WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 10.06.25

Good Monday evening to you! On Mondays we watch Raw. It hasn’t been the most consistently entertaining show lately, though it has been very consistent in that it feels like the same show every week. This week, we have Roman Reigns and CM Punk announced as appearing and two women’s matches announced.

First, a quick programming note – next week, Raw will air live from Perth, Australia at 8 a.m. ET on Netflix. Friends, I will not be watching Raw at 8 a.m. on a Monday morning because I have a job and I have no desire to watch a Vision match with breakfast. I’ll have the review up Monday night, probably a little earlier than usual but still in the actual evening.

The last week in WWE through the words of the Blog of Doom writers: Raw / NXT / EVOLVE / SmackDown / LFG

Then, Now, Together, FOREVER. Sorry, they removed the “dun dun dun” in the new version. I’ll have to find a new joke.

We are in Dallas, Texas – everything is bigger in Texas! The American Airlines Center is home of Raw and we are presented by… DoorDash? Snickers, where did you go? Let’s take a look back at last week as Roman Reigns returned to save The Usos, attack The Vision and share some words with Jey while Jimmy emoted in the background.

The fans sing for “Roman, Roman Reigns” and here is OTC1 Roman Reigns to his usual god pop. Sometimes you forget just how big he is until you hear that explosion and every single person has the finger in the air for their Tribal Chief. After the fans work out several chants and songs, Roman asks for acknowledgement. Instead, we get the music of Big Bronson Reed, entering with Paul Heyman. Paul says Roman has ruined the entire schtick and asks Dallas to acknowledge their Tribal Thief. Paul knows that Roman fears Bronson. Not once had Roman left anything on a stretcher until Bronson got his hands on him. Braun Strowman would like a word

Reed takes the mic and tells Roman that Sika was never stretchered out and has to be looking down watching Roman get stretchered out. Roman thinks his dad would say, “Fight him now,” so let’s do this. It’s Raw and we’re not getting a Roman Reigns match. Roman knows he has run the Heyman plays before and he knows Paul is telling Reed it isn’t time. Paul throws out the idea of the two men fighting in an Australian Street Fight at Crown Jewel. Roman accepts, Paul offers a goodnight and heads out. Roman notes they’re walking out “like a couple of bitches” and Bronson storms the ring, giving us the big brawl. Roman clears the announce table and security tries to pull them apart. This gives them the excuse to have the big wild brawl with interference.

Arrivals! CM Punk is here and he has some thoughts. Lyra Valkyria is here and she’ll be battling Roxanne Perez. Iyo Sky is giving us “mixed emotions” as we look back at her being misted last week.

Asuka is with Raw General Manager Adam Pearce who already needs a drink. Asuka sets Kairi Sane a match up against Iyo Sky and Kairi wants none of it. Asuka yells and slaps Kairi who tells her she understands. Asuka calls her a good girl.

Joe Tessitore runs us the idea of watching the Crown Jewel Kickoff at 5 a.m. I can make a list as long as this review of things I’d rather do at 5 a.m. than watch a pep rally for Crown Jewel.

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch vs Maxxine Dupri

I’m told that everyone says Becky Lynch is the greatest women’s wrestler of all time – Sports Illustrated says it, the Bleacher Report says it, Kat from Blog of Doom says it. This is as a result of Becky attacking Maxxine backstage last week. Maxxine gets some early moves as Joe notes this is different from the last time we had this match in August (it isn’t really so far). Maxxine gets a good Thesz Press and a not so good dropkick before landing a flip from the apron onto Becky. Becky slings Maxxine right into the barricade though and they T-Bone Suplexes her into it as we take a break. That’s right, this is a two-segment Maxxine Dupri match!

Three minutes later, Becky is still trying to put Dupri away. They trade punches and get some crowd noise and Becky runs into a nice knee. Maxxine splashes Becky and hits a Fisherman’s Suplex before dropping the straps. Becky catches her spin kick but Dupri rolls it into an anklelock as Master Gable once taught her. Becky knees Maxxine in the corner and hits punches from the top before Maxxine powers her into a powerbomb for a two count. Maxxine goes up top and is knocked down by Becky. Becky gives her a superplex for a two count, then rolls that into the Disarmher. Maxxine rolls it into a two count and the anklelock again which Becky rolls into a two. Maxxine ducks out of a Manhandle Slam and kicks Becky down for a close three as they have hooked the fans with Maxxine, folks. She goes up again and crossbodies Becky who rolls it through for a two. Maxxine rolls Becky up and uses the ropes for two of her own.

Becky tosses Maxxine out as the fans chant “this is awesome.” Becky slams Dupri into the stairs and across the Prime Hydration Station, smacking Maxxine with the giant bottle of Prime. Not the giant Prime bottle! Becky continues arguing with referee Jessika Carr, getting in her face as she counts. Becky rolls out to attack Maxxine then rolls back in to get in Carr’s face and break the count. Becky goes back out and slams her into the announce table, then throws out some taunts as Carr counts. Carr hits the eight count and then her face turns, counting a quick nine and ten. Becky is counted out and shows frustration in both her own move and Jessika.

Maxxine Dupri defeats Becky Lynch by countout. It started roughly but found a little groove and more importantly the crowd. I’m not sure I expected a crowd to chant “this is awesome” to a Maxxine Dupri match but here we are. It wasn’t a five star classic by any means, but it got the job done and we’ll see how Becky snaps on Jessika and if this leads to anything besides Main Event for Maxxine. She still hasn’t hit fifty matches in her career. I do like that they’re trying the story of Maxxine “figuring it out” as things go on and Becky is going to do her damndest to help. The follow-up will be key.

Roman is walking backstage and finds Jimmy and Jey Uso, Jey in a new brat green “yeeting’ ain’t easy” shirt. Jimmy tries to say that they have Roman at Crown Jewel but Jey interrupts to say, “I got you.” Roman tells Jey to hyperfocus on his own opportunities and reminds Roman that CM Punk is talking at the top of the hour, not Jey. Jey storms off and Roman tells Jimmy that he sees and hears everything, wondering what the problem is with Jey taking advice from him before walking off.

Lyra Valkyria is warming up in Gorilla and joined by Bayley, excited for her and wanting to join her at ringside. Lyra says she needs the help, so they do a handshake and head out.

Lyra Valkyria (with Bayley) vs WWF Women’s Tag Team Champion Roxanne Perez (with Raquel Rodriguez)

As Joe tells us Iyo vs Kairi is official, things start evenly. That doesn’t last long as Roxanne works the arm and sends us right to a commercial for hockey. She’s lost that advantage during the break and Rox keeps working the left arm. Lyra rallies with one arm and catches Rox into a bridge and a nice suplex for a two count. Bayley helps Rox escape Rox and gets herself attacked by Raquel. Lyra leaps out with a kick to Raquel, Rox dives out with her own tornado DDT on Lyra. Back in, Rox hits PopRox and gets the three. Bayley is livid and yells at Lyra while pulling her down the ramp.

Roxanne Perez pins Lyra Valkyria. This was good. The ending isn’t shocking because dammit, we have a story to tell her and we have to do the singles matches before the tag match. It’s the Raw formula.

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett greet us from the announce table, reminding us that Raw will stream live at 8 a.m. ET next week though will always be available to stream any time. This leads us into a video package on the history between John Cena and AJ Styles noting they’re both in the last chapters of their stories. They’ll meet at Crown Jewel. That’ll be at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday on ESPN in the U.S. and Netflix elsewhere. I imagine it’ll be reviewed by Scott or one of the Blog of Doom writers, though it shall not be me this time.

WWE Fact of the Night: John Cena seeks his 100th PLE victory on Saturday at Crown Jewel (2nd all-time to Undertaker). Jackie Redmond catches AJ Styles backstage for some words. Judgment Day interrupts and Dominik Mysterio is wearing a shirt of himself as a kid playing PSP because he’s the coolest person. Finn Balor says he’s heard that AJ and Dragon Lee want to challenge them for their tag titles. AJ says he’ll find Dragon and find themselves a third partner for a six-man tag match tonight. Finn wonders who he will get as a partner, meanwhile every person who has watched the show in the last six months yells “PENTA!” at the TV.

CM Punk is walking and is next, passing by Rusev arguing in the background.

Penta is walking backstage and hey, he’s met by AJ and Dragon Lee. What a shocker! As AJ offers his hand, we see Lyra and Bayley attacking Raquel and tossing her into a backstage barricade before the referees can pull the teams apart. Okay, it’s good to see Lyra being swayed by Dark Bayley a bit to do the attacking. Adam Pearce is stressed.

Celebrities! They love Raw on Netflix! Here’s John Crimber, 2024 #1 Overall Pick. Hudson Bolton, 2025 Rookie of the Year is here. Rocker Steiner, World Champion Bareback Rider is here. Hey, we can’t all have a chyron that says “World Champion Bareback Rider” I guess but of course it is a Steiner. They’re all PBR people. Kids love their bull riding or so their corporate owners TKO would like us to think. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are here too, and by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders we mean two of them. Celebrities – they love WWE!

“Cult of Personality” plays and here is CM Punk in a very good mood, letting us know that it is clobberin’ time. The great Alicia Taylor introduces him to the crowd. Punk sings a little bit of “Deep in the Heart of Texas” because he’s happy from winning at Wrestlepalooza. He thanks the crowd for welcoming AJ Lee back and the fans chant for her. He says he’s been celebrating with his wife for two weeks, which is fair. He plans to end the year by beating Seth Rollins on Netflix just as he did to start the year. He points out a sign that says he deserves the World Heavyweight Title and he says he appreciates it but he doesn’t deserve it, he’s earned it.

This brings out L.A. Knight. Knight tells Punk that he still hasn’t gotten what he has earned, his own reign as World Heavyweight Champion. L.A. congratulates Punk on being a good husband but tells him that he is a trash champion. Punk reminds Knight that he hasn’t been champion while Knight reminds Punk that he’s never been pinned by Seth Rollins. Knight says he’s the last one and the next one to pin Rollins, but now Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city. No crowd entrance tonight but full crowd participation as usual. Jey tells us he is thinking clearly now and he’s the one, the one that never got his rematch and the one who is up next. Knight wonders if he is having deja vu because the same two guys are complaining again. Knight tells Jey that his time has come and left and it’s his time, yeah. Knight says that Jey isn’t Roman and he should carve his own path and maybe should focus on the tag titles, but first they have to stop sucking as a tag team. That brings out Jimmy Uso and Jey superkicks Knight.

Punk assumes he and Jey are cool, but he understands the passion. “You’re going to have to get in line behind me and the man does have a point, maybe you should focus on being a tag team. I love Jey Uso, I don’t like Little Roman.” Jey dives for Punk and Jimmy keeps them separated, Jey trying to break out for a superkick. Punk gets a right hand on Jey and turns around into a Big Jim superkick. I do like the Shades of Uso going on. They’re playing this really well.

Here’s a video package on Iyo Sky. She tells Asuka that what is happening is Asuka’s fault. She’s in WWE because of Asuka and she and Kairi wouldn’t be here without her. Asuka’s jealousy has changed everything and real family members wouldn’t tell her to be friends with. “We are not family anymore but I’m starting to find out who is.”

We learn that The Usos battle CM Punk and LA Knight tonight. Well, it’s at least twisting from the Vision.

Iyo Sky vs Kairi Sane (with Asuka)

Iyo attacks Asuka outside while riles Kairi up. Iyo springboards onto Kairi for our commercial teaser. Iyo drops Kairi with a sweet missile dropkick and does the face point to the cheers. Iyo lifts Kairi up and Kairi springs out, landing on her feet. Kairi hooks a cool spider lock in the corner as Wade reminds us that Rhea Ripley is in Australia doing press. Kairi lands an Alabama Slam onto Iyo ring into the video board, then Sane hits Iyo with a perfect flying fist. Kairi hooks on a Liontamer, which Iyo turns into a stomp. Iyo goes up and Asuka distracts, Iyo attacking her. Kairi bridges over Iyo for a pin attempt and Asuka grabs her hands, helping her get the pin. The girls attack Iyo after and Kairi leans into it, dropping the elbow on Iyo.

Kairi Sane pins Iyo Sky. This turned out to be very, very good. I’d like to see it again with more time. Iyo is the best wrestler (not just in the women’s division) of 2025 and this was one of Kairi’s better showings of her return.

We take an extended look at more of the history between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is staring at his watch again as Becky rants about what happened to her earlier. She says she’s not going to Perth because they don’t deserve her until they get better referees. As she leaves, Seth calls over Paul Heyman. “We should talk. I have to win this Saturday.” Paul says he will win. Seth is doubtful but Paul tells him that he will win. Paul tells Seth that if he loses, he loses the locker room, the faith of the Brons, the Netflix era being built around him, and becoming a defacto wannabe secondary champion. “Do yourself a favor and don’t lose.” Seth grabs Paul and mentions he left somebody out of that equation – himself. Seth again asks what happens if he loses. Heyman tries to dodge answering but says that if Seth loses, he has to ask himself why he picked Seth over Roman Reigns.

Much like Becky was doing to Seth, Jey is ranting to Roman. Jimmy joins and Jey questions why he was out there. Jey tells Jimmy to remember what side he’s on. Jimmy says he knows Roman is pulling strings and needs Roman to know that neither Uso is like him. Roman: “You should listen to this. When your brother won that World Heavyweight Championship, he became more like me and less like you. If you really want to help your brother, sometimes you just need to get out of his way.”

Penta, AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs WWE Intercontinental Champion & AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio and WWE World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & JD McDonough

I keep reading people say they are fumbling Penta, but here he is being on the show every week, always getting the TV entrances and getting to do commercials for the company. AJ tries to speak but is interrupted by the Judgment Day’s introduction. Joe Tess confuses AJ Styles and AJ Lee as the fans again sing for Dirty Dom. AJ springboards outside onto Finn, Penta does the same to JD and Lee finishes it up on Dom. The good guys do the Penta walk to take us to a commercial.

Back from our paid advertising, Penta is dropping a set of boots from the top as the commentators try to hype AJ-Cena without Cena being on the shows. Wade notes that the “Dirty Dom” singing is mostly female voices. Dom works Lee in the corner and lands the Three Amigos before being rolled up for a two. Judgment Day pose in the corner before we take another break.

After another break, Dragon Lee finally gets the hot tag to Penta. Penta and JD do a Spanish Fly spot before AJ gets the hot tag, attacking Dom. AJ muscles Dom up into a beautiful spinning backdrop and things begin to break out, every man in. Penta leaps out onto Finn. Dom goes for a 619 on AJ but stops in his tracks when he sees Rusev stomping down the entryway. Dom grabs his belts and tries to run and succeeds when Penta accidentally hits Rusev. Dom runs through the crowd as Styles hits a Styles Clash on JD.

AJ Styles, Dragon Lee and Penta defeat Judgment Day. These six could have a good Raw match in their sleep at this point. The Rusev twist is interesting at least. This is a fun one. Post match, AJ gets that mic and says that he and Cena don’t need a story, but they’ll dance for the last time and leave it all in the ring. “It will kick ass!”

Punk and Knight meet up; both say they don’t want this match but they’re going to do it. Knight tells Punk to not get pinned.

L.A. Knight & CM Punk vs Jimmy & Jey Uso

These 8 p.m. shows feel longer now that we’ve had a taste of 7 p.m. shows. Now we get the proper Uso yeet entrance though it takes the brothers about a minute to get to where they’re supposed to enter which I’d assume was a mistake on WWE’s part of not getting them there in time. All four men brawl to start and then we work down to Knight/Jey as the legal men. After some back and forth, we head to perhaps our last commercials for the night as Jey tosses Knight into the steel steps.

Post-break, Punk delivers a Macho elbow and threatens a GTS on Big Jim. Jim elbows out and offers a superkick, tagging in Jey who lands the Uso Splash. This only gets a two as Knight breaks it up. Jimmy shoves Knight into Jey, Jimmy is dropped with a BFT. Jey spears Punk and goes up again, leaping back down to knock down Knight. This sets up a GTS for Punk, who stumbles into the corner. Knight tags himself in and pins Jey as Punk looks on with annoyance. We end our show with Punk annoyed and Knight celebrating. I imagine we can guess what’s next!

CM Punk and L.A. Knight defeat the Usos. A solid tag match between some of the usual main eventers. It was more interesting than our weekly Bron & Bronson match at least, and there are some fun wrinkles in the Usos showing shades of gray and Punk and Knight again being annoyed at each other.

Overall, a good show this week. We had some different matchups, some decent promo segments and a LOT of women’s action. I’d recommend this week’s show. Besides it being later again, I enjoyed almost all of it.