WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 6.29.26

We’ve survived a weekend FULL of wrestling, but now Monday is here and so is Monday Night Raw. Night of Champions is in the past and the road to SummerSlam begins with a pit stop at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

The last week in WWE: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Main Event / SmackDown / Night of Champions / Lucha Libre AAA / Great American Bash

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER.

This is the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. We’re live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash. Here’s a look at Night of Champions.

King of the Ring Oba Femi is here to start us off, thunderous applause and great entrance effects as always. He enters carrying his new crown and with an updated chyron featuring a crown. Oba tells us he told Jey Uso destiny was on his side and now Jey believes it. Oba tells us that destiny is not finished with him and now a choice has to be made.

The music of Brock Lesnar interrupts followed by Brock and the returning WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman, all healed from his attack weeks ago. Lucky us. Brock has the mic and echoes the introduction of Oba. Brock tells us he doesn’t watch the show and he’s heard from Paul that Oba has a big decision to make. He’s also heard that Oba likes to call him names when he isn’t here. “When I’m not here, you call Brock Lesnar a bitch.” Brock: “Talk shit, get hit” and he kicks Oba in the balls, lifting him up and hitting a F5. Brock leaves Oba in pain on the mat, Oba looking like he was hit in the crotch with a football. As Brock leaves, Oba gets up. “Hey, nah, this is exactly what you always do. You show up, you F5, and you leave. You said I called you names behind your back. Well guess what, you’re in front of me and you’re STILL a bitch. Here’s the deal. We can play cutting rocks forever or we can settle the score, me and you one on one, Brock Lesnar vs Oba Femi at SummerSlam.” Brock accepts on the condition that it is Hell in a Cell.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet us from ringside as we have arrivals. Iyo Sky, Judgment Day, The Street Profits, Joe Hendry, and L.A. Knight are all here. They’ll all have things to do tonight.

After commercials, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is listening to Paul Heyman rant. Austin Theory walks up on it all and asks why Paul hasn’t been answering his calls. Paul walks away and Pearce sees Oba, going to talk to him. Oba says Pearce heard him right and he’ll take his title shot when he wants it. Oba agrees with Hell in a Cell and that it needs to happen. “This needs to end.” And just like that, we learn that the title shot can be punted down the line. How convenient.

Ethan Page vs WWE Hall of Famer and AAA General Manager Rey Mysterio

This is a first-time singles match as Cole notes both would love a future Intercontinental Championship shot against Penta. Ethan works over Rey in the early stage. Rey sets up the 619, Ethan dodges out and kicks away at Rey in the corner, soaking in boos as he does. Page attempts to unmask Rey, Rey elbowing out of it. Page grabs up Rey on the second rope and side slams him on the top turnbuckle which looks impressive and sends us to commercials for Enola Holmes 3 and Morgan & Morgan.

Cole paints the picture of Page working over Rey’s back to slow Mysterio down when we get back. Page catches Rey with another side slam for a two count. Rey’s able to springboard himself in for a pin attempt before hitting Ethan with the ten punches of doom in the corner. Rey sets up another 619 and this time runs into a big boot, Page lifting him into a slam and again only getting a two count. Page powers to the second rope with Rey on his shoulders, Rey elbows himself onto Page’s shoulders and turns it into a rana. The third attempt at a 619 lands as does the frog splash, getting Rey the pinfall.

Rey Mysterio pins Ethan Page. Both looked good here. I’d almost like to see Rey a little less often, even if he can still go, just so it feels a little more special than a random match against Ethan Page. This was good though and I’m sure we’re painting a larger, probably multi-man picture for SummerSlam that also involves Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, and Rusev.

Danhausen’s Lab. Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh come looking for their money but Danhausen isn’t present. Dom finds Danhausen’s framed gift from The Knicks, JD suggesting they wreck the place. You’d think they would learn, but no.

During the break, apparently the name of Joe Hendry was spoken as he is mid-ring with his concert setup. He introduces our special guests for the concert, new WWE World Tag Team Champions The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins). Ford says they’re overwhelmed by the support they’ve been shown over the last week and we get a “you deserve it” chant. He thanks the WWE Universe and Seth Rollins. Dawkins says they’re looking at The Vision in the rear view mirror and I feel like we’re not that lucky. Montez tells us the main man to thank is Joe Hendry and that last week was like a beautiful song. That leads us into our song, “Austin Theory cries himself to sleep at night.” I do that sometimes too and not one person is writing a song about me.

Unfortunately Austin Theory’s name is said and he appears. He’s confused because they’re celebrating but he’s been told there will be a rematch for the tag titles next week. Of course. Dawkins questions if Bron will be healthy enough to help. Theory tells them the dog will be off the leash next week and says he will destroy Hendry’s ass in the ring tonight. Hendry thinks we should do it right now. But first, commercials!

Joe Hendry vs Austin Theory

We return to the match in progress as Cole questions Heyman not giving Theory the time of day. Theory works over Hendry for a while, Hendry catches him for a fallaway slam. Theory hits the Hit Single for a two count. Theory dodges him in the corner and hits his own left hand for a two count. Theory takes time to taunt Hendry and runs right into Joe’s Standing Ovation for the pin.

Joe Hendry pins Austin Theory. Well, there wasn’t a lot to this yet it was longer than it needed to be. Theory continues to be a big ol’ loser. I think we might be setting up Bron attacking Theory next week. One can hope so we can move on.

Raquel Rodriguez questions Pearce about why she hasn’t had an Intercontinental Title shot yet. She says she’ll go through Maxxine Dupri, who is also looking for a shot, to get it. WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez join in, Liv panicking and Raquel cooling her down.

Queen of the Ring Iyo Sky is out to give us her victory speech. She is grateful to come back to the U.S. as the queen and puts her crown on. She beat Liv Morgan this weekend and at SummerSlam, she says she’ll do it again and be the new Women’s World Champion again.

Trouble trouble, WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan is here for a response as you’d expect. She says the way Iyo is bragging is making her sick and the only reason she lost was because she was cursed by Danhausen. She promises things will be different at SummerSlam because now she doesn’t respect Iyo. She names a few people in her past – Stephanie Vaquer, Rhea Ripley – and how they’ve disappeared or haven’t been the same since. She promises to destroy Iyo and remain the greatest Women’s World Champion of alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll time BUT until then, Iyo is in for a whole lot of trouble. Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez appear on the apron and she dodges them both. Liv tries for Oblivion, Iyo catches her with a suplex and points to her head before dropping Liv with a kick. The numbers catch up to her and the Judgment Day girls work over Iyo, Liv finally hitting that Oblivion. She hooks a half-crab on Iyo and Iyo taps as Rox taunts. The squad of officials come out and finally break things up, as late and effective as always. I’d bet Iyo brings backup, perhaps one of those ladies mentioned, to help stretch this out to SummerSlam.

L.A. Knight vs Jimmy Uso (with Main Event Jey Uso)

We last saw this match one week ago. Since we saw that, Solo Sikoa has made some life choices on SmackDown. Jey joins the commentary team which should be interesting. Knight steps out to tell Jey to stick to his seat and learn something. I’ve seen Jey’s Instagram stories and I’m not sure he’s big on learning things. I know that the man’s teachers were frustrated. Knight hits Jimmy with the running hips in the corner which can only get him a two count. Jimmy kicks Knight in the head and smacks him down with a spinning kick. Uso gets his own corner hip splash and heads up top, splashing Knight for a near fall. Jimmy clotheslines Knight to the outside, yeets, and flies with a suicide dive to take down Knight and send us to exactly three minutes of advertising.

We come back to Jimmy backdropping Knight, regaining the control he lost over the break. He doesn’t keep it for long as Knight dodges another attempt at the corner hip attack. They trade right hands and Knight lands a neck breaker, Jey declaring that L.A. is cheating. Jimmy hits the superkick and a spear, Knight kicks out before the three. Knight pretends to throw Jimmy into Jey and then kicks the hell out of Jey as Jey brags. Knight hits Jimmy with an inverted DDT and delivers the top rope elbow. Jey leaps onto the apron and Knight knocks him down, Jimmy takes advantage to roll Knight up for the pin.

Jimmy Uso pins L.A. Knight. I enjoyed it more than last week. I’d like to not see it next week.

Knight attacks Jimmy after the match and Jey is in for the save. Big Solo Sikoa appears from under the ring and spikes Jimmy with a hit and run, mocking Jey’s yeet as he disappears into the crowd. Well, disappears as much as a large man in a very red suit can do. Knight hits the BFT on the Yeet Man and gives Solo a look.

Cole sends us to the Night of Champions Post-Show and Gunther and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis putting hands on each other. Cole informs us that both men were sent home and Aldis is on administrative leave, letting Pearce run Raw and SmackDown for a bit. That went horribly the last time they let Pearce run both shows.

The Usos storm through the locker room, finding Jacob Fatu and asking where he has been. He reminds them once again he only takes orders from his OTC and the OTC has told him to go to SmackDown and finish things. Jey says he’s going to SmackDown to confront Sami Zayn as well. Jimmy suggests a group text.

Here’s a vignette on Lyra Valkyria, looking a little more bothered than usual. She wonders why everyone is on her back when she’s been the bigger person for a year. She’s done biting her tongue and carrying the load. She never wanted to hurt Bayley but last week felt nice.

On her way to the ring, Maxxine Dupri passes Chad Gable. She tells him that she meant every word she said last week. He tells her that she doesn’t owe him forgiveness and to focus on her match.

Raquel Rodriguez vs Maxxine Dupri

We haven’t seen Dupri in action in Raw since March when she lost to Nattie. These two met on Main Event in May, Raquel disposing of Maxxine in four minutes. Shoutout to the great Alicia Taylor on the microphone tonight. Cathy Kelley is also there, but we don’t get her on the U.S. broadcast because WWE personally hates me. Maxxine ducks a big Raquel kick and ranas Raquel to the outside where Raquel gets her hands on her and tosses her back in the ring. Raquel bounces Dupri off the ropes and slams her for a two count as commentary discusses Maxxine hanging out with Theory. Raquel lifts Maxxine up into the Torture Rack, Maxxine tries to punch out. Maxxine rolls out and Raquel clotheslines her in such a way that JBL would crack a smile. Raquel runs into a boot and an elbow, Maxxine tries to chop down Raquel with clotheslines before dropping her with a big kick and dropping the straps. Maxxine drops a leg for a two before Raquel catches her for a Tejana Bomb.

Raquel Rodriguez pins Maxxine Dupri. Maxxine had some good spots here but there wasn’t much doubt. Raquel moves onto Sol and Maxxine continues to exist. Big fan of Raquel using the Torture Rack.

We head to the laboratory and Danhausen finding his destroyed lab. Liv Morgan appears to tell him to make things right. Poor Danhausen. All he did was curse them and take their money.

Chad Gable vs JD McDonagh (with AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio)

A reminder that our lovely GM Pearce signed this match last while McDonagh was freshly electrocuted and showing active signs of harm right in front of him. Aldis would never. Mysterio is wearing a Danhausen Knicks jersey, Cole connecting the dots that this is what he stole from the lab. Chad lights up JD with slaps in the corner and they trade rollup attempts, Gable finally catching JD with a boot and turning it into an ankle lock. Dom shoves the ring apron towards JD, which saves JD. JD shoves Chad into the steel steps and drops him knee-first on them to give us a reason to go to break.

JD kept control over the break but Chad starts dropping in the suplexes, Corey wondering if the size of JD’s head causes additional issues. JD hits a standing Spanish Fly, the effects last 1.2 seconds before Gable is back into it. Gable suplexes JD into the corner and heads up top, moonsaulting into JD’s boot but catching it for an ankle lock. JD rolls through, Gable heads up top again and Dom distracts the ref. JD grabs Chad and spins Chad into a HELL of a rough landing with a Spanish Fly. That could’ve been bad. Danhausen appears in the timekeeper’s area and leaves a briefcase, Dom chasing him off. JD is distracted and Chad rolls him into the ankle lock and this time JD taps.

Chad Gable defeats JD McDonagh by submission. This started slow but turned into a hell of a hard-hitting match. I’m not sure how Gable is walking.

Dom returns to check on JD before they head out to retrieve the briefcase and the human monies we assume are inside. Dom opens it and powder explodes out, Danhausen grabbing the jersey to the absolute delight of the crowd. Danhausen rules. But then Raquel Rodriguez attacks and knocks Danhausen down, grabbing the jersey as Danhausen disappears. Dom wipes his face with the jersey and the fans boo. I need Raquel to not get herself cursed.

Austin Theory walks up to Maxxine Dupri. He’s wondering about what she said to Chad. She tells him it is complicated and he says it is simple. Maybe things between them aren’t working out if she goes down that road again, he said. As he leaves, Tozawa and Otis come to check on her and she leaves, confused.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion OTC1 Roman Reigns, accompanied by Jacob Fatu, is here to close our night. Imagine a world a year ago where Roman follows Danhausen on Raw. This time next year, we could have Danhausen declaring himself the Tribal Chiefhausen with electrocuted versions of the Usos following him around. The fans sing for Roman, Roman Reigns and Roman asks for acknowledgement. That’s followed immediately by Seth Rollins coming out for a sing along of his own. After about five minutes of singing with Seth’s theme and the fans chanting OTC, Seth says, “Hello, my brother. Fourteen years you and I have been tied together from this moment all the way back to the formation of The Shield.” Seth feels like it is fate that they’re here and Roman is in possession of a title that belongs to him. “And yes my brother, it is time to collect.”

Roman laughs. “Collect? You must be confused. You’re the back of the line. You haven’t done anything of late to earn a shot at the Tribal Chief.” Seth says he’s always at the front of Roman’s line because Roman owes him for everything he’s done and become. He walks it all the way back to cashing in against Roman and Brock at WrestleMania. “I have owned you since the day I put a steel chair in your back and ended The Shield. I’m not here to ask you for anything, Roman. As a matter of fact, I’m here to give you something nobody else can give you.” Roman has done everything there is to do except for one thing and that is beat Seth.

He tells Roman that this might be his last chance to do it. They came into this company together, knocked down the door, kicked the old generation to the curb, and made this place their own. Seth admits they are much closer to the end than they were at the beginning as there is a new generation of men and women ready to push them out the door. “This may be our last chance to do this dance, brother. What do you want your legacy to be?” He tells Roman he should have his own Hall of Fame wing and he’d be happy to induct him, but if Roman doesn’t accept this challenge he may never escape the ghost of Seth Rollins.

Roman contemplates. “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard any truth come out of your mouth, little brother, but you’re right. I don’t want to beat you. I NEED to beat you.I need my entire family to witness me beating you and at SummerSlam that’s exactly what I’m gonna do. I accept, brother.” I haven’t heard the word “brother” used so much on this show since Hulk was around promoting his shitty beer.

Jokes aside, this promo hooked me. There is a lot of truth here in that Seth is the one person Roman hasn’t really been able to decisively beat. Since we seem to be delaying the Oba match, it is a solid main event that will deliver. I like it, brother.

As a whole, a pretty typical Raw here. That’s not a bad thing as a typical 2026 Raw is certainly better than saying that in 2019. With only four weeks until SummerSlam and a Saturday Night’s Main Event in the mix, there’s a good chance none of the build feels terribly stale. There is still some paint by numbers stuff going on like the assumption that someone is going to come help Iyo and stretch that story out or round or giving us round 84 of Usos/Knight, but there’s enough freshness where it is also an enjoyable show. I’d recommend checking out the Gable/JD match just for the sheer hell of it.

Next week, we return to Raw’s regular start time after weeks of international fluctuations and that just happens to be in Chicago. Chicago? Hmm. Roman seems to be occupied for SummerSlam but the champion of SmackDown doesn’t look to have an opponent yet…