WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 10.13.25

It’s time for Raw again. Wait, it is Monday morning? Monday Morning Raw? Well, at least when this aired it was 8 a.m. ET in the U.S. We’re still running on Australian time after Crown Jewel, so we’ve flipped to twelve hours earlier than our usual ET start time. Now that we’re in the Netflix era, we get it when it happens.

The last week in WWE: Raw / NXT/TNA Showdown / EVOLVE / Smackdown / Crown Jewel Perth

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER.

It’s the final night of a weekend of televised shows in Perth, Australia. We’re live at the RAC Arena, live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash. Here’s a look back at Crown Jewel.

Arrivals! CM Punk has made it overseas and he’s facing L.A. Knight and Jey Uso in a #1 contender’s match. L.A. Knight walks in as well, Jey Uso is already here and signing autographs. Australia’s own Rhea Ripley waves to us, she’ll be battling Kairi Sane tonight.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins leads out The Vision, joined by Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker and Big Bronson Reed. We’re in the same arena as last night so we still have a very large entrance set compared to our usual Raw set as well as light bars on the barricades going down the entrance ramp. Seth is also wearing the WWE Crown Jewel Title before it returns to the vault and comes back out for 2026. After the singalong, the fans suggest that Seth is a wanker. That’s rude of them. Seth welcomes us to Monday Night Rollins. “In case you wankers don’t know, I am the Crown Jewel Champion, I am the World Heavyweight Champion, I am a revolutionary, I am a visionary, and this is the Vision.”

Seth says tonight is about him but he wants to recognize the greatness he has assembled. He says he is blessed by being in Paul’s presence and gives him a hug. The fans chant “kiss” and Seth accepts, kissing Paul’s forehead. Seth tells Bron that he is flourishing and the undisputed future of the industry, Bron smiling slyly. Then there’s Big Bronson. The fans sing for their fellow Australian as Seth hypes up that he destroyed, embarrassed and beat Roman Reigns. “You are the new Tribal Chief!” He gets a fair amount of Tribal Chief fingers in the air. Seth says he doesn’t need anybody – Bronson, Bron and Paul included – to beat Roman Reigns on his own. He won the World Heavyweight Championship on his own, beat Cody Rhodes with one good arm on his own. “I don’t need anybody, I don’t need the men in this ring. I have chosen the men in this ring and they have chosen me because I am a visionary.” Seth gets a loud of pyro as he raises his belt, the camera framing Bron thinking things through as the pyro explodes and then taking a hard look at Seth’s title over Paul’s shoulder.

Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are our commentary crew tonight, joining us from ringside. Cole reminds us of Dominik’s problems with Rusev.

Penta walks backstage and meets up with Rusev, who tells him he should be having the match tonight. He says he will allow it and Adam Pearce has promised he’ll get the winner of the match. After Penta walks off, we see Dominik Mysterio walking up in the background before seeing Penta and putting it in reverse, Terry.

WWE Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio vs Penta

Dom has a new neck tattoo of a lucha mask. The great Alicia Taylor gives us the championship in-ring introductions. Dom gets the larger reaction by far as well as the “Dirty, Dirty Dom” singalong because we live in Dom’s world now. The men trade chops and then kicks before Penta takes Dom down with a rana. Dom runs at Penta on the outside and Penta backdrops him righto n the announce table in a hell of a bump to take us to a commercial.

We’re in the ring and Dom is throwing his own ranas. Penta tries for a kick and catches Dom with a nice springboard crossbody for a two count. Wade reminds us of the tensions in the Judgment Day as Penta drops the boots out of a handstand position onto Dom for a pin attempt. Penta suicide dives onto Dom on the outside, Dom turns it into a DDT and shows off those muscles. Australia sings for Dom again who takes time to pose and soak it in before mocking Penta’s walk. Dom slings Penta into the barricade and almost the front row before tossing him into the timekeeper’s area. Penta dives in to beat the count

After another break, Penta has control and drops Dom on his knee. Dom rolls out, Penta dives from the top of the ring post onto him as the fans chant “this is awesome.” Dom catches Penta with a kick and lands two of the Three Amigos and a suplex for a two count as the fans chant for his father Eddie. Penta falls into the 619 position and Dom misses, Penta ducking and then leaping from the top with a crossbody. Penta lands the Penta Driver for a two with Dom getting a little extra rotation in it. Penta calls for the Destroyer, Dom turns it into a Driver of his own for a two. Dom rolls out and we see Rusev stalking his way to the ring. Penta leaps onto him as Dom grabs the timekeeper’s hammer and puts a belt in the ring. As referee Eddie Orengo removes the belt, Dom smacks Penta in the knee with the hammer, hides it in his boot, hits a 619 with said boot and a frog splash for a three count.

Dominik Mysterio pins Penta to retain the WWE Intercontinental Title. You know what? This was genuinely GREAT. One of the best matches of the entire weekend. Penta is great of course, but Dominik is on a run of a lifetime. He’s grown so much as a wrestler and continued evolving as an all-around performer. Watch this one. You won’t regret it. I loved everything about this.

Jackie Redmond has found L.A. Knight as she often does. He thinks Punk might get himself punched in the mouth and pinned tonight. This match might as well be for the World Heavyweight Championship because he’s winning it. CM Punk walks up and tells Knight to quit wasting Jackie’s time. He tells Knight he isn’t stealing one this week.

Kairi Sane is going through the emotions as Asuka walks in yelling, telling Kairi that SHE is the one who lost at Crown Jewel. Kairi apologizes and says she can fix it. Asuka tells her to fix the dishonor she’s caused her and tells Kairi, who hasn’t been watching the show, that she’s facing Rhea Ripley. Kairi shows Asuka the knot on her forehead and Asuka slaps the shit out of her.

Michael Cole tells us about Australia’s Coral Coast in Western Australia.

Celebrities love Raw! UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is here. UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddelena is here. This leads into some hype for UFC 322. Sadly, neither of these men have a title as interesting as last week’s World Bareback Riding Champion.

Rhea Ripley (with Iyo Sky) vs Kairi Sane (with Asuka)

Rhea usually gets the god pop, but it’s magnified even more in Australia. Kairi has returned to her former theme song as we slowly continue to lose Def Rebel themes. What a shame. Rhea gets all the chants as Kairi ducks and dodges Rhea for the first minute. Kairi hits Rhea with some big chops and runs right into Rhea’s arms for a vertical suplex. Kairi’s able to drop Rhea with a kick to the neck. Kairi delivers a diving forearm and knocks Rhea out, then leaps right into Rhea’s knee on the outside. Rhea slides in and dropkicks Kairi, giving her a one-armed bridge suplex. Rhea decides to chase Asuka outside, Asuka backs right into Iyo as Kairi knocks Rhea into the table. Kairi leaps off the apron to save Asuka as we head to break.

Kairi’s working Rhea with a headlock as we come back, the fans still clapping for their Mami. Rhea catches both of Kairi’s arms and kisses her on the head before dropping her with a kick of her own. Some girls have all the luck, I guess. Kairi rolls through a Razor’s Edge for a two. Rhea gives her a massive headbutt and Kairi dodges out of a Riptide. Rhea pulls Kairi to the apron and Kairi dodges out of the way, Rhea crashing into the ring post. Kairi climbs up and drops a flying elbow from the top, taking a minute to celebrate with Asuka. Kairi rolls Rhea in and hits a standing Stunner on Rhea for a two. Kairi climbs again and Rhea ducks under, grabbing Kairi into a Razor’s Edge and a boot for a two. Rhea is pulled up to the ropes by Kairi who knocks her down and drops the boots, still unable to get a two. Kairi leaps into Rhea’s arms, who powers her up into a face-first slam. Iyo pulls Asuka off the apron as Rhea lands the Riptide and rolls Kairi up for the pin. Asuka attacks Iyo outside after, Rhea boots her to the floor and strips the announce table before trying to Riptide her through it. Kairi saves with a kendo stick, giving Asuka the chance to DDT Rhea onto the table. The Kabuki Warriors stand over the fallen Ripley.

Rhea Ripley pins Kairi Sane. This was also very good, especially once it got going. Rhea is next level and one of the best in the world, but I feel like Kairi has stepped it up over the last few weeks. Granted, she’s had some fantastic dance partners. The crowd that was all in for Rhea helped the atmosphere.

During the break, Iyo and the officials help Rhea out.

Big Jim Uso and Main Event Jey Uso are talking about Roman Reigns backstage. Jey tells Jimmy that all Roman does is look out for himself and maybe they should do the same. Jey says he can’t lose tonight and they agree to handle their individual business tonight.

Big Bronson Reed vs Big Jim Uso

Battle of the big! Noticeably absent is Paul Heyman as Reed enters alone. Jim runs out, no room for being celebratory as he enters tonight. They fight outside and Jimmy drives Reed into the ring post before slamming him into the announce table. In the ring, Jimmy leaps into a slam. Reed pulls off Jimmy’s jersey to show that Jimmy has inherited the DDP rib tape from Jey.

After three minutes of commercials (or fast-forwarding through it half a day later), Jimmy is trying to find his way back into things. He throws some kicks and tries to lift Reed, which is a dumb move. Jimmy smacks Reed in the corner with the hip attack as Wade reminds us that it is also not a great move when you have injured ribs. Jimmy dives onto Reed for a two count. Jimmy lifts Bronson on his shoulders because he’s an idiot and collapses. Reed hits the Tsunami and that’s all it takes.

Bron Breakker joins Bron to celebrate in the aisle and decides to run in the ring and offer a spear to those weakened ribs. Reed lifts Jimmy for a second spear. After Reed pulls the rib tape off, Bron takes a run around the ring until Main Event Jey Uso’s music hits. Jey sprints down for the save and ends up taking a splash from Bronson. Jey yells at Jimmy to “tighten up.”

Bronson Reed pins Jimmy Uso. This was more of a “give Bronson a match in front of Australia” match as well as a storyteller for Jimmy now being the Uso who won’t let his ribs heal. Depending on what happens in our main event, I imagine we’ll also have a story of Jey saving Jimmy and it costing him.

Lyra Valkyria and Bayley are warming up. Lyra isn’t sure she can trust Bayley. Bayley says it’ll be fine.

More celebrities love WWE! Theo & Nathan Saidden of Netflix’s “Son of a Donkey” are ringside. I wonder who they’ll be able to get for Strangers Things in a few weeks. Not one of the core kids or Hopper, right? Is Erica too big for Raw? The guy who plays Murray maybe?

Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez)

This match is presented by Battlefield 6. It’s Bayley night as the fans sing their song to her about being their girl. Bayley and Lyra show good teamwork early as the crowd continues to serenade Bayley. Rox pulls Lyra out to give Raquel a chance to fight back. All four women brawl outside and we head to break.

After break, Lyra drops Rox with a kick. The Judgment Day are able to section off Bayley and work over her for a bit, Rox springing from rope to rope with stomps. Lyra shoves Bayley to wake her up and gives her a big slap. Bayley cackles and leaps onto the Judgment Day on the outside, slamming Rox into the announce table and clotheslining Raquel into the announce corner. Bayley goes up and drops the elbow on Rox, hits the Rose Plant and gets the pin.

Bayley & Lyra Valkyria defeat Judgment Day. This one didn’t connect with me as much at first but got there in the end. I like Lyra learning how she can get Bayley into the right phases after several weeks of being on the wrong end of moon shifts.

Paul Heyman is singing to Seth backstage. Seth is reflecting on nothing but smiles with Paul for the last six months but knows that the next 6, 12 and 18 months will be special. “Something big is on the horizon. I don’t know when, I don’t know how.” The Brons join in and he tells them he loves them. “This is the most incredible weekend of my professional life.” He ranks it right below the birth of his child and marrying his wife. He tells them that this is the mountain top and to breathe in the rarified air. “The crazy thing? I feel like we are this close to taking the next step. I’m on cloud nine. There is absolutely no one that can knock me off that mountaintop.” Well, probably not…

WWE Fact of the Night: John Cena’s win over AJ Styles at Crown Jewel was his 100th PLE victory.

WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is joined by AJ Styles. He thanks Pearce for Crown Jewel and Adam thanks him for the match. Dominik joins in and asks where his moment is as he is a double champion. Dom asks why he’s the only working champion and why he is already booked against Rusev next week. Styles agrees and thinks JD McDonough and Finn Balor should defend their titles against AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. Adam agrees for next week and tells Dom that he should be the one to tell his cohorts.

Next week, we’re in Sacramento. We will be back to our 8 p.m. ET start time. Maxxine Dupri gets a Women’s Intercontinental Title shot against Becky Lynch and Dominik defends his Intercontinental Title against Rusev.

Jackie Redmond is in the arena and welcomes our WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Stephanie says she is the first in WWE history to win four titles in one year. I’m not sure that’s factual but we’ll go with it. Raquel and Roxanne appear to interrupt and Raquel says Stephanie should have never won the title. Rox says she was the last to beat Iyo Sky and she should be champion. Stephanie tells her to sign up for a match, Rox says she will do it on her time. “I will wait in my inferno,” says Stephanie. I imagine she faces Raquel first, right?

Michael Cole thanks the Perth crowd. The combined 3-day attendance is 40,503 with SmackDown, Crown Jewel and Raw all selling out.

#1 Contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Title: Main Event Jey Uso vs CM Punk vs L.A. Knight

Jey yeets through the crowd and it is maniacal as always, while Punk gets a big entrance with the crowd singing “Cult of Personality.” The good thing about these two and three day runs in the same arena is that everybody gets their big moment without cramming it into one show and ten matches. Things breathe a bit. This is triple threat, which usually becomes a sledgehammer of “Wade, that makes this match no DQ!” later on. Uso suicide dives onto the others after a brawl to get us to that break.

Knight tosses Punk over the barricade when we return, coming back to trade blows with Jey. Punk springs from the top onto both with a crossbody and is the most popular guy in the match by a good stretch. That’s not a knock at the popularity of the other two but just a note at how big Punk is with this crowd. With both men down, Jey delivers hip attacks in each corner but runs into Punk’s knee. Punk drops the Macho elbow onto Punk and signals for GTS. It’s not that easy of course, Knight slips out and downs Punk and hits an ugly DDT on Jey. Knight drops elbows on both men and gets a two count on Punk. He tries a pin on Uso and gets the same. Don’t worry, let’s do one final break and we’ll get to the end.

As we return, commentary reminds us that Jey might have reinjured his ribs by saving his brother after saying he wasn’t going to do it. Jey breaks a pin and tosses Knight into the stairs, then runs up to try for a splash. Punk gets the knees up and calls for the GTS again, this time hitting it and getting the pin. Jey’s grill actually pops out from the GTS which is quite the visual.

CM Punk pins Jey Uso to defeat Uso and L.A. Knight to become the #1 Contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Title. A good match that felt a little rushed. Punk getting the match with Rollins is probably the right way to go. I’m sure nothing can mess that up!

The Vision join us to acknowledge Seth’s newest challenge, but Bron runs past and spears Jey and his poor ribs. Punk is up for a fight but first Bron has to run around and spear Knight. With all of Punk’s possible saviors down, the Vision surround the ring as the fans chant that Seth is a wanker again. Punk can’t overcome the odds and the Brons beat down Punk. Punk takes a spear and a Tsunami as Rollins stands triumphant over Seth, raising his title. As we often do, we look like we are ending Raw with The Vision standing tall as the credits roll…

… then Seth turns around and takes a giant spear from Bron. Paul gives us shock, and the fans are loud and shocked, barking and chanting “holy shit.” Holy shit, indeed. Bron looks at Bronson and asks if he is with him. Reed drags Seth across the ring and hits him with a Tsunami, making his choice. Paul kneels near Seth as Cole notes that Seth has been knocked off the mountaintop. Bron grabs Paul by the collar and then lets go, grabbing the World Heavyweight Title and standing over Seth. Paul chooses to raise Bron and Bronson’s hands and we end there.

A hell of an ending. I’ve figured for a while the end game would be the Brons turning on Seth, but I figured we’d stretch it out. There are strong rumors that Seth is injured, so that might have sped it up. Either way, the fans are behind Bron and Bronson’s picking up steam too. Why not? Seth is perpetually over so it won’t hurt him. It’s a fascinating new wrinkle that the very stale Vision story – and Raw – needed. Having been spoiled it all added up, but I’ll also say how watching it after finding out and hearing stuff like Seth talking about the mountaintop and then Michael mentioning it was nice. The story was there throughout the show.

Tonight was another refreshing episode of Raw. The Dom/Penta match is a must-watch, Bron has decided it is time to focus on that big gold, and there are several big things happening on the women’s side. Asuka/Kairi continues to be an interesting dynamic with Kairi putting in her best matches since her return, I feel like the Bayley personality (personalities?) shift took a good turn tonight with Lyra realizing she can harness the powers a bit, and Rhea is of course Rhea. This was a great follow-up to Crown Jewel. Back in the day, a show that didn’t air in the normal time slot would be a throwaway show with nothing happening. Today, on a show that aired at 8 a.m. on the east coast and even earlier elsewhere, a LOT happened.