, and Penta bounces right out into a Mexican Destroyer for a pin attempt which Rollins breaks by grabbing the bottom rope. “This is awesome” and they’re right, it is. Rollins headbutts Penta in the groin, which gives him a chance to run and hit the stomp. One, two, three. Team Rollins is three-for-three tonight. Heyman yells into his phone and Bron & Bronson methodically walk out. LA Knight sneaks out of the crowd and hits Rollins with the BFT, running through the crowd as Bron & Bronson chase. We end the show with Knight doing the “Yeah!” in the crowd as the executive producer credits roll and Cole runs through all the shows this weekend.

Seth Rollins pins Penta. A really good match – one to go watch!

A good episode tonight. Everything outside of El Grande Americano hit, and I think they’ve done a good job of hyping Evolution – as rushed as it might have been – as well as SNME. I’ll see you all later in the week with an Evolution-themed post, and then I’ll see you back Monday to see what happens on Monday Night Raw.