WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 09.29.25

Happy Monday! We’re back with another Raw and we’re starting an hour early again this week. It’s 7 p.m. on the East Coast and it’s still daylight out there. Last week, Rhea Ripley was practically turned into a Smurf, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins set their sights on each other, and the saga of The Usos and L.A. Knight rolled on. Last week was a good episode that broke up a lot of the recent boring repetitveness of Raw – will this week keep that going? Let’s find out.

First though, here’s a look at what has happened in the last week of WWE TV through the eyes of the Blog of Doom team: Raw / NXT / EVOLVE / SmackDown / NXT No Mercy

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

The skyline of Raleigh, North Carolina greets us with the Lenova Center. Jimmy and Jey Uso have arrived in all black and tonight they’re in a tornado tag team match. The Judgment Day is here and has a busy night with Dirty Dom and Raquel both in action. Los Americanos wave as they pass and are in tag team action themselves. Rusev is here too on what happens to be Rusev Day! Tonight we’re on Netflix and presented by Snickers.

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett greet us from ringside. Wade wants to get things started but Joe says we have to watch a video package about the Rhea/Asuka match from last week first.

THIS IS HER BRUTALITY – what better way to start out than with maybe the hottest star in the company? Rhea Ripley’s face is giving us anger while also trying to not mouth along with her theme song as she often does. After the high-pitched screaming calms down a bit and a “Mami” chant starts, Rhea tells us she always knew it would come to this but there was a part of her that hoped things would get settled in the ring. They crossed the line by attacking Iyo Sky so she wants to settle things in-ring tonight, so come on down Kabuki Warriors.

Iyo Sky comes out instead, looking sad and with less energy than usual. Wade notes that this is not what Mami wanted but maybe what she needs in a very nice touch of commentary. After an “Iyo” chant, Iyo says she is brokenhearted but Rhea was right. Iyo says Asuka and Kairi are still her family and she still loves them. The lights drop and a spotlight shines on the women in the ring as Asuka and Kairi Sane appear on the Titantron. Asuka says that Iyo acts like Rhea is her family now, but she is the one who made Iyo who she is. Kairi nods. Asuka offers to still love Iyo but Iyo has to apologize. Kairi: “Iyo, we can be a family again.” Asuka adds that for Rhea, it’s too late.

Rhea tells Asuka she can go to hell as Iyo cries next to her. Rhea says that Iyo has to trust her and she’s been burned by her family before and Iyo can’t go back to them. Iyo cries some more as the fans chant for her. “I’m sorry Rhea, I need time.” Iyo drops her mic and walks off, crying and holding her chest. As she does, Kairi and Asuka appear from behind and attack Rhea. Iyo struggles with everything in the aisle as the beatdown goes on before running in for the save. She pulls Asuka off and confronts her before Kairi dives in between them. As Kairi begs on her knees, Iyo battles the tears again and Asuka bounces over to mist Iyo in the face. Rhea tackles Asuka and goes for a Riptide on Kairi, Asuka makes the save and they toss Rhea shoulder-first into the ring post. Much as they did Iyo last week, they double team Rhea and Kairi drops the elbow as Rhea is in the Asukalock. The referees and officials finally appear, late as always, as we watch replays. A good segment with some good emotion. They’ve built up Asuka really strongly here and that’s been a fun touch.

WWE Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio (with Finn Balor and JD McDonough) vs Rusev

Dirty Dom gets quite the reception coming out as we spotlight a “Dirty Dom Rules” sign. His Judgment Day cohorts give him applause and then head to the back, giving Dom a chance to go alone. The great Alicia Taylor gives us the championship introductions. The crowd is very biased and singing for Dom. Dom tries the running defense at first but it doesn’t last long as Rusev slings Dom with repeated suplexes. Dom leaps over the top onto Rusev who catches him and slings him over the announce desk with a fallaway slam for our commercial break.

Rusev is working over Dom in the ring when we come back. Dom is able to hit a rana and a splash in the corner, moving quickly to dodge and weave around Rusev. A lot of us say this regularly, but it’s amazing how Dom has become one of the better wrestlers on the roster and the most fun to watch. Dom goes for the 619 and runs right into a gigantic clothesline. Rusev taunts and Dom rolls out smartly. Rusev follows and Dom shoves him into the stairs. Dom hits the 619 in a second attempt and hits another one just to add on. Rusev falls, Dom misses the frog splash. Dom lands the kick and can only get a two to the crowd’s delight. Angered, Rusev tries for the Accolade and Dom slips out again, going to grab his titles and leave. Rusev cuts off his exit and throws Dom and belts into the ring. As Eddie Orengo removes one of the titles, Dom hits Rusev with the other and tosses it to Rusev Eddie-style but Orengo waves it off. As the referee removes the other belt, Eddie low-blows Rusev and rolls him up for the pin.

Dominik Mysterio pins Rusev to retain the Intercontinental Title. A good match and the continual crowd love of Dom is a lot of fun. He hasn’t changed his character at all but the crowd has come around to loving him. This was a good showing for him as well as a speedster who can duck around a bigger challenge’s strengths without his Judgment Day partners. Rusev looked good, but now that he’s lost an Intercontinental Title shot I’m not sure where he goes next.

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is having his weekly backstage talk with L.A. Knight. Pearce says it isn’t about Knight tonight and he needs to stay out of the tornado tag match. Knight says he wants his World Title shot and the New Day appear. Xavier Woods tells Pearce that he owes them a shot at the tag titles. As we’re all conveniently here, Kofi Kingston reminds Knight that he actually has been World Champion and Pearce makes us a match – Knight and Kingston.

The Wheatley American Vodka Bus Featuring Pharaoh Rhodes is here – Joe tells us that Cody Rhodes is probably on it!

The WWE Podcast Network has some big guests this week. Logan Paul and Charlie Sheen, together at last! Well, that sounds like a nightmare.

Wade and Joe can’t wait to find out who the “superlative best wrestler” is in the best versus best matches at Crown Jewel. This leads us into a video package on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. After that, let’s go back to last week with Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, Bayley asking Lyra to be in her corner and then shoving her down after the match.

Joe tells us about a boxing thing created by the Saudi Prince and Dana White and so on and so forth. I’m sure we will have to hear much more about this.

Bayley is walking with her Lyra Valkyria tee before finding the actual Lyra Valkyria. Lyra asks what is wrong with Bayley and Bayley asks her to come out with her again, just like “old times.” Lyra is rightfully mad and Bayley says she’s been going through a lot and it isn’t Lyra’s fault. Bayley says she can’t do it without Lyra and Lyra gives her a big naur.

Bayley vs Raquel Rodriguez (with Roxanne Perez)

Bayley tears off the Lyra shirt as she walks through the entrance, being both downtrodden but hugging a fan with a Hugger tee and sign. After a break and Raquel’s entrance, Bayley still keeps looking at the entrance in doubt. The crowd is pretty quiet for the first stretch of this one as Raquel mostly dominates Bayley. Bayley is able to dodge and knock Raquel out of the ring, doing a suicide dive to drive her into the barrier. Bayley dropkicks Raquel and tries for a rana but Raquel catches her, swinging her right into the barricade to send us to break.

Bayley tries but gets caught off the top by Raquel. Raquel drops a nice slam for a two count as Wade rightfully notes that Raquel is a strong contender for most improved wrestler of the year. Bayley hits a Standing Stunner and then runs right into a clothesline. Bayley “woos” and locks on a Figure-Four, as one does in North Carolina. As referee Jessika Carr checks on Raquel, she entirely misses Roxanne right next to her raking Bayley’s eyes. Raquel hits a Tejana Bomb and that’s a pinfall victory for her. They double-team Bayley after the match and of course that brings out our Bird Lady, Lyra Valkyria who doubts it but then runs in for the save. They double-team Lyra as well which Bayley notices, snapping into anger and saving her. Bayley turns to Lyra and laughs, then pulls Lyra up to celebrate, calling her an idiot and telling her good job.

Raquel Rodriguez pins Bayley. This was okay but I’m not sure it ever really got rolling into something really good. The crowd was mostly asleep for this one. I’m still a bit intrigued with where we’re going with Bayley.

Here’s a look at last week’s Uso/Vision/Knight drama. This leads us backstage to Main Event Jey Uso and Big Jim Uso. Jimmy asks Jey about last week and why he didn’t help him. Jey says that helping Knight gets them nowhere. Jey returns the question, asking why Jimmy DID help Knight.

The medical team is trying to help Iyo clear the poison spray as Kairi Sane walks up. Kairi tells Iyo it isn’t too late and asks her to follow her and apologize to Asuka. “She will forgive you!” Iyo shoves Kairi away, yelling at her. Kairi puts a picture of the three in Iyo’s lap and walks off.

L.A. Knight vs Kofi Kingston (with Xavier Woods)

Next week, Raw is in Dallas and back at 8 p.m. Grayson Waller is absent tonight after taking the Mexican Destroyer last week. I appreciate getting to see New Day expand beyond their usual tag division opponents. As the crowd chants about New Day sucking, Kofi works L.A.’s arm. Knight’s able to fight out and take Kofi down with a clothesline and backdrops him to the outside. Kofi tosses Knight into the ring post, drops on him and we head to break.

Woods is taunting “YEAH” as Kofi is working over Knight when we return. Knight’s able to hit a neck breaker and leaps towards Woods, giving Kofi a chance to roll him up with his feet on the ropes for a two. Kofi dodges a running Knight and leaps from the top again, Knight ducking and delivering the BFT for a three count.

L.A. Knight pins Kofi Kingston. This was a decent one and we can say Knight has pinned another World Champion. Kofi can still go in a singles match. The crowd was spotty for this one as well, but they were very into Knight. If I had to give this grade a word, it would be “fine.”

Here’s a look back at Cody Rhodes dealing with The Vision on SmackDown and being saved by Randy Orton.

Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri are walking and find WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. Becky calls Maxxine 5’9” of failure. Becky reminds us that a lot of people say she is the greatest Women’s Wrestler of all time – Sports Illustrated says it, Bleacher Report says it. Maxxine says that AJ Lee doesn’t say it, Tozawa giggles and Becky attacks Maxxine. I mean Maxxine had it coming to her there. She finds World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, still looking at his watch. Seth tells her that he has to do this on his own. He joins us next.

BURN IT DOWN. Here is WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins for the crowd singalong and some words. After some singing, the crowd turns into a “CM Punk” chant and then an “OTC” chant and finally a Cody Rhodes song because they have varied tastes. Seth knows that Cody has three wins and he has three losses but it doesn’t bother him because it doesn’t matter. “Those matches were in the past, those versions of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins were in the past.” Now they’re both at the top and at Crown Jewel the winner will be the Crown Jewel Champion and the leader of the industry into the future. He can’t believe some people want Cody to win and think that Cody is the quarterback of WWE and asks them if they’ve lost their minds. He stayed here when times got tough, brought the company into its golden age, brought two young men along (Bron and Bronson) and given them his knowledge. He’s tried to rid the company of cancers and still the fans chant for Cody.

Wrestling has more than one royal family – out walks Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes following the “Kingdom” singalong and his pyro not going off. Cody says he is messy and dramatic but “Seth, what are we talking about? The future of the industry? Seems a bit much!” I am also messy and dramatic so I feel him. He says neither of them have control of that but yes, the fans do. Cody believes that Bron and Bronson were not sent to SmackDown by Seth but instead by Paul Heyman, questioning Seth’s control of his own group. Seth says every decision goes through him and he sent them to SmackDown. “Everything goes through you, so I assume you were the one who allowed Mr. Heyman to announce Brock Lesnar?” Seth again says that every decision runs through him. “No it doesn’t,” chants the crowd and Seth yells at them. Cody reminds Seth of WrestleMania XL again and Seth argues that Cody was the lesser of two evils on that night. “We’re never going to be friends; I’m never going to shake your hand.” Seth promises to cleanse the timeline at Crown Jewel and begin writing a new history. This was fine but man, we’re just gonna have these two yelling at each other every week and while they’re good at it, it’s a bit old.

Iyo is still blue and looking at her photograph much as Nickelback once did. Rhea Ripley finds her and Iyo says Rhea was right. At Crown Jewel, they’re teaming against the Kabuki Warriors. Rhea says she wants it too but wants to make sure Iyo is up for it, having seen the conversation with Kairi earlier and wondering if she can trust her. Rhea was watching the program! Iyo calls Kairi lost, and Rhea says she’s in.

AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs Los Americanos (with El Grande Americano)

Dragon Lee tells AJ that he is honored to share the ring as a team and that they are unstoppable. Lee has been stopped many times on Raw in the last year. He has some words for Dom as the #1 contender for the AAA Mega Championship. AJ says maybe they should go after some championships together and he has a match at Crown Jewel thanks to the fans against John Cena. He loves to beat up John Cena.

The Americanos competing are the two that are rumored to not be Ludwig Kaiser, though of course we know Ludwig Kaiser is not El Grande Americano and that’s just a weird internet rumor. Joe reveals their names are Bravo and Rayo. Please accept my apologies for naming them as El Grande Americano in past reviews, clearly Michael Cole made me misname them. Bravo tries for a top rope rana but is caught by Lee who turns it into a stomp. AJ and Rayo are tagged in and AJ unloads, striking every Americano in his area. With some interference for El Grande Americano, the Americanos get the advantage again. Styles drops Bravo with a Pele Kick and leaps onto Grande then a Phenomenal Forearm to Bravo. Lee springboards Bravo into the Styles Clash for a three as Lee leaps onto Rayo on the outside.

Dragon Lee & AJ Styles defeat Los Americanos. Well, this was not a great first match for the Americanos but it’s hard to win when you’re against John Cena’s next opponent I guess. This one didn’t let the Americanos do enough character work.

Next week: CM Punk! Maxxine Dupri vs Becky Lynch! Again? Sure. Where is Ivy Nile? Lyra Valkyria vs Roxanne Perez!

Jackie Redmond has found WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Stephanie is excited to face Tiffany Stratton but will teach her that she can’t be stopped. Here’s WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton for a rebuttal, telling Stephanie that she’s been champion for 268 days and while Stephanie is great, she’s not going to let her change her story.

Seth Rollins is with Paul Heyman and the Vision, Seth saying that he HAS to beat Cody.

Tornado Tag Team Match: The Usos vs Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker (with Paul Heyman)

The Usos yeet through the crowd to Jey’s theme and Jimmy can’t help but laugh at the enthusiasm of a kid that yeets with them. Jey leaps onto the Brons and we’re in tornado tag rules so everyone is legal. The Usos work over Bron to start and then Bronson, showing their experienced edge. They trade running hip attacks and clothesline Bron to the floor. They run and Bronson grabs their feet, giving Bron a chance to attack. We have lost half of the entrance Tron’s imagery but they’re doing a good job of not showing it. Maybe they’re having some electrical problems there since Cody’s pyro also failed. Bron slings Jey into the stairs and Jey into the announce table, stripping its cover. Bronson pulls Jimmy up for Jagged Edge but Jimmy wiggles out, super kicking Bronson almost on top of Wade. As Jimmy poses, he turns around to Bron crashing through him from the timekeeper’s barricade and we take another break.

After break, Jimmy is still under the table as the Brons work over Jey in the ring. After some time of Jey being worked over, Jey pops up to push Bronson off the top. Jey hits Bron with a pop-up Samoan Drop but Bronson hits Jagged Edge. Bron follows with a quick spear and the Usos are down. Bron stacks the Usos so Bronson can go up top and here’s some surprising music – please raise a finger for OTC1 Roman Reigns. Roman has a chair and quickly disposes of Bron, back to face off with Big Bronson. He works Bronson outside with the chair and smacks him over the barricade. Bron comes to attack and gets the chair too as Wade reminds us that the match is still going on as there are no disqualifications. The fans sing for Roman as Bron turns into a Jimmy superkick and a Jey spear. The Usos offer dual splashes on Bron and Jey covers for the pin. Roman runs in and smacks Bron around with the chair a little extra. Roman and Jey exchange some words as Jimmy watches on, possibly a bit worried that Jey is indeed catching the Tribal Chief feeling a little too much.

The Usos defeat Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker. This was every Usos/Vision match with relaxed rules which isn’t a bad thing – they’re going to have good matches even if it feels like they’ve battled 849 times. Roman was a surprise the internet didn’t spoil for me, and he got the mega reception he always does. It looks like we’re setting up Roman’s match again Bron and Jimmy continuing to slightly doubt Jey’s intentions.

Overall, an okay episode. It wasn’t as good as last week, though I do appreciate that they’re kind of trying a few different matchups like Kingston/Knight though they’re also stuck in the same patterns of teams going through singles matches – Bayley, Lyra, Judgment Day here – in consecutive weeks. The Americanos debut was underwhelming but again, perhaps they could have simply not put them in a match with a guy who can’t lose because he’s John Cena’s next opponent. You’re not missing a lot if you skip this episode. The opening segment and Dom/Rusev were the highlights. Beyond that, as Michael Cole has often said in the past, “Raw rolls on.”