WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 10.27.25

Tonight, it’s another exciting edition of Monday Night Raw! The Women’s Tag Team Champions are around for a rare Raw defense, we have some Saturday Night’s Main Event last minute building to do, plus there have been a lot of videos of shoes posted on social media by WWE.Is a superstar returning? Is this all hype for a PLE promo? Do we have a new Men’s Wearhouse crossover?

Just a forewarning, I am SICK. I’m on day two of food poisoning and it suuuuuuuuucks. If things make less sense than usual, let’s just blame this fever I’ve been trying to break for 36 hours while being the biggest sick baby I can be. I am miserable.

The last week in WWE (and WWE-adjacent) programming as covered by the Blog of Doom superteam: Raw / NXT / EVOLVE / Impact / SmackDown / Halloween Havoc

Then, Now, Forever, Together.

We’re in Anaheim, California at the Honda Center. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss are here – tonight, they defend against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria.! Penta struts in and he’ll battle Rusev for a title shot. It’s a sellout crowd live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash! Before we go further, we take a look back at the battle royal last week.

The WWE World Heavyweight Championship is on a pedestal center-ring. Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city and, as one does, yeets through the crowd. Jey gives a look at the title before delivering another round of yeets on the top rope. After a copious amount of yeeting (six minutes or so), Jey has a mic. The crowd starts chanting for CM Punk. Jey says he has a lot of people in his ear – Roman, Jimmy, everybody’s mama – but he doesn’t give a damn what they think about him. It’s just him and he’s going to become a two-time champ Saturday night. Four letters, one word – “Cult of Personality” interrupts.

CM Punk comes out to the singalong. Punk asks if the crowd wants to wind it back for his theme too, so they do it. He apologizes for stealing Jey’s bit but then offers four letters, one word – Punk. Punk is happy for Jey who is finally listening to himself instead of the others. He knows Jey has what it takes but wonders how far he is willing to go. Jey isn’t the only one who needs to be champion again, Punk needs it like he needs air in his lungs.

Jey: “Let’s go, Punk. I’ve been in deep waters before; I know how to swim.” He tells Punk to screw himself because he’s going to show him who the best in the world is Saturday night – four letters, one word, yeet, uhh-uhh. A good face-off.

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett greet us from ringside. They take us back to AJ Styles and Dragon Lee winning the World Tag Team Titles last week.

Judgment Day Clubhouse. Dominik Mysterio says we have a problem – Adam Pearce has a vendetta against him. Raquel Rodriguez suggests that not being a habitual cheater would have helped his cause. Finn Balor is aghast, and JD McDonough tells Dom he is on his own. Dom grabs his phone and tells someone he needs his help as Raquel tells Roxanne Perez to focus on their problems.

Nikki Bella and her luggage are here! Nikki battles Roxanne tonight.

Celebrities! They love Raw! O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Actor & Musician is here. LA Galaxy, or at least a few of them, are here. Celebrities love wrestling!

WWE Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Rusev vs Penta

The winner gets Dom at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Penta dives onto Rusev outside, then springboard DDTs him in the center of the ring for a two count. Rusev ducks out and pulls Penta out with him, clotheslining him onto the mat outside. Rusev flapjacks Penta right onto the steel steps and we head to a break.

Rusev offers a bearhug as we return. Penta escapes and drops the corner handstand kick on Rusev for two. Penta leaps right into the big kick but kicks out at two. Penta slides out of the Accolade and hits a Penta Driver for a 2.8 count or so. The crowd chants “you fucked up” at the referee, though it was a very near fall. Rayo, Bravo and El Grande Americano run out and attack, the commentary team assuming this was who Dom was calling. Rusev pops back up and attacks, Penta comes from behind before the other Americanos save El Grande.

Penta and Rusev fight to a no-contest. It was a very hot match until the ending, which was… an ending. I imagine Adam Pearce announces a triple threat. Rayo and Bravo are just… they exist! Mostly on Main Event! They are not nearly as interesting as El Grande Americano, but perhaps they’ll get there.

Jackie Redmond is backstage for her weekly talk with L.A. Knight. He never learned how to quit, so he’s coming for the next World Heavyweight Champion.

Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker are together backstage. Bron thinks they should have just been in the battle royal. Paul suggests victimizing the next World Heavyweight Champion on Raw. There’s one man that shares their vision and Paul thinks they should eliminate him tonight. Heyman has the match set for tonight: Bron vs Knight.

Ten years ago this week, it was the main roster debut of Asuka. Joe sends us to a great video package on the last decade of the Goddess of Tomorrow. This highlights her 914-day undefeated streak, which is of course the best winning streak in wrestling, even better than any that insecure bald men have had..

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is on the phone and joined by Finn and JD. They want a tag title rematch, perhaps tonight. Pearce tells them they’re busy tonight. One of them has to go head-to-head with Sheamus. JD steps up.

WWE Fact of the Night: The Honda Center hosted WrestleMania XII and WrestleMania 2000! That’s right, Roddy Piper once stripped Goldust to his lingerie in this very building.

Even more celebrities love Raw! Cristela Alonza, star of “Upper Classy” streaming on Netflix, is here. Famous people on Netflix love Raw!

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella vs Roxanne Perez (with Raquel Rodriguez)

We got here with Nikki saving Stephanie Vaquer last week, which led to this and I’m sure it will lead to a tag team match next week because that’s how things happen on Raw. This is another matchup you would have never expected a few years ago. Roxanne offers a slap, Nikki has one of her own. Nikki and Rox trade submissions and the fans chant “let’s go Nikki / let’s go Roxanne” chants. Wade notes that Rox watched Nikki on Total Divas as a young girl. Raquel grabs Nikki as Roxanne distracts the referee. Rox slingshots Nikki into the ropes and we take a break.

Rox hits a double-rope springboard moonsault for a two as we return from three minutes of ads. Rox works the previously injured neck of Nikki. Bella fights out and hits a kick for a two. She tries for the Rack Attack 2.0, but Rox slides down into a sleeper before Nikki tosses her off. Nikki spinebusters Rox and then knocks Raquel off the apron. Rox tries for the rollup but referee Jessika Carr catches the foot on the rope. Perez elbows out of another Rack Attack and Pop Roxes Nikki, getting the pin. Judgment Day attack afterwards, WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer comes for the save.

Roxanne Perez pins Nikki Bella. This was actually pretty good for a 2025 Nikki match. Rox can go with anyone. The post-match result was exactly as predictable as expected and I’m sure the tag match is incoming. Probably Nikki’s best match in the return thus far.

Joe Tess takes us to Bayley issuing the tag title challenge on Twitter in her green turtleneck and Hardy Boyz necklace.

Lyra Valkyria finds Asuka and Kairi Sane backstage. Asuka thinks they should be in the title match tonight. Lyra says she had nothing to do with it, Asuka yells. Kairi tries to talk and that leads to “KAIIIRIIIIIIIII.” Bayley comes up after and asks what’s up. She believes in them but does wonder what if they lose. “What if we win,” says Lyra.

Jey Uso is walking and finds Big Jim Uso. Jimmy is mad because Jey said it is “just him” and threw him out last week.

Bron Breakker (with Big Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman) vs L.A. Knight

Well, at least it isn’t the main event. I feel like I’ve seen this 5,000 times though I haven’t. Bron hits that third gear and clotheslines Knight down, which is pretty amazing to watch. Knight crossbodies Bron for a two count. They fight outside and Knight confronts Reed as we take another break to learn more about DoorDash.

We’re back and still at it. Imagine if we came back and the match had ended during a DoorDash commercial. Knight works out of a headlock and offers up some punches. Knight hits a nice jumping neckbreaker and running elbow. He signals for the BFT, but Bron rolls out and knees him instead. They go up top and Knight ducks under Bron, who falls hard onto the mat. That could’ve been really bad. Knight lifts Bron back up and Bron pushes him down, so Knight leaps back up for a superplex. Reed distracts Knight and Bron goes for the spear, however Knight ducks out of the way and Bron hits the ring post. Knight pounds Breaker into the announce desk. Bron presses Knight up, Knight falls with a reverse DDT out of it. Bron spears the shit out of Knight and yep, that’s it.

Bron Breakker pins L.A. Knight. This started slow and felt like everything we’ve seen this year, but it actually turned into a really fun match. Knight is really good at all of this and Bron is Bron. This was worth a watch.

Pearce finds D-Von Dudley of all people and then some other dudes and asks if they’ve seen Dominik Mysterio. They have and there he is, talking with the Americanos. Dom says he was telling them it was crazy that they’d attack like they did earlier. As expected, Pearce makes the Saturday Night’s Main Event a triple threat match. What a shock!

Big Jim Uso is sad and walking, finding his brother. Jey tells him that he is his brother and loves him. They embrace and Jey walks off.

John Cena’s final Raw is November 17th at MSG. Tickets are on sale now!

JD McDonough (with Finn Balor) vs Sheamus

Sheamus gives JD a huge body shot that echoes through the arena before throwing him around a little more. Sheamus clotheslines JD right over onto Finn. As Sheamus is distracted by Finn, JD corkscrews over for a big one count. Finn pulls JD down from the Ten Beats, so Sheamus leaps off the apron with a double clothesline to give us our slow-motion replay for a commercial break.

McDonough nails a beautiful moonsault on Sheamus outside, then tries and lands a 450 in the ring for a two. Sheamus offers chops and tries for the Ten Beats again, JD headbutting out with his Funko Pop head. Sheamus fumbles and gets JD outside, this time getting the Ten Beats plus four extra. He wastes time and signals for the Brogue, then runs into JD’s knee. JD rolls Sheamus up for two, then is scooped into a High Cross. Finn sneaks in to slide JD’s foot on the rope to break the pin. Sheamus stalks Finn outside and knees Balor, trying for a High Cross but catching a flying JD instead and bouncing him off the announce desk. Finn knocks Sheamus with the shillelagh, JD hits a Spanish Fly and gets the pin.

JD McDonough pins Sheamus. This was very good but also felt very long. They could’ve cut a good six minutes out and we wouldn’t have missed any story beats. This being the Raw way, this’ll lead to Sheamus vs Finn in a week or two and then perhaps Sheamus will find a tag partner to battle both.

Here’s some highlights of Becky vs Maxxine from last week.

Pearce is talking to Maxxine Dupri. He says two wins against the Intercontinental Champion means she’s earned a third shot. She doesn’t want the shot to go to waste and wants to make sure she’s prepared for it. When she’s ready, she will take the Intercontinental Championship from Becky. Adam says it is official – eventually.

Jackie has found WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, on day 85 of their reign. Alexa says they don’t back down from a challenge on any show. Charlotte says they are two victories away from the most Women’s Tag Title victories in history. The Kabuki Warriors walk up and say they should be in the match tonight. Hmm, I wonder who might appear at the end of the match. Charlotte says they’d be honored to face the Warriors, Asuka thinks they are not ready for Asuka. Kairi threatens with the umbrella before getting KAIIIRIIIIIed away.

Joe and Wade run down the Saturday Night’s Main Event card – Punk vs Uso, Mysterio vs Penta vs Rusev, Stratton vs Cargill, Rhodes vs McIntyre.

WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee have found Pearce. Styles wants whatever worthy opponents Pearce can find. Here’s Judgment Day who would now like their rematch. Lee accepts for next week.

A poker chip lands face-up with “2026” displayed and plays the same music we’ve heard in the shoe videos. We get it, WrestleMania in Vegas.

Joe thanks Black Sabbath for “War Pigs,” the official theme of Survivor Series and pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

The great Alicia Taylor gives us the in-ring introductions. The champs work over Bayley to start, Bliss spinning Bayley down with head scissors. Charlotte and Lyra trade shots as the fireflies are out for Alexa. Lyra dropkicks Charlotte through the ropes and we head to break.

We come back to Lyra swinging Alexa’s entire body around. Bayley and Lyra work over Bliss. Bliss hits a double DDT and gets the hot tag to Charlotte, who flies off the top onto both opponents to cheers and woooos. She hands out chops to both and clotheslines Lyra. Charlotte sets up Bayley and Lyra and drops the moonsault on both bodies, getting a two count on Lyra. Bayley returns with fire, dropkicking Alexa out and hitting Charlotte with Bayley-to-Belly for 2.5. Bliss tags herself in and Bayley doesn’t notice. Lyra drops a leg on Charlotte and runs right into Sister Abigail, connecting for two before Bayley saves.

Charlotte boots Bayley as the fans chant “this is awesome.” Alexa heads to the top and Lyra catches her, turning it into Nightwing before Charlotte breaks the pin. Hot tags to Charlotte and Bayley. Charlotte hooks the Figure-Eight and Lyra catches Bayley’s arm as it tries to tap. Bliss lands Twisted Bliss on Lyra. Bliss and Flair hit a double Natural Selection for a pin on both women.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defeat Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. Whew. What a match. What a MATCH. Can we get Charlotte and Alexa on Raw more often please? Watch this one.

As we go through replays, the Kabuki Warriors are out for the attack on Bliss and Flair. Kairi drops the elbow on Charlotte and tries to attack Lyra too, though Bayley comes in for the save. The Warriors back off when confronted by their former Damage CTRL partner. The credits roll as Joe hypes up SNME one more time.

Watch the women’s tag match for sure. Everything else was good enough as well, though we are feeling the usual flow of how one week leads to the next week’s obvious matches again (Stephanie/Nikki vs Judgment Day for next week was announced during a commercial break).

I’ll see you all next week in the shadow of Saturday Night’s Main Event, where we will (probably) have a new World Heavyweight Champion.