WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 8.03.26

Happy Monday, friends. We’ve survived SummerSlam weekend and now we’re on the road to checks notes Sunday Night’s Main Event and Worlds Collide before we hit Money in the Bank in October. Who will step up to the Tribal Chief? What do we do now with Oba Femi? When will Liv Morgan defend her title again? Raw is here and it does not promise answers.

The last week: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Main Event / Impact / SmackDown / AAA Verano de Escandalo Night Two / SummerSlam Saturday / SummerSlam Sunday

I’ll also point you towards the NXT 2.0 Rewind. Coming this Friday, Halloween Havoc 2021! Spin the wheel, make the deal!

Then, Now, Forever, Together.

THIS is the capital of Iowa, Des Moines. We’re at Casey’s Center and we are live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash. Did you know SummerSlam was this weekend? Here’s a look back.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns arrives backstage and is first out tonight, greeted by fingers in the air and the singing of “Roman, Roman Reigns.” He is introduced by ring announcer Lilian Garcia, filling in tonight for Alicia Taylor as she gets some rest after several nights of rocking it at SummerSlam. After many minutes of entering at the pace of the Undertaker, Roman asks for and receives acknowledgement. “I’m a man of my word. I called my shot and I delivered.” He knows it stings here a little because Seth is Iowa’s boy. He gives the fans a chance to sing for Rollins which is interrupted by one L.A. Knight.

Knight congratulates the champ on his win, on still being champion, and doing it by on his own. “But you’re still a fraud.” Knight says he’s been calling for Roman for months and he’s beaten all of his boys so now Roman owes him. He wants Roman one on one with no Bloodline, suggesting they can do it any time between tonight and WrestleMania but the only right answer is “yeah.” Roman: “Fraud? I only see one fraud. I don’t come out here talking about being a megastar and then come out here wearing a Walmart watch on his wrist.” Roman sarcastically congratulates Knight on winning a six-man tag match and says he hasn’t won a big match before turning to the camera and telling the locker room that you don’t get a title shot by bitching and moaning. “Get in the back of the line.” Roman heads out and Knight says he has one more thing. He tells Roman he’s on another level but not on his level because he’s lighting in a bottle. “When you figure out where to buy a pair if you can’t grow one, come back and let me know and I’ll smack you back to factory settings.”

Corey Graves and Michael Cole greet us from ringside, sending us a look at Saturday’s Hell in a Cell match.

Arrivals! King of the Ring Oba Femi, Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable and The Judgment Day are all here.

Je’Von Evans vs Ethan Page

We last saw this on Raw on April 20th, though they have crossed paths in tag team action as well as the gauntlet match since. Evans frustrates Page early by flipping through all of his offense, sending Ethan outside with a dropkick and starting a wave with the crowd. Evans flies “outside” on Page, showing the pain to his own ribs as he lands. This doesn’t stop Evans as in-ring he leaps off the top again and heads up for another time, dodging Page and trying to suplex him to the outside. As the match goes on, you may note that the preview graphics note “Code Raw” which will probably be some Club WWE thing. We get a picture-in-picture ad break so that Walton Goggins can tell us about Walmart+ and Page can do some heel work through the break.

When we return from learning about something called the Webberoni Pizza at Little Caesar’s, Page has spent three minutes working over Evans and getting that heel advantage. Page taunts the downed Evans, bringing the crowd into the comeback as Evans stomps Page into the corner. Evans springboards onto Page and tosses the 67 shirt into the crowd but Evans shoves the rope out from under Je’Von to prevent flight. Evans shifts his weight to counter Page and slides him outside but Page grabs him and slams his into the announce table before Evans does the same to him. Evans tosses Page into the timekeeper’s area and does his new “every match” thing where he runs around the entire ring and leaps onto him into the timekeeper’s area. I’m not sure I’m a fan of that being something he does every time, but here we are. Back in, Evans hits the Red Dot but it isn’t enough to stop Page from kicking out before three, so he sets up the OG Cutter. Page yanks his leg and covers him, using the ropes for leverage and the official catching it. Evans kicks in the general area of Page’s face but runs into the Confidence Breaker. Page shows us frustration as it still isn’t enough to put his younger foe down, throwing him outside and telling the ref to count. As the ref counts, Page tries to expose the turnbuckle but is caught again. Je’Von appears to spring over Page and the ref, bouncing off the ropes with the OG Cutter and getting the pin.

Je’Von Evans pins Ethan Page. There was a lot to this one and I enjoyed it. Ethan did a lot of good work picking apart his opponent, Corey telling us how cerebral he is. Evans continues being a highlight reel. Good stuff.

Evans turns around to the big boot of Big Cass, making his first WWE appearance in eight years. When he last appeared on this program, he lost a Brooklyn Street Fight to one Enzo Amore. He grabs Evans into a bearhug and lands the East River Crossing to the dislike of the live crowd. Sure, that’s one thing you could do with him.

Backstage, Roman is ranting to The Bloodline about having standards. “It doesn’t work if we lose.” He wonders why Solo isn’t on his hip doing coffee runs for him and wonders why he keeps hearing that Royce Keys is family to Jacob Fatu. Roman tells Fatu that the Bloodline is the only family here and to trust no one. After Roman leaves, Knight wanders through and laughs in their faces, saying he will see them next week.

Earlier today, WWE Superstars visit the Boys & Girls Club.

Jacob Fatu has moved to a locker room and is visited by Royce Keys. He doesn’t even go here. Royce reminds him of all the times they’ve fought together. Jacob tells Royce that he’s not his brother or his family. “You’re just one of the boys.” Jacob challenges him to a street fight and says he’ll be dog walking his ass.

The Judgment Day (WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez) are here to the hit pop song “Trouble, Trouble.” Liv has a busted eye as she reminds us that we’re in presence of the greatest Women’s World Champion of allllllllllllllllllllllllllll time. She doesn’t see any challengers so she will be the longest reigning Women’s World Champion of alllllllllllllllll time but she wants to talk about her best friend, her sister Raquel who has barbed wire wrapped around her Intercontinental Championship. She shouts out her little prodigy Roxanne.

Roxanne Perez (with WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez) vs Sol Ruca

Ruca is out for revenge after Perez helped cause her to lose her title to Raquel last week. Corey notes that Sol is at the back of the line for the Intercontinental Title and Cole reminds us that Roxanne is envious of her girls having the gold. Perez and Ruca trade pinning combinations before Sol batters Rox to the mat with right hands and catching her in the corner, spinning her to the mat with what we’re told is newfound aggression. Sol hooks on the surfboard and Rox rolls out of it, Sol able to leap over her. Rox rolls out to try to run, Sol moonsaults off the ring post onto her. They fight back in and Rox is able to get the upper hand, ensuring the crowd three minutes of heel work as the U.S. audience learns about DoorDash.

We return Sol regaining the advantage and Morgan yelling that Perez get back up. Sol lifts Perez onto her shoulders and Perez turns it into a rana, the women trading pinfall attempts again. The women trade move after move, showing how evenly matched they are until Raquel pops up to distract Sol. Sol tries for the Sol Snatcher, Liv grabs her and referee Jessika Carr catches it, getting the DQ. The crowd was HOT on Judgment Day.

Sol Ruca defeats Roxanne Perez by disqualification. A good battle and I’d like to see them do it again.

The Judgment women over power Sol to large boos from the crowd when suddenly “The Man” Becky Lynch has come around once again. I’ve missed her. She tells Raquel she isn’t here for her belt. “I came for you, sweet checks,” as she points at Liv, “to make sure it isn’t another hundred days before you defend that title again.” She calls Liv a glorified valet because a women’s champion should be fighting. “You have had the worst title reign of all-time” and it isn’t just her saying it. Liv spits her gum out and tells Becky she should be at home being a mommy. She calls Becky jealous because her time is over and Liv’s time is now. Okay, John Cena. The Judgment Day exit as Becky laughs, telling Liv she isn’t even the greatest Women’s Champion in her own group or that slept with Dominik Mysterio.

Flames burst behind the Judgment Day as Stephanie Vaquer appears, taking down Roxanne and Raquel and backing Liv up to the ring. The fans chant “holy shit” as Liv tries to scurry away, Stephanie beating her to the mat as Becky watches from the top rope. Becky and Stephanie stare each other down, exchanging threats to stay out of each other’s way. Fantastic segment and exactly the kick in the ass the Raw women’s side has desperately needed. All in one segment, they set up two challengers for Liv, tension between Becky and Stephanie, and maybe even the beginnings of a build to WarGames.

Cole and Graves send us to a video package on the things Brock Lesnar has done (in the ring at least) set to Godsmack’s “I Stand Alone.”

We cut to Paul Heyman watching said package before Oba Femi walks up. He tells Paul to tell Brock thank you. Paul congratulates Oba and offers a handshake as Oba works his way through the backstage area.

We take a look back at Baron Corbin defeating Trick Williams at SummerSlam, winning the furry United States Championship and Chelsea Green becoming the Interim WWE Women’s Champion.

King of the Ring Oba Femi arrives in the arena wearing an Agbada, a traditional African robe set. He always looks cool, but he’s extra cool with the lights shining through the robe in his entrance. Oba tells us that words can’t describe the things that happened at SummerSlam. He and Brock came out of SummerSlam with newfound respect. He went blow-for-blow with Brock and he swam up, passing the test. “Now, the Beast can finally rest.” Well, until the next big payday. He thinks the path is clearer than ever but we forge our own destiny so he will forge his way to lead a new generation and the old guard will fall. “If any man has a problem with the one who holds the torch, you will answer to the ruler, you will answer to the destroyer, you will answer to the bringer of war, you will answer to Oba Femi.” Big statement. Big segment. It’s going to be interesting to see what they do with him next.

As he struts to the ramp, we’re interrupted by the siren of The Vision. The Vision (WWE World Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker and Austin Theory with Maxxine Dupri) stare him down, Bron in particular giving Oba the passing glance before coming back to get in his face. Yes, I’d like to watch that.

WWE World Tag Team Champion Bron Breakker (with Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri) vs Joe Hendry

Bron hasn’t stopped staring at the entrance since we saw him before the break, including after the bell rings. The fans chant for Oba as Bron turns around and clotheslines the hell out of Hendry. Bron stares back towards the entrance again, soaking in the Oba chants as Corey reminds us that Breakker once had all the acclaim that Oba now has. Theory and Hendry get into it, Bron runs around for the spear and Hendry leaps over it. Hendry tosses Theory into the announce table and heads into the ring, Bron smacking him down with the spear, getting the pin, and taking another glance towards the entrance.

Bron Breakker pins Joe Hendry. Bron NEEDED all of this. This was great. Some much needed development for Bron’s character after months of stumbling.

After Breakker leaves, Theory attacks Hendry in the ring. Akira Tozawa springs in and brawls with Theory, hitting him with a rana and kicking him to the floor. They are setting up a LOT of possibilities tonight and it is a freshness Raw has been crying for.

Jackie Redmond has caught up with Big Cass backstage. Jackie asks why Je’Von. “Eight years I was left for dead in the dirt. Eight years it took me to get back here from rock bottom. Je’Von Evans, nothing personal bro, you were just in the way. Make no mistake about it, I am here to stack bodies. You were just the first and you surely won’t be the last.”

And now, the DiGiorno Fact of the Night: Chad Gable defeated Penta for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam. That is indeed a fact. Well done, frozen pizza.

WWE Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable joins us in the ring to a “you deserve it” chant. Last night was the greatest moment of his career and he says he had a few more people to thank tonight. The first is Penta for being a fighting champion. He also wants to thank all of us. You’re welcome, Chad. He says he crawled through a river of crap and came out clean on the other side and he’s proud to be our Intercontinental Champion.

The previous man able to say that, Penta, is out for a response and to be generally awesome during the best intro pyro in the game. Penta tells Chad that he is a real luchador and one of the best wrestlers in the world and we’re interrupted by AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh. Dom says he is the greatest Mysterio of all time and he’s disgusted by all of this. JD calls the crowd Des Moines ditch pigs and says the best match of Gable’s career wasn’t even last night, it was when he lost the right to call himself a luchador to another man. Dom tells Gable that Judgment Day is going around collecting all of the gold and they’re done playing around. Chad thinks right here, right now sounds good and Dom accepts. And no, losing to Danhausen did in fact not ruin Dominik Mysterio.

The Judgment Day (AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh) vs WWE Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable and Penta

We return from break to Gable and Mysterio, Gable getting a pin attempt on a beautiful butterfly suplex. Penta tags in and they double team Dom. JD nails Penta in the back with his knee, showing Judgment Day’s ease of cheating to take an advantage. JD mocks the crowd clapping for Chad as he suplexes Penta into a two. Gable tags in with a flying double clothesline and both JD members are outside, which gives Penta a chance to leap onto them and throw Dom back into Chad. Gable hits the Angle Slam and Dom kicks out. JD tags in and headbutts Gable, suplexing him outside and sending us to another break.

We return to Gable trying to fight back from Judgment Day working him over during the break. He does, knocking JD down and nailing a flying headbutt. Penta and Dom tag in, Penta nailing the Driver on Dom but JD breaking the pin. Gable tags in and moonsaults onto Dom’s raised foot, hooking an anklelock. Penta sends JD outside and nails him with a Destroyer on the floor as Dom grabs that handy ring bell hammer, sliding it into his boot. Ah, we haven’t done this in a while. Dom tries for a 619 with the loaded boot but Chad catches it, pulling the hammer out and handing it to the referee. Penta smacks Dom in the face with the gold and Gable hits Chaos Theory, pinning Dom.

Chad Gable pins Dominik Mysterio, Gable & Penta defeat Judgment Day. A fun little tag team match that really got going in the second half.

Here’s a look at Punk/Rhodes from SummerSlam.

Bron comes across Heyman backstage as we see Raw General Manager Adam Pearce talking with Lyra Valkyria in the background. Bron says that Oba got in his way and he’s going to do something about it. Bron asks Heyman where Oba is at. “How would I know?” Bron says he thought Oba was Paul’s new best friend and walks off.

Club WWE: it exists!

Here’s a look at Nick Aldis taking the L against Gunther and Kevin Owens returning to win a number one contender’s match at SummerSlam.

Street Fight: Jacob Fatu vs Royce Keys

Who wears ring gear to a street fight? Both men. Graves tells us about the bond of these two men, men who slept on each other’s couches and trained together under Rikishi and Gangrel. They brawl outside and Fatu tosses Keys into the announce table as the fans chant for tables. Keys slings Fatu over the steel steps and takes a look under the ring, trying to pull out the Slim Jim Table and Fatu stopping him and sliding it back under the ring. Fatu slams Keys into the ring post and yells that he has to do this. Fatu charges at Keys and runs into a clothesline, Keys yelling that Fatu is supposed to be his brother. Keys scoops up Fatu and drives him through the timekeeper’s barricade with a running powerslam as DiGiorno brings us continued coverage instead of commercials. Thanks, frozen pizza.

Keys pulls out the Slim Jim Table and slides it into the ring before Fatu slams him into the ring post and then tosses him over the announce table. As the officials check on Keys, Fatu pulls out several chairs (no Wingstop branding tonight so they don’t get special attention like the Slim Jim Table) and tosses them in the ring. Fatu grabs more chairs before Keys leaps off the announce table with a flying clothesline and tosses Fatu into another set of steps. Keys goes to further add chairs to the ring, tossing five more in to bring us to a total of nine chairs in the ring. Fatu grabs one and heads to Keys who springs up and goes to bat with a kendo stick, unloading on his former best friend. Keys sets up the Slim Jim Table and Fatu gets the stick, smacking Keys to the mat as Cole questions how it could get to this point for these two men.

Fatu chokes Keys with the stick before standing up two of the chairs, yelling that Keys should have stayed out of Bloodline business. Keys suplexes Fatu through the two standing chairs and covers, Fatu kicking out at two. The fans chant “this is awesome” as Fatu hits the Implant DDT onto the pile of chairs, also only able to get a two. Fatu piles chairs on Keys and heads up top; Keys throws a chair at Fatu and joins him on the turnbuckles. Keys scoops Fatu up and powerslams him through the pile of chairs, still unable to connect it into a three count. Keys starts clearing the chairs out so he can focus on the Slim Jim Table. Keys grabs a running Fatu with a spinebuster, drops the straps, and runs at Fatu who catches him with a Samoan Drop through the table. Fatu leaps up with the moonsault and hooks the Tongan Death Grip, Keys fading and the referee calling for the bell. Fatu doesn’t let go, the ref squad coming out to try to make him let go.

Jacob Fatu defeats Royce Keys by submission. By far the best showing for Keys thus far.

Fatu locks on the Death Grip again as Keys bloods from his mouth, Fatu yelling about it being family business. He nails Keys with several running hip attacks as Corey yells for medics, Jacob grabbing another chair and placing it around the head of Keys. Pearce and gang, late as ever, come out to stop it all. Fatu feigns leaving before running through them and driving his hip into the downed Keys, Cole yelling for paramedics.

The music of Roman Reigns plays once again as the OTC walks out and the credits roll, Reigns raising his finger of approval and Fatu responding with the same.

Post-credits, Roman walks backstage and shakes Rey Mysterio’s hand. Rey tells Roman that he is the General Manager of AAA and wants to run something by him.

A hot ending to a very hot show. Much like I was saying about SmackDown with SummerSlam Sunday, tonight felt like a much-needed refresh for Raw, a show that has felt stale more often than not since WrestleMania. The women’s division instantly got a huge shot in the arm with the returns of Becky and Stephanie. L.A. Knight is working his way to Roman. Bron Breakker is finally facing the realization that Oba has passed him by and is pissed about it. A lot of good stuff tonight.