WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 5.25.26

Mondays are for Raw and this is no exception. Welcome back to the Raw Review. Thank you to the wonderful Niz for filling in last week and in general being the workhorse of this site. If you haven’t read his reviews, he reviews NXT, Collision, SmackDown and AAA on a weekly basis.

The last week in WWE: Raw / NXT / Evolve / SmackDown / Saturday Night’s Main Event / Lucha Libre AAA

Then, Now, Forever, Together.

It is Memorial Day in the United States and this is the campus of Ohio State University and this is Raw, live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash.

WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman is center ring to start us off because what is Monday Night Raw without this man talking. We can’t have that. He says he is here to hype a match that needs no hype and is interrupted by the Oba chant. He promises Oba will be conquered by Brock Lesnar, which leads us to a prerecorded video from Brock Lesnar. Brock congratulates Oba on his WrestleMania victory but says it is going to cost him. He promises to conquer Oba at Clash in Italy. “I am going to rule over Oba Femi.”

Back in the arena, Paul says all watching will see history play out in real time and Oba was awakened the beast. This brings us an appearance by Oba Femi and all the fan chanting and grunting. Oba corners Heyman and questions what the four F5s last week awakened in HIM. He isn’t going to hurt Paul, he needs him alive and well to tell the tale of Brock Lesnar and his favorite part, when he retires Brock for the second time. He pulls out a piece of paper, signs it, and tells Heyman that this is the final chapter of the story. “Deliver me this message to Brock. Tell him that last time, I was fighting to beat him. This time, I’m fighting to kill him.” Mic drop.

Let’s take a look back at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Arrivals! WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns tosses a birthday gift, Jacob Fatu claps, AAA General Manager & WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio takes a phone call, and The Judgment Day enter with all smiles as Michael Cole says they’re in a terrible mood.

WWE Intercontinental Championship: WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta vs Je’Von Evans

This is the first time these two have faced off in singles action. If you’ve been keeping track, this matchup was inevitable and I imagine we’re on the road to a four-way with Ethan Page and Rusev. The great Alicia Taylor gives us the championship ring intros. They strut together before Je’Von dropkicks Penta and leaps onto him on the outside. Back in, Penta hits the corner boots and Je’Von checks to make sure he hasn’t lost a tooth. Penta tries for a Penta Driver, Je’Von armdrags out of it and bounces a kick to Penta’s head. Penta rolls out, Je’Von leaps out and Penta tosses him spine-first into a ROUGH looking bump against the edge of the announce table.

We return from a break to see Je’Von kicking out of a pin attempt, being upgraded to alive after that announce table smash. Evans chops Penta, Penta chops back, Evans gets a springboard OG Cutter that only gets him a two count. Penta signals for the Destroyer, giving Evans time to kick him in the face. Wit Penta on the apron, Evans leaps off the top rope and hits a cutter again, again destroying his own back on the apron (the hardest part of the ring!). I’m worried about this kid’s back, I’m not going to lie. Je’Von is caught into a Penta Driver but kicks out at two. They climb to the top and Evans ranas Penta to the mat, then tries for the OG Cutter but falls into a kick. Evans hits a big knee, tries for another Cutter and this time falls into a backstabber. Penta lands the Mexican Destroyer and gets the pin.

Penta pins Je’Von Evans to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Hell of a match with some scary moments for the young bouncy one. Seek this one out.

Penta raises Je’Von’s hand after the match and Evans pulls away in frustration.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet us from ringside. They let us know that Logan Paul suffered a torn triceps at SNME and will be out several months as the Curse of The Vision continues.

WWE World Tag Team Champion Austin Theory offers his belt to Paul Heyman, not knowing what to do with it now that Logan is injured. Paul tells him that he put “The Vision” defending the tag titles, giving us Freebirds/New Day rules. Paul names Bron Breakker as his new co-champion. He tells Austin that there is a certain man he needs to take out.

We come back from break to Joe Hendry in ring performing “Can We Fire Logan Paul?” WWE World Tag Team Champion Austin Theory appears with a chair and beats down Hendry, the cameras temporarily reverting back to Kevin Dunn-style swinging as Logan swings. Theory smashes Hendry’s head into the ring post with the chair.

Angelo Dawkins is walking backstage and greeted by Seth Rollins, who says he stayed out of their business like they asked at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Seth says The Vision is at their weakest but also most dangerous, so they should come together and put an end to the group for good. Montez Ford comes up and mocks the Rollins redemption story and says nothing good happens when Seth is around. Seth says only one of the three has main evented WrestleMania and it isn’t Ford. Montez counters by saying he’s never stabbed his brother in the back, but maybe the two of them should compete to figure out who is the best tonight.

Next week, we’re in Turin, Italy and Raw will start at 2 p.m. ET. I won’t be as immediate with the review after the show as usual because I’m never home at 2 p.m. on Mondays, but it’ll be up that night.

Rey Mysterio narrates a video package on the history of Mask vs Mask in AAA. A lot of the matches they’re showing clips of have been uploaded by WWE on the AAA YouTube, by the way. Lots of great stuff on that channel. We’ll have the battle of the El Grande Americanos at Noche de Los Grandes this Saturday and Niz will be along here on Blog of Doom with the review.

Penta finds Je’Von backstage. Je’Von apologizes and says he is just in his head, but he’ll see Penta soon for the title. Evans leaves and Rey Mysterio walks up, remembering being Je’Von’s age. Penta congrats Rey on his new job title and Penta wants to face Rey Mysterio.

The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez with AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio and WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan) vs Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

At any point in time since I started reviewing this show, you could tell me we’re getting some variation of Judgment Day against Lyra & Bayley and you’d probably be right. We last saw it on Raw on April 27th and before that in October, though these four have interacted in various other matches as well. Raquel and Roxanne attack before the bell rings, then Bayley and Lyra return the favor and we start the match. Corey suggests that Lyra sends Bayley “through the Barber Shop window.” Bayley and Lyra work over Raquel in the corner, though Raquel fights out before we go to commercials.

Back from break, Bayley drops an elbow on Raquel’s back for a two count. Bayley tries to sunset flip Raquel, Raquel turns it into a clothesline and Perez tags herself in. Bayley dodges Pop Rox and Liv grabs a leg to prevent a pin. The ref tosses Liv and things break down at ringside, Lyra rolling Rox up for a two. Bayley tags in and Dom distracts the ref, Raquel pushing Bayley down and Rox nailing Pop Rox though Bayley kicks uot. Rodriguez grabs Lyra and Raquel ranas her out, so Dom jumps on the apron and drops his title in the ring as the referee tries to toss him. Bayley and Rox play tug of war with the belt until Bayley lets go, causing Rox to hit Dom with the title. Bayley rolls up Rox and gets the pin.

Bayley pins Roxanne Perez, Bayley & Valkyria defeat Judgment Day. Well, this happened again and I bet it happens again in the next month or so. It wasn’t bad, it just… keeps happening. It would do Bayley and Lyra a lot of good to take a trip to SmackDown for a while.

Here’s a look at last week’s edition of The Bloodline Saga.

WWE World Champion Roman Reigns is talking with Raw General Manager Adam Pearce, Pearce telling Roman that Jacob shouldn’t even be employed. Roman is shocked Jacob even knew there was Tribal Combat, Jacob apparently not watching Roman Reigns matches prior to this story. Roman says that if Jacob loses, he needs to serve Roman. “If he beats me, good luck because we’re all screwed.”

L.A. Knight is walking and he’ll join us next, but first Michael thanks all veterans and sends us to a Memorial Day video package narrated by Cody Rhodes which leads directly into an Arby’s commercial and then an ad for the new D-Day movie. AMERICA!

Earlier today, The Street Profits and Bayley visited the National Veterans Memorial Museum in Columbus.

L.A. Knight graces us in the arena for some words. He would like to talk to us. He put the Vision in his rear-view mirror at WrestleMania but he’s been thinking about the Usos doing things differently. The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments begin next week and he’s throwing his name in the hat, saying he’s aiming for winning the tournament and a title shot at Roman Reigns. Jimmy Uso interrupts with some thoughts, saying he has a lot of respect for Knight. Knight says Jimmy running alongside Roman rubs him the wrong way and Jim says he gets it and the whole locker room has issues with the Bloodline. Jimmy says that if Knight wins, he gets a fair shot at the OTC and Knight wonders if Jimmy is being honest with himself. Jimmy’s had enough and tells Knight that he is lucky the Yeet Man isn’t here because they wouldn’t just be talking. Knight tells JImmy that this proves his entire point and Jim tells him to treat lightly because disrespecting the OTC might become a problem. Knight thinks Roman can’t get the job done on his own (Knight did not watch WrestleMania) and he promises to take it to Roman if he needs to do so. This could have been an e-mail.

General Managers Pearce and Mysterio talk, being interrupted by Ethan Page. Rusev also interrupts and Page tells Rusev that they’re conspiring against Rusev. Rey says he’ll face Rusev to earn the title shot and Pearce makes it official. Well thank goodness he didn’t have other stuff already planned for the hour of programming left.

Seth Rollins vs Montez Ford

These two last had a singles match on Raw in August 2022. Dawkins does not join Ford for this one. Rollins and Ford battle to the outside early, Rollins diving onto Seth and an in-ring collision to send us to a commercial. They trade in-ring reversals as we return, Rollins suplexing Ford and then rolling it into a Falcon Arrow for a two. They trade pin attempts before Ford hits a superkick and then runs into one from Seth. Ford scoops up Rollins into a Torture Rack, Rollins pulls Ford into a Pedigree for a near fall. Seth yells at Ford that it doesn’t have to be like this and they should be working together. Ford takes this monologue time to slap Seth, so Seth grabs Ford and hits a Buckle Bomb, a second, and Ford flips out of an attempt at a third. Montez does his crazy leap OVER the ring post onto Seth and tosses him back in, going up top and hitting a big frog splash for a near fall. “This is awesome” chant. Ford misses a 450 splash, Rollins gets the stomp and the pin.

Seth Rollins pins Montez Ford. This was very good, it took a bit to get going and get the crowd into it but when they got there, they nailed it.

As Dawkins comes up the ramp to check on his partner, Theory attacks Dawkins with that chair. We get a poor camera angle that shows Theory missing Dawkins’ head by roughly a mile, but that’s on the production crew.

After commercials, Ford is yelling at Pearce. Seth limps up and asks about Dawkins. Ford says with his brother down, he needs Rollins. Rollins tells Pearce that The Vision has to end and he wants Bron as soon as possible.

Cole and Graves run down the Clash in Italy card, announcing that Cody/Gunther and Ripley/Cargill will happen in the first hour that is simulcast on ESPN. We will also have Femi/Lesnar, Rollins/Fatu and Lynch/Ruca on the card.

Cathy Kelley! She’s with WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. Becky says that Ruca was outmatched at SNME and that Sol hasn’t gotten a clean victory since moving up. She welcomes Sol to the big time.

#1 Contender’s Match: AAA General Manager & WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio vs Rusev

I am thinking we’ll be hearing from Dom sooner than later about how his deadbeat dad is already turning his new position into possible title opportunities, probably on AAA. Ethan Page has joined the commentary team for another first-time singles match. Rey sets up an early 619 and is chopped down by the big man. Ethan explains that he sees Rusev as family. Rusev powers Rey onto his shoulders on the apron, Rey squirms out and hits Rusev with the running sunset flip on the outside as Corey rightfully questions Rey getting title shots as general manager. Rusev slings Rey into the barricade and we take a break.

After the break, Rusev is setting Rey up on the top rope. Rusev tries for a suplex, Rey punches out and knocks Rusev down, nailing a senton. Rey tries to roll up Rusev, Rusev misses a butt splash and Rey hits a seated senton and a springboard splash for a two count. Rey flies into a slam and a kick but is able to kick out. Rey tries again for a 619, Rusev grabs him and tries for an Accolade. Rey however rolls up Rusev for the pin. Rusev continues to not be able to win the big one.

Rey Mysterio pins Rusev to win a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Title. This was good, one of Rusev’s better matches since his return.

Rusev attacks after and Dragon Lee is here to attack Ethan and Rusev and set us up another month or so of tag and singles matches. Yay. Dragon Lee is one of those that I enjoy in the ring, but he’s always the guy that shows up and you know he’s going to be the partner that eventually loses. Just like Rusev!

Pearce yells at Theory and tells him his night is over, which is a nice thing to tell someone at 10:09 on a program that ends at about 10:30 and that leaves early on screen on a regular basis. On his way out, Theory exchanges glances with Akira Tozawa, Otis and Maxxine Dupri, Maxxine deciding to follow Theory.

After hyping the tournaments starting next week but not announcing any matches, Pearce is in the ring with tables and chairs for another exciting main event contract signing. Jacob Fatu is out first, Pearce asking for his signature. Fatu shoves it at Pearce as the crowd chants for OTC. Fatu tosses the chairs and table at security guards, who come in to get shoved around. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns makes his slow entrance, fingers of acknowledgement in the air for the Original Tribal Chief.

As security holds back Fatu, Roman enters the ring and signs the contract as the fans chant “happy birthday” and then sing the Roman, Roman Reigns song. Roman: “Leave us.” Adam questions this and Roman says Jacob can’t touch him until Italy. Pearce calls off security and leaves with them. Roman tells Jacob that if he had simply acknowledged him, they could have moved onto the next mission. Jacob gives him a “hell nah” and says he isn’t like everybody else. He acknowledges that Roman is why his family is on top of the mountain but he could only take them so far. Roman says that if Jacob beats him, he becomes the head of the table. “But if you can’t dog walk me, it looks like I’m gonna be walking you like a dog. I’m gonna domesticate you. If you can’t beat me, you will serve me and you will learn from me and in time, Jacob, you will love your Tribal Chief.”

Jacob says that if Roman does dog walk him, it sounds like he still has a job here. Jacob counters though and if he wins, everybody will learn to acknowledge HIM. He offers a hand, Roman grabs it and they put their heads together in acknowledgement to end the show.

A good episode this week. As always, the matches were quality. Rey/Rusev was good while Je’Von/Penta and Seth/Montez were great. Penta/Je’Von I would especially recommend. We’re spinning circles in the women’s tag division. You may recall that Liv Morgan won the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania and has just existed since then. They don’t need to do much to sell Oba/Lesnar, but they made Oba look like a killer again. The biggest story is the temporary loss of Logan Paul and the attempt to sell Austin Theory as a major threat which is, well, a thing that they’re attempting.

Next up, we have Clash in Italy on Sunday and then we’ll still be hanging in Italy for Raw next week. I’ll see you then!