WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 12.08.25

We’re a week away from the last Saturday Night’s Main Event, so we have one more Raw to knock out on the road. Next week, we’ll be in a post-Cena Rawverse.

Before we hop in, let me recommend my new series here on the Blog of Doom. The Smackdown Rewind is starting back with episode one of SmackDown, looking at the shows from a modern standpoint and watching a lot of things I don’t remember. In this case of this weekend’s episode, I covered the actual first episode of the series. I’m having a lot of fun watching it thus far. Check out the latest review here and then come back on Thursday morning for the next episode.

The last week in WWE-related television: Raw / NXT / EVOLVE / Impact / SmackDown / TNA Final Resolution / NXT Deadline

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER.

We start with a John Cena The Last Time is Now Tournament video. This leads us to last Friday’s SmackDown and Gunther defeating L.A. Knight to advance to John Cena’s Last Match.

The fans are excited in Kansas City at the T-Mobile Center. We’re live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash.

Gunther enters to a loud reception of mostly boos. This Saturday, he’ll face John Cena at Saturday’s Night Main Event. After waiting out a “Cena” chant, some boos, and a “we want Cena” chant (bad news, Kansas City), Gunther tells them to not get their hopes up because it is his time. “In five days, I will be the last opponent and the last match in the career of John Cena.” He reminds us that Cena is facing the best professional wrestler of all time on Saturday and asks for a countdown clock to be popped up for the match Saturday. “John, beating you on Saturday is not enough for me. I’m gonna do something that nobody ever managed before – I’m gonna break your spirit, I’m gonna push you around, I’m gonna bully you, I’m gonna drop you on your head and then I’m going to wrap my arms around your neck and I’m gonna squeeze.” He’s squeezing until he forces Cena to do the one thing he said he’d never do… give up.

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett greet us from ringside. Arrivals! Rey Mysterio is here and he’ll be facing Finn Balor. Lyra Valkyria and Bayley have coffee though Lyra doesn’t like it, Lyra faces Roxanne Perez. World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee arrive and get ready for the War Raiders. Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is here. What’s up for her? Anything? Rhea Ripley, arm around Iyo Sky, is here as well as Iyo prepares to battle Kairi Sane.

Iyo Sky (with Rhea Ripley) vs WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane (with Asuka)

NXT Champion Oba Femi is at ringside. He’ll battle Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event but now he’s here as the world’s biggest Kairi Sane fan (I assume). The women trade pin attempts for a bit before Kairi leaps from the top and over Iyo, mocking Iyo’s head points. Kairi takes Iyo down with a rana, Iyo returns with a dropkick. Asuka pulls Iyo outside, Rhea goes on the chase as Kairi drops Iyo with a flying fist. Let’s take a break to learn about the Money in the Bank ring, Zepbound and the same Google AI Santa commercial we’ve seen every break for a month.

Kairi is kicking Iyo when we return, stomping across the ring and sliding into a big boot as she tries for the elbow. Iyo offers a few uppercuts and a missile dropkick before giving us the Points At Face. Iyo nails the Bullet Train for two. Kairi drops the corner stomp and can’t get a pin either. On the apron, Iyo gives Kairi a bridging German suplex because she’s really the best at this at this point in time. Iyo springs out with a moonsault and tosses Kairi in. “Let’s go Iyo” chants as Iyo calls for a moonsault, Kairi rolling away and Asuka knocking her down as the ref is distracted. Rhea hits Asuka with a superkick and tosses her into the timekeeper’s area while Iyo kicks out of another corner stomp, flipping Kairi and hitting the Over the Moonsault for a three count.

Iyo Sky pins Kairi Sane. Hell of a match, just like the last time these two faced off on Raw. Watch this one. Really watch every Iyo Sky match at this point.

Paul Heyman is in the locker room with Bron Breakker and Big Bronson Reed, talking as Logan Paul walks in. Logan wonders who saw Rey Mysterio smack him in the face and thinks something should be done about it. Bron says they’ll handle it tonight and Logan asks to talk to Paul, walking two inches away from the other guys. Heyman tells Logan he has backup and Logan wants them to know if they’re in trouble, he’s their backup. If only he wasn’t right next to where he was talking to the others. Heyman hands Logan a pair of gold knuckles just in case. Paul turns back and tells the others he likes this guy.

Rey Mysterio has a hoodie and he passes by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce arguing in the background with New Day and Grayson Waller.

The WWE Podcast Network has guests like Timothee Chalamet, Bayley, Nick Khan, and Big E this week.

Here’s a video package on the War Raiders. Tonight, they get a World Tag Team Championship opportunity.

Rey Mysterio comes out for his match with Finn Balor. These men have five televised one-on-one matches in their history, Finn up 4-1. Logan Paul attacks during Rey’s entrance to rousing boos. He pulls out the knuckles and swings, Rey kicking out of the attempt. Logan misses again and Rey sets up the 619, a masked man kicking Rey and dropping him with the Curb Stomp before he can hit it. The masked man runs and security chases him through the crowd. Wade tells us it is the same man from Survivor Series as Logan KOs Rey with the knuckles. I think it is Omos (OBVIOUSLY), but we’ll let them tell their little story I guess.

L.A. Knight comes out – “just in time” says Joe Tess as Rey has already been attacked by a masked man and punched with knucks. “Don’t you go anywhere,” yells Knight. “Just when I thought the Vision couldn’t suck any more, your sorry ass joined up.” Knight is pissed off Logan would treat a legend like that. He wants Logan to pay right here in KC and says “yeah” many times. He’s still very, very over.

Here’s some hype for “The Smashing Machine” as we look at a tweet advertising Dwayne Johnson as a Golden Globe Nominee.

It is official – Knight vs Paul tonight.

WWE World Tag Team Titles: WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar)

This will probably be very good, as most matches from the WWE tag divisions are nowadays. If they can keep booking them consistently, we’ll be onto something. Je’Von Evans is ringside, Saturday he’ll team with Leon Slater of TNA to face Styles & Lee at SNME. That should be something! The great Alicia Taylor gives us the championship introductions as we get underway.

The fans chant for “AJ Styles” as The New Day (Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston) and Grayson Waller join us at ringside. Lee and Styles double team Erik in the corner. The Raiders catch a leaping Lee on the outside and toss him into Styles. Erik hits AJ with a running crossbody into the video board on the side of the ring as we head to break.

Back from that break, the Raiders are double teaming AJ in the corner. Woods is livestreaming on Instagram from ringside as Styles kicks out of Ivar’s attack, getting the hot tag to Lee and Erik finds his way in as well. Lee hits his corner stomp on Erik and nails Ivar with a knee, trying to pick him up but buckling under the weight. Lee reverses out of a strike and tries to rana Erik. Erik tosses him right into Ivar’s arms on the outside for a big slam. Back in, Ivar lands the Magnum Moonsault for a two count, AJ making the save. Lee dives out onto Erik and AJ hits the Phenomenal Forearm on Ivar, getting the three.

AJ Styles pins Ivar, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee retain the World Tag Team Champions. Fantastic match. Keep this going with the tag division.

New Day and Waller come in to confront the champs after the match before… Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city?? Jey and Big Jim Uso yeet through the crowd. Jey yeets with a toddler in his arms. No, they aren’t turning that man all the way, at least not for now. Wade whiffs horribly on the Usos handshake with Jimmy. The fans call for the runback and we yeet again to Xavier’s disgust. Jimmy says they’re back in the tag team division because they’ve been talking L after L as Jimmy keeps mentioning Jey losing matches and crashing out. Jey says they’re going to “get back to us,” block the noise and body them all. Jey thinks they need gold. Jimmy says the champs don’t know about them yet, but Jey remembers that New Day certainly do. Jey says they’re going to run through New Day like they always do and focuses back on AJ. New Day try to attack and duck out, leaving Waller who offers to run it back and leave. Usos and AJ Lee go face to face as the fans yeet. Obviously, there’s some storytelling here with Jimmy mentioning Jey losing and Jey wanting to “block the noise,” but we’re going to get some good tag action out of it before the big crash. I liked this a lot.

WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is walking and she will join us next.

Celebrities! Carter Jensen, Royals Catcher is here and has a horrible haircut. Celebrities love Raw!

Jackie Redmond is in the ring and welcomes our WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Nothing against Jackie but I sure do miss Cathy Kelley being on my show. Who is next, asks Jackie. Stephanie says she doesn’t talk too much and speaks through actions. She’s the best and while Nikki Bella is a legend, the women’s division is different than fifteen years ago, naming Rhea RIpley, Bayley, Nattie, and Iyo. WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella does not take to this well, coming out to a mixed reaction. Nikki shit talks the fans and says she isn’t done with Stephanie yet, demanding a rematch. Raquel Rodriguez appears from the crowd and grabs Nikki, lawn darting her into the ring post. Raquel grabs a mic and tells Stephanie to name the time and the place so she can be there to kick her ass and take her title. I’m glad we’re lining a few things up for Stephanie after a few months of not much.

L.A. Knight is stretching. Tonight, he’ll face Logan Paul.

The Judgment Day is backstage in their clubhouse. Finn Balor says he had an easy night. Dominik Mysterio likes the masked man as Raquel walks in, Liv Morgan asking what that was all about. Raquel didn’t know they had to run everything by Liv now. Liv says she’ll be in Roxanne Perez’s corner tonight. Roxanne: “Why?” Liv says she and Raquel are the next tag champions and drags Rox off by the hand. “Good for them, I love it,” notes Finn.

Monday Night Raw is brought to you by DoorDash. Ever wanted to pay $25 for a sandwich, have it arrive lukewarm and take a 50% chance of getting the drink that comes with it? You’ll love DoorDash!

Lyra Valkyria (with Bayley) vs Roxanne Perez (with Liv Morgan)

Sol Ruca is in the crowd. She’ll be facing Bayley at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Bayley had quite the weekend by having her Lodestone seminar for up and coming women, something I imagine I’ll be writing about one day years down the line. After some tussling, they battle outside and Rox shoves Lyra shoulder-first into the steel steps. Rox works the arm on the stairs as Liv cackles, sending us to a commercial.

Lyra crossbodies Rox for a two and they trade pinfall attempts. Lyra springs out onto Rox and storms by Liv, going up and hitting at top rope crossbody for a two count. Rox snatches Lyra’s arm and stretches it over the rope and then drops the cartwheel knee drop for two. Rox hooks an armbar and Lyra wrestles out. Lyra suplexes Rox and the fans are into this one. Liv distracts the ref as Rox pokes Lyra in the eye. Lyra goes for Nightwing, Rox rolls her right into Liv’s boot on the apron. Pop Rox and a three. Lyra celebrates with Rox who is confused by Liv but into it.

Roxanne Perez pins Lyra Valkyria. A good match! We’re on a roll tonight.

Logan Paul is practicing his punches. He’ll battle L.A. Knight next.

Here’s another training vignette of WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine training. She takes down numerous women, yelling for “another one” each time. “Now try it on me,” we hear as we see Nattie Neidhart behind her smiling. Maxxine is able to make Nattie tap. “Again,” says Maxxine. These have been very good vignettes.

L.A. Knight vs Logan Paul (with Paul Heyman)

Logan attacks Knight and we’re underway with our main event at 9:58 p.m. “Logan sucks” chants. Knight pounds Knight into the announce table and elbows him on the apron. Knight fights back, flipping out of a suplex and dropping Knight for a two with a neck breaker as we take a break.

Knight is moving and grooving when we come back, hitting the jumping neck breaker for two. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed make an appearance, distracting Knight and giving Logan a shot at hitting a crossbody for two. The crowd chants for “OTC.” Bronson headbutts Knight as the referee is distracted by Bron. The referee tosses the Brons and Knight leaps out onto Logan. As Knight works Logan on the table, Mystery Man is back and stomps Knight on the table. Mystery Man rolls Knight back in and Logan goes up for a frog splash, getting the pin.

Logan Paul pins L.A. Knight. Meh, it was fine. The story advances.

Bron and Bronson join in for the attack on Knight afterwards, Knight taking the spear and a Tsunami. Heyman tells a producer that he’s going to talk whether we go to commercial or not, and we go to commercial. Fine.

We come back to Heyman talking and Knight being helped through the Gorilla position. Heyman calls Kansas City a hellhole, not being able to figure out what state Kansas City is in. He does know we will have a new World Heavyweight Champion on the first Raw of 2026 named Bron Breakker. Bron gets the mic and questions where CM Punk is at. He doesn’t buy the nice guy CM Punk after years of being an asshole. Fair. “Imagine preaching your entire career every week that you’re straight edge, whoopdie doo, and then it turns out he looks like the biggest crackhead anyone’s ever seen.” He doesn’t want to face the nice Punk. He says he will break Punk and take his wife too.

We see the crew helping Knight out who shoves them off and says he isn’t done yet. Reed and Paul run back as Bron keeps talking. “Spear, one two three” yells Bron.

We cut back to Bronson and Logan beating down Knight. Adam Pearce has no control over this place. Knight is driven through a table and Reed yells that the Vision runs WWE. Reed seems Knight is still getting up, so the beatdown is back on as Reed tosses Knight onto a car. Security tries to intervene but are beaten up. Logan puts Knight on top of a car and Reed climbs a convenient set of containers, so you can probably guess what happens next. Reed Tsunamis Knight on top of the car as Adam Pearce finally appears and yells for medics. Credits roll.

A good episode tonight. They did a good job of steering towards the Cena and NXT matches at SNME without Cena being present or being able to have the NXT talent in action while rolling forward with numerous stories. I quite enjoyed tonight’s show.