Kat Reviews Monday Night Raw — page 2

We’re down to nineteen days on the Road to WrestleMania and this week, we’re in the famed Madison Square Garden. Several of our Mania main eventers are in the house, two sets of Tag Team Titles are on the line, and there could be one, two, ten, or twenty masked men.

The last week in WWE: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown / Rey de Reyes 

Then, Now, Forever, Together.

This is the Big Apple, New York City, and this is the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. 18,171 are in attendance for Raw, live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash.

Arrivals! WWE World Champion CM Punk! WWE Women’s World Tag Team Champions The Irresistible Forces! Oba Femi!

Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes has joined us on the red brand tonight to kick us off. After a round of “Cody” chants, he asks what we’d like to talk about tonight. He’s interrupted immediately by… Stephanie McMahon? Sure. Why not. She gets her own chant and Cody is surprised to see her. Her name is “McMahon” and this is the house her grandfather built. Cody: “Okay?” She wants to talk about Cody, Randy Orton and WrestleMania but he’s not going to like what she has to say. She says Cody has taken the golden path but he can’t bring out the good side of this version of Orton. “This version of Cody Rhodes can’t beat this version of Randy Orton. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

Cody tells Stephanie he doesn’t want to be rude to her, but he knows everything about Randy Orton. He knows Randy has done some vile stuff and some of that to Stephanie. He is not afraid of Orton and tells Stephanie she is not her father either. Well, that’s a plus. She slaps him and tells him he’s going to walk out of Mania without his title. Cody swings her around. “Stephanie McMahon, I’ve got two words for ya… thank you.” She smiles as he leaves, the tough love being felt. That was a thing that happened.

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is backstage with IShowSpeed and Danhausen appears. Speed begs to be uncursed. Pearce says he has front row seats for Speed for the tag title match and has a special guest commentator. Up walks L.A. Knight, yeah. We see Je’Von Evans and Kofi Kingston talking in the background.

WWE World Tag Team Championship New York City Street Fight: WWE World Tag Team Champions The Usos (Big Jim and Main Event Jey Uso) vs The Vision (Logan Paul and Austin Theory)

The Usos’ team theme has been further Def Rebeled and there is no yeeting. L.A. Knight has indeed joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary. IShowSpeed has found his front-row seat as well. With a street fight, they all brawl to begin as Knight wonders where Paul Heyman is at. Jey dives outside onto the Vision and we take a break.

The plundah has been broken out when we return, both members of the Vision with trash cans. They dodge and superkick each man, Jey sticking a can over Logan’s head and superkicking him. The Slim Jim Table is propped up in a corner. Theory is trash canned and the Usos smack it with kendo sticks. The Slim Jim Table is set up and the Usos load him on the top rope, superplexing Theory through the table. “Holt shit” chant as Logan finds his mother at ringside, who gives Logan brass knuckles. Knight goes for the interruption and Paul drags Speed over the barricade. Speed puts on the knuckles and turns around, punching and not knowing Knight was behind him. Oops. Logan slides the knucks on and Big Jim ducks, both Usos superkicking Logan and then Theory. Jey hits the spear and Jimmy runs into Logan with the knuckles on the outside. Jey dives after Logan and Theory falls on the KOed Jim, getting the pin. Speed raises the hands of The Vision. Perhaps we have a six-man brewing for Mania?

Austin Theory pins Jimmy Uso, The Vision are the new WWE World Tag Team champions. I liked this, the stipulation helped this be better than the usual Usos/Vision stuff. The Vision needed this and the Usos have bigger things brewing anyway.

Here’s a look at the Punk/Reigns stuff from last week. This week, they’re in the same building! They were last week as well, but we’re in a different building tonight.

Celebrities! They love Raw! Roastmaster Jeff Ross is here. Lin-Manuel Miranda is here. The famous love the WWE!

Liv Morgan has joined us in the arena. She congratulates NYC for being in the presence of the greatest Royal Rumble winner of all-time. “Stephanie Vaquer, you’re done for, bitch.” Vaquer attacked her family and her Daddy Dom. She says it is on-sight and her mother taught her to never let anyone get the better of her and calls Stephanie’s mother a puta. That brings us WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer, marching to the ring. The brawl is on and Stephanie drops Liv with a kick before grabbing a steel chair. Roxanne Perez pops out for the attack, helping Liv hit Oblivion onto the chair. “You stupid bitch,” yells Liv. That was a good segment.

The Vision and Speed talk backstage. Logan tells Speed he has enemies now and laughs at him. Enter WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman, telling Speed he’s in good hands. He tells them to go eat and it’ll be fine. “The Usos are going to kill him.” Heyman turns around to Pearce who asks if Heyman has checked his e-mail. Pearce says there is something important and Heyman mocks him.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) vs Lyra Valkyria and Bayley

This is the first Raw match for Lash and the first Women’s Tag Title match in MSG since 1987. Bayley and Lash start it off, Lash steamrolling Bayley. Lyra and Nia tag in, Lyra tries to take down Nia but is shoved to the corner. Lash powers out of a double team attack and the Forces continue good teamwork. Bayley leaps onto Nia and then onto Lash to send us to commercial on cue as always.

We come back to Nia knocking Bayley off the apron and continuing to work over Lyra with a big Samoan drop. Lash grabs Lyra for a standing suplex but Lyra counters into a DDT, crawling for the hot tag. Bayley tags in and drops an elbow on Lash for a two, Lash tossing her off. Nia drags Bayley to the corner and Bayley pops up, walking her across the ring for a powerbomb from the second rope. Lyra tags in with a middle-rope moonsault for two, Lash breaking it up. All four are down and here come WWE Hall of Famers The Bella Twins, followed behind by Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. As you’d expect, it all breaks down and the brawl is on between all four teams. The crowd did not enjoy how this all ended.

This match goes to a no contest. A decent match but we all knew where it was going. I’m glad these women finally have something set up for Mania (or will shortly).

Danhausen announces that WWE will return to MSG for Saturday Night’s Main Event in July. Thank you, Danhausen. Very nice of you.

Brock Lesnar in full gear comes out with WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman. The fans chant and grunt for Oba. Paul would like to talk about the perils that are ahead for Oba. Brock wasn’t ready for a fight last week but he’s ready tonight. Lesnar grabs the mic and yells, “Enough! Oba Femi, get your ass out here right now.” Adam Pearce joins us instead, telling us that will not be happening tonight and brings out security guards who are probably about to die. Pearce tells us he is here to protect his Mania matches and this isn’t happening tonight.

The lights dim and the drums hit, Oba Femi joining us. Oba funs through the secruity and Pearce yells at him. Oba tosses Adam into the barricade and the fans are LOUD for Oba as he paces around the ring. We get a “holy shit” chant (fair) and our big beefy men stare each other down. The center of our universe, Triple H, slides in the ring and gets in between them. Triple H Points To Sign and says that’s when it happens as the fans boo him and their showdown being stopped. Brock F5’s a security guard just to be an ass. A good segment.

Finn Balor tells us, via video package, that Dom lost the Intercontinental Title because he’s a jackass. “I’m guilty, I helped create that jackass. So now, I’m responsible for destroying you at WrestleMania.”

WWE Intercontinental Championship: WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta vs Kofi Kingston (with Grayson Waller)

This is the result of an open challenge, our favorite crutch for the midcard titles. Kofi leaps into a big kick but nails a flying DDT on Penta. Cole, who doesn’t watch the program, wonders if Kofi has given up on Je’Von Evans. Penta sets up the Driver, Kofi switches out and takes the corner boots instead as Cole reminds us of KofiMania. Penta kicks Kofi to the apron and gets backdropped onto the ring apron. Kofi and Waller argue as we go to break.

After break, Kofi gets a two count on the SOS. Kofi leaps onto Penta on the outside, Penta catches him and backdrops him onto the announce table. Penta jumps into Trouble In Paradise but Penta kicks out at two. Kofi is bounced off the top rope and nailed with a Mexican Destroyer, Penta retains.

Penta pins Kofi Kingston to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Very good match. These two work very well together (and with most anyone, really). I’d like to see this again! Watch this one.

Jackie Redmond joins Penta in the ring and congratulates him. She Points To Sign and wonders what his plans are. “At WrestleMania, my title hangs above the ring. You want it? Climb.” Easy enough.

Pearce is walking and comes across Heyman, showing no signs of his previous attack. Brock has left and Pearce asks again about the e-mail. We banter a bit and Paul says he’s headed to the ring to say some additional things because god forbid we don’t have two Heyman in-ring segments every week now.

Paul Heyman has rejoined us in the ring for an additional round of talking. After some babble, Pearce joins us and asks about the e-mail a third time. God, he’s like my boss. Nobody checks e-mails in 2026. Pearce tells us the Boston Police Department has dropped all charges against Seth Rollins and as of right now, Seth is medically cleared. Seth Freakin’ Rollins appears behind Heyman with a chair and smacks him to the mat. Seth sets Paul up on the chair for the stomp, but The Ring General Gunther pulls him to ringside, hooking on the sleeper on the announce table, Rollins passing out. We have found Gunther something to do at Mania as Gunther Points To Sign and wipes blood across Seth’s forehead as Gunther’s eyebrow was busted open at some point in this.

Celebrities! Elle Duncan is ringside. She’s a Netflix person. Celebrities love Raw, especially ones that are legally tied to Netflix programming!

Iyo Sky vs Raquel Rodriguez

Let’s find these two something to do at Mania. Maybe they should join the ladder match. Raquel works over Iyo in the corner. Iyo kicks out of a powerbomb attempt and dropkicks Raquel to the corner. Raquel falls to the outside, Iyo flies onto her and is caught by Raquel who clotheslines her to the floor. This crowd kind of sucks tonight. Raquel smashes Iyo with a big boot and this time is rana-ed into the corner. Iyo springboard moonsaults onto Raquel on the outside and we go to break.

We come back to Iyo dodging a blow and springboarding with a dropkick into Raquel’s face. Bullet Train and Iyo slowly goes for the Over The Moonsault, which gives Raquel a chance to get her feet up. She pounces Iyo and stacks her for a two count. Iyo rolls Raquel into a stomp. The Kabuki Warriors run out and Kairi Sane jumps on the apron, Raquel booting her off and being rolled into a two. Iyo catches a big top-rope DDT on Raquel and again nails the Bullet Train, Asuka yelling at Kairi. Iyo sees this and dives onto Asuka and almost her head. Iyo tells Kairi she did it for her and Raquel snatches Iyo up with a Tejana Bomb and a pin.

Raquel Rodriguez pins Iyo Sky. As the kids say, Iyo and Raquel were hooping here. I say these same two things regularly, but Iyo is the best in the business and Raquel has grown into a superstar. This one is worth your watching time.

We announce the field so far for the ladder match, with Penta, Dragon Lee, Je’Von Evans, Rusev and JD McDonough with a few qualifiers to go including one on Main Event. Main Event! Finn vs Dom and the Fatal 4-Way for the Women’s Tag Team Titles are official as well. Oh, and John Cena got on Twitter and said he’s hosting WrestleMania.

OTC1 Roman Reigns is here for our final segment of the show. I hope he calls someone old tonight. The fans sing for Roman and then chant for CM Punk. After a call for acknowledgement, WWE World Champion CM Punk comes right on out, taping his fist on the way to the ring. Now where is Adam Pearce to stop THIS fight and protect his WrestleMania match? Triple H, where are you? Inconsistent! Reigns takes Punk down and Punk tosses him to the floor. Security finally comes out to break things up and Punk strips the announce table. The men fight through the suits and officials, Roman shoving a few and trying to pull Punk up for a powerbomb. Punk pulls Reigns into a GTS, the suits separate them. Petey Williams takes a big spear and Punk hits GTS, staring at The Sign. The Sign powers us all. The Sign makes us do crazy things. Punk sets Roman up for a powerbomb through the announce desk and hits it, Roman bouncing through the table. Punk sits cross-legged in front of Roman’s downed body and signs “Roman, Roman Reigns” and bounces a few punches off his head before being pulled off to end the program.

At least that was short and to the point, though I’m just ready to get on to the match now. “We still have two weeks to go to WrestleMania,” exclaims Michael Cole. The Road to WrestleMania may never end. A good segment to end the show and I’m sure we’ll have one more segment between these two on that road.

Two very good matches on this one, Penta vs Kofi and Raquel vs Iyo. We finally hit the gas pedal on making some things official for Mania, throwing a ladder match, a Fatal 4-Way and Dom/Finn into things as well as setting up Gunther/Seth. The cards have very slowly fallen into place. Very slowly. Oh, and Stephanie McMahon was here.

Tonight, the Road to WrestleMania continues! We have a lot of stuff announced and it all sounds like stuff I’ve reviewed before. CM Punk and Roman Reigns have things to say again! Dominik Mysterio vs Penta, a match we’ve seen in singles form five times in the last year! The Vision against The Usos, something that has been going on in endless variations since I started reviewing this show! Bayley and Lyra Valkyria against the Kabuki Warriors! Well, at least I have Danhausen to be excited about.

Oh hell yeah, it’s 316 Day and time for another Monday Night Raw on the Road to WrestleMania. Big thanks to Garth for doing a great job filling in for me last week. Might I recommend checking out his reviews of JCW Lunacy?

Good evening and welcome to another WWE Raw review. With Elimination Chamber behind us, we’re continuing our road to WrestleMania. Will tonight be the night that things finally start to get exciting? Our Tribal Chief is here, Danhausen is here, and Seth Rollins is back.

The last week in WWE: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown / Elimination Chamber / Lucha Libre AAA

The last week in the SmackDown Rewind: SmackDown 11.18.99 / Survivor Series ’99

Then, Now, Forever, Together.

Here’s a video package on Elimination Chamber, the celebrities that attended it, the matches that happened at it, people reacting to it, headlines from WWE’s favorite media sites about it, and a very nice, very evil crate.

This is Indianapolis, Indiana and the Gatebridge Fieldhouse, host of WWE Raw live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash. Arrivals! WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee arrive with their gold. The Judgment Day are all smiles. Gunther exits his bus. Plus, Roman Reigns will be live tonight.

The Vision (Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman) – or what’s left of them – have appeared at ringside. Paul threatens to “whip this out” and wants to talk about Seth Rollins. The fans sing Seth’s song to annoy Heyman. Seth has stolen WrestleMania from Logan Paul, says Heyman, and they’re going to stomp Seth’s ass next time he appears in a WWE ring. Austin Theory says some things and then Logan says the show is on hold until Seth appears.

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce does his customary interruption and tells them to move it along. Agreed. Heyman tosses a mic at Pearce and Pearce thinks Rollins should be left to him because he isn’t medically cleared to compete. A Masked Man appears and security chances him. As all this happens, Another Masked Man appears and Logan Paul chases him. A Third Masked Man is chased off by Theory. That leaves Paul Heyman alone, looking worried. Masked Man #4 walks the aisle. As Heyman pleads with him, Fifth Masked Man appears behind him, unmasks to be Seth Rollins, and smacks Heyman across the back with a chair. More masked men than the Americano family. As the fans sing, Seth hits Heyman with the Stomp. Seth leaves through the crowd and medics run out to check on Heyman. This was good. I’m so tired of The Vision and now “Adam Pearce stops the Vision segment,” but I liked the execution here.

We see a replay of what happened. Backstage, security loads a bloodied Heyman into an ambulance. Logan and Theory run up to check on him. Logan goes to get the car. A car pulls up and Big Jim Uso smacks Austin Theory around. The ambulance driver turns out to be L.A. Knight, giving us a “yeah” and speeding off with the ambulance. These wacky wrestlers. This was a very Attitude Era segment which… I liked it.

Gunther vs Dragon Lee

I’m glad there was a second ambulance, because I don’t like Dragon Lee’s chances. Lee attacks during Gunther’s entrance which also doesn’t seem smart. Lee is backdropped into the timekeeper’s area as we head to break.

Back from break, the match is underway and Gunther is yanking at Lee’s mask. We look at the welts on Lee’s back as Gunther rips again at his mask. Gunther kicks away at Lee and taunts him a bit. Lee counters Gunther into a pin attempt and is chopped right on back down. Gunther tries for the apron sleeper, Lee ducks a knee and dropkicks Gunther down to one knee and then outside before leaping onto him with a suicide dive. Unfortunately for Lee, Gunther catches him, drops him on the apron and chops him into a commercial break.

We return to our third segment for some reason of this match, Gunther trying to powerbomb and Lee springing out. Lee batters Gunther with a basement dropkick and then runs into a slam, Gunther getting a two count. Gunther power bombs Gunther twice and pulls him up before the three, smiling. The Ring General rolls Lee outside and power bombs him onto the apron and then onto but not through the announce table. Chad Patton begins counting and Gunther stops it at seven to try for another power bomb, Lee reversing with a sunset flip. The referee counts again and they both beat the count. Lee leaps outside with another suicide dive, knocking Gunther onto the table. The fans chant that it is awesome as Dragon hits Operation Dragon on the outside and rolls back in. Lee tries for another Operation Dragon but Gunther hits the sleeper, ripping off Dragon’s mask and Dragon tapping in panic.

Gunther defeats Dragon Lee by submission. Well, this was very long. I liked the end game and appreciate Dragon fighting for AJ Styles’ honor, but I’m not sure we ever needed to stretch Gunther vs Dragon Lee over three segments.

Kairi Sane is being yelled at by Asuka backstage. Kairi remembers Asuka saying that she did good last week, Asuka smacks Kairi around and leaves. Up walks WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee, telling Kairi to blink twice if she needs help. Asuka yells KAIIIRIIII. AJ will join us next.

Here’s a look at Undertaker telling Demolition that they’re being entered into the 2026 Hall of Fame.

“Light It Up” brings out WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee, skipping with her new belt. “I’m not entirely sure how we got here.” She didn’t know if she could still go – the fans chant “you’ve still got it” – but the fans knew she could still go and believed in her. “You remembered me when some people wished you’d forget.” Becky is the best of the best and she beat her, and now that Becky is behind her she has WrestleMania ahead of her. She’s not waiting until then though, she’s going to be a fighting champion. She wonders who might think they are championship material and asks the women to come at her, saying she’ll be defending the belt next time we see her.” Nobody comes out, but this feels like something that is going to involve Nattie.

Earlier today: Penta walks upon Original El Grande Americano. Americano tells Penta that he’s first in line when Penta wins the Intercontinental Title. As Penta leaves, El Grande Americano and Los Americanos ask when Original Americano is ending his charade. El Grande Americano says we’ll see who the real Americano at AAA Rey de Reyes is, but Original Americano says, “I’ll see uno of you TONIGHT.”

Via video package, Liv Morgan talks through to camera to Stephanie Vaquer. Stephanie tried to embarrass and belittle her, but Stephanie doesn’t know her struggles. She knows she is privileged and it happened because she is a star. Alright.

Original El Grande Americano vs Rayo Americano (with El Grande Americano and Bravo Americano)

I’m afraid my brain is going to break the 38th time I type “Americano” for this. El Grande Americano has changed to an a black and gold outfit while Original is in the classic red, white and blue. Rayo shoves Original as Corey Graves describes the Rey de Reyes event. As Bravo distracts Original with dancing, Rayo knocks Original down and drops knees on his wrist. Original hits a cannonball on the outside and dances towards Bravo. The Grande Americanos argue on the outside and Rayo leaps right onto Original’s head, then tossing him into the ring post and sending us to a break.

Rayo and Original are trading blows as Cole tells us the other Americanos have been causing trouble the entire break. Original hits a few nice belly-to-belly suplexes and tries for a moonsault, Rayo trying to boot him but being caught in an ankle lock. Rayo rolls out hits a Meteora, trying to tape Original up top but being suplexed off. Original tries to unmask Rayo and then Bravo, El Grande Americano headbutting Original in all the chaos while the referee is distracted. Rayo flies with a headbutt but only gets a two as Original Americano has a lot of reserve strength. Original rolls Rayo into a suplex and a pin to get the win.

Original El Grande Americano pins Rayo Americano. The Americano stuff is a hit hotter with a more involved crowd on Lucha Libre AAA, but this was mostly fine.

Judgment Day clubhouse. Raquel Rodriguez is tossing some darts and Liv suggests challenging AJ Lee. Finn Balor tells JD McDonough and Dominik Mysterio that he isn’t happy with the Chamber results but he’s accepting of it. JD says they’ll be there to celebrate with Dom tonight while Finn is a little more hesitant.

Royce Keys has possibly been locked in the podcast room with Stephaie McMahon for two weeks.

And now, the WWE Highlight of the Night presented by Planet Fitness. Oba Femi destroys Miz on SmackDown.

Rusev interrupts the segment to hop on the announce table and yell. He’s tired of listening about Oba (the fans chant for “Oba”) and he challenges him right now and he’s not getting off the table until Oba shows. Oba Femi does indeed strut his way out. “You spent all this time talking, why don’t you come in here and make something happen?” Rusev obliges and stands face-to-face with Oba, throwing the first punch. They trade haymakers and Oba splashes Rusev. Oba rocks Rusev with kicks but walks right into a slam. Oba clotheslines Rusev outside and we’re stopping there since Oba’s music plays. I’m down to watch a full match.

Bayley and Lyra Valkyria are talking backstage, Bayley questioning their place in WrestleMania season. Lyra says Bayley isn’t missing Mania again and suggests Bayley going for AJ Lee’s title. Bayley remembers costing Lyra a title match against Becky and thinks maybe they should both go talk to Pearce. Iyo Sky walks out of Pearce’s office and gives them both a look.

Celebrities! The Club 520 Podcast crew are ringside. Tyrique Tucker of the Indiana Hoosiers is ringside. The stars love Raw!

WWE World Tag Team Champion Big Jim Uso vs Austin Theory

I swear I missed a plot point in a U.S. ad break because I could have sworn L.A. Knight kidnapped Paul Heyman in an ambulance and Theory has decided to stay behind for a match an hour later instead of following his original plan of going to the hospital. Theory hits Uso with a discus punch and works over Jimothy for a bit. Jim leaps onto Theory and tosses him into the announce table as Cole mentions Theory could step into a leadership position in The Vision. Well yes, when the group drops to two wrestlers, the odds go up. Big Jim heads up top and Logan Paul, also not caring about Paul Heyman, is here and the referee throws things out. WWE World Tag Team Champion Main Event Jey Uso’s music hits and he comes in with crutches, hanging one to his brother and they attack. I fear we’ve figured out what we’re doing with these four men for Mania.

Big Jim Uso defeats Austin Theory by disqualification. At least it was quick. You’ve gotta get these men to Mania and together is one way to do it.

Adam Pearce is interrupted by Danhausen, who sees through the glasses and thinks he is Steve Austin. Danhausen has a list of demands including a Triple H pointing photo, a blimp, a Hall of Fame entry this year and a personal camera boy along with his face on the trucks. Judgment Day walk up on this all and Danhausen curses Dom who laughs it off. More of this. Danhausen is going to work fine if you get him show his personality and humor.

Jackie Redmond introduces Rhea Ripley in the arena, who enters with Iyo Sky. Rhea says Iyo has been her opponent, partner and most importantly love best friend. She holds her face and thanks her. Iyo congratulates Rhea on winning the Chamber and says she will hold down Raw and Rhea needs to go to SmackDown and win the Women’s Championship. You know who is happy Iyo is staying behind on Raw? Cathy Kelley. Rhea looks into the camera and says she’ll see Jade Cargill on SmackDown and at WrestleMania she’ll be leaving as the new Women’s Champion.

Next week, Seattle. We’ll have a gauntlet match to determine the #1 contender to the Women’s Intercontinental Title with Iyo, Bayley, Lyra, Raquel, Asuka and Ivy. Oba and Rusev battle as well.

WWE Intercontinental Title: WWE Intercontinental Champion & AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio (with Finn Balor and JD McDonough) vs Penta

The great Alicia Taylor gives us the championship introductions. I imagine the cursehausen does not help Dom. We have seen this singles match five times in 2025-26 on Raw with Dom being 5-0. Dom takes the early lead on Penta. Penta slingblades Dom and levels him with a kick to the back of the head. Penta boots Dom in the face and goes up top for a rana, Dom fighting out and DDTing Penta onto the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring) before covering for a two count. Dom blasts Penta into the timekeeper’s area and we head to break.

Penta crossbodies onto Dom when we return, stringing together kicks and the corner stomp on him for a near fall. Penta nails a backstabber for another pin attempt. Penta calls for the Destroyer, Dom turns it into a Driver for a two. Dom sets up and hits the 619 and goes up for the frog splash, leaping into Penta’s arms for the Sacrifice. Penta hits the Penta Driver and Dom JUST kicks out.

Penta goes shoulder-first into the post and Dom calls for the bell hammer, JD going for it and Finn telling JD that Dom said he can do it by himself. Penta leaps onto JD and Finn and heads back in with a kick to Dom. Dom misses a second 619 and Penta hits the Destroyer, getting the pin and the title.

Penta pins Dominik Mysterio to become new WWE Intercontinental Title. Good for Penta. He’s been over since day one and it’s good to see him finally get the belt. Another good match between two guys who have great chemistry together. Also, Danhausen is 1-0 with curses thus far.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet us from ringside and run down the Rhodes-McIntyre situation.

OTC1 Roman Reigns joins us in-arena to end our night, getting the large pop and fingers in the air. After a round of “OTC” chants, Roman asks for acknowledgement. This immediately brings out WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk with his own acknowledgement. We talk about Roman’s “tweet” and Punk says he doesn’t hold grudges about what people say about him. Punk tells Roman that his bags under his eyes are going to help carrying Roman’s bullshit to Mania for seven weeks. Punk remembers the Shield debuting in Indianapolis. Roman says Punk brought the other two but not him.

Punk thinks he’s already won at Mania because Roman hates him. “I got you right where I want you, I made you this emotional lady. I’m in your head.” Roman: “I do hate you but this is what you’re missing, Phil. If you didn’t have that title, I’d be indifferent to you. You wouldn’t exist. You wouldn’t even be on my radar. Phil, let’s remind you real quick we brought you back here to entertain the 30–40-year-old virgins that live with their mom and dad.” Roman thinks Punk being champion is too much responsibility for him. “We can’t trust you, Phil. You’re a liar. You got them thinking you’re having a good time here, you’re a locker room veteran and leader.” Roman says he’s going to send Punk down to NXT to train the next generation and then he’ll smash them when they come back up.

Punk has some arguments. Roman is alone on his bus, there’s no more Shield, no Wiseman. “I’m in the locker room hanging out with your cousins.” “You’re gonna retire me? Brother, you just made the list. You went from getting beat at WrestleMania to now I’m going to bury you. Then you won’t be all alone anymore, because I’m going to bury you next to your father.” Punk drops the mic and leaves. Credits roll.

So, uh is Paul Heyman alive or did L.A. Knight just kidnap him and ride off into the sunset in the ambulance with him? Why does nobody from Pearce to the announcers to even the Vision care about their kidnapped bloodied Wiseman?

The Punk/Reigns segment was good. Not as good as the last one, but it was good. We ended with Roman shit talking and Punk taking the talk right to hell, which is a good layer. I think the main review of this show is that it was good but – get ready to be shocked – too long. Some of these matches didn’t need to go as many segments as they did. At the same time, we couldn’t find a single moment to make room for a women’s match in our 2.5 hour program. That said, Dom/Penta was good as always and Americano/Americano was fine. I’d say seek out those and the main event promo on YouTube if you’re skipping the entire show.

Monday! Tonight, we find two more Elimination Chamber entrants and bid farewell to AJ Styles. No time to waste, let’s get into another phenomenal Raw.

Elimination Chamber is a mere 20 days away and we have another 77 days on the road to WrestleMania. Tonight, Elimination Chamber matches continue to shape up plus we’ll hear from AJ Lee. Let’s get Raw!

Monday means Raw and we’re hopping right into it tonight. Elimination Chamber qualifying triple threat matches continue. If I learned anything from the Money in the Bank and King & Queen triple threat qualifiers last year, it is that Michael Cole is going to tell us that triple threat means no disqualification and the match will end with something that would have been a disqualification.

Let’s catch up on the last week: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown

Then, Now, Forever, Together

This is Cleveland, Ohio for the 31st time in Raw history and this is the Rocket Arena. We are live on Netflix and brought to you by DoorDash.

Arrivals! WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is here… and so is AJ Lee! Behind them is a distraught WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are hanging out in the cheap seats. Rhea is in a qualifying match tonight. 2026 Royal Rumble Winner Liv Morgan is playing darts with Raquel Rodriguez as WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio plays 2K. Will she make a choice tonight?

Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet us from ringside with breaking news. Bron Breakker was injured while training and has had surgery, putting him out of action indefinitely.

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch is our first entrance of the night and she is storming down to the ring. “There is only so much disrespect that one woman can take. I came out here with a big announcement that we were going to overthrow the corruption at the Royal Rumble but who do I see has come back to my show?” The fans chant for AJ Lee and Becky scowls. “Yeah.”

“Light It Up” brings out a skipping AJ Lee, the first time we’ve seen her on Raw since November. AJ says she isn’t here for Becky, she’s here to support her girl Maxxine. Becky insults AJ’s eyebrows and tells her she is yapping in Becky’s ear and keeping her awake. AJ calls her dramatic and says she hasn’t done anything to her personally besides beating her at Wrestlepalooza and also at WarGames and costing her the Intercontinental Title. Becky asks AJ what it will take to get rid of her, suggesting ruining her life in Chicago at Elimination Chamber. AJ feels a nervous breakdown or that Becky wants a one-on-one. AJ remembers she hasn’t had a singles match in over a decade and it would have to be really worth it. “You are one of the greatest of all time. If I beat you, what does that make me?” AJ goads Becky into a title match at Elimination Chamber.

Big Bronson Reed, Austin Theory, WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman and Logan Paul are here. You know who else is here? The Usos, who are now in your city.

WWE World Tag Team Championship: WWE World Tag Team Champions The Usos (Main Event Jey Uso and Big Jim Uso) vs Alpha Academy (Otis & Akira Tozawa)

The Usos yeet through the crowd and an entire commercial break. This is the first defense of the titles since the Usos won them in December and Big Jim’s first match since the title win, having been out with his wife. On the other hand, Alpha Academy have won their last four tag team matches, thrice against American Made on Main Event and the #1 contender’s match against American Made, Los Americanos and New Day back in January.

Jey and Otis start it off with the handshake of honor before Otis shoves Jey to the ropes. Tozawa hits a rana on Jimmy and a nice spin kick for a two count. Jimmy rolls out and Jey gets a kick as well. Tozawa considers a dive, Otis stops him and gorilla presses him onto the Usos on the outside instead to send us to break.

Back from it, Tozawa makes the hot tag to Otis while Jey gets to Jim. Otis bulldozes both Usos and drops Jimmy awkwardly over his shoulder. Jimmy jumps into a slam but kicks out at two. Jimmy is splashed in the corner and Jey tags in, Otis not seeing it. Otis Catepillars towards Jimmy but runs into Jey’s knee instead. The Usos double superkick Otis who roars back with a double clothesline and a tag to Tozawa. Akira missile dropkicks both Usos and rips the shirt, suicide diving onto Jey on one side, Jimmy on the other, and back to Jey before running it back and hitting a fourth on Jimmy. He tosses Jimmy in and Sentons Jim for a two as the fans chant “this is awesome.” Otis tags back in and is shoved into the post. Jey tags and they hit Otis with a double spear and the 1D for the pin.

Jey Uso pins Otis, The Usos defeat Alpha Academy to retain the WWE World Tag Team Titles. There were a few rough and sloppy bumps early, but the Tozawa hot tag was very hot. I dig “Tozawa wants to wrestle” and would like to see more of it outside of Main Event. I liked this.

The teams celebrate together after the match. Byron Saxton joins after a replay to get some words from the Usos. Byron asks what is next on the Road to WrestleMania for the Usos. Jimmy suggests remaining the best tag team in the game, but he needs Jey to qualify and win the Elimination Chamber, then head back to the main event. Four letters, one word, ugh ugh.

SmackDown will be on SyFy this Friday. Niz, turn to SyFy. All of you, turn to Niz’s SmackDown reviews. They’re great.

Here’s a look at the Reigns/Punk confrontation last week.

Liv Morgan and WWE Intercontinental Champion & AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio join us in the arena for some words. Dominik calls for some roses at ringside and gives them to Liv. She promises to give him his gift later and does the obnoxious Liv laugh. Liv says she put Jade Cargill and Stephanie Vaquer on notice last week and now they’re both scared. Fire explodes – very delayed – and WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer hits the ring for some words of her own. She gives Liv the “you talk too much” – paging Maffew! – and speaks Spanish, Dom saying he shouldn’t repeat what she said. Stephanie clarifies that it was calling Liv “a little bitch” and that Stephanie isn’t qualified to wear her “hot girls love Dominik Mysterio” shirt. Liv calls her a “puta” and Dom takes a big smack to the face from Stephanie. Now what did Dirty Dom do!

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Rhea Ripley, Ivy Nile and Lyra Valkyria give pre-recorded thoughts about their triple threat match and the importance of Elimination Chamber. Ivy I love you, but I don’t like your odds.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Triple Threat Match: WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Rhea Ripley vs Lyra Valkyria vs Ivy Nile

Ivy gets the commercial break intro. Rhea gets the sea of screams as she tends to do and Lyra gets plenty of “woos.” I’m glad that took off for her. Ivy and Rhea lock up first as we have a solid “Mami” chant. Ivy leaps into a big Rhea dropkick, Lyra comes in and rolls up Mami for a two. Ivy suplexes Rhea and Lyra at the same time, following Rhea to the outside. Rhea grabs up Ivy on the outside and slams her face-first into the apron before Lyra leaps out with a rana and we go to break.

As we return, Lyra stomps Ivy, who is hanging upside down in the corner, and tries to suplex Rhea. Ivy pulls herself up and suplexes them both off the top rope. If they keep giving Ivy chances to do cool spots on Raw and not Main Event, they could just turn her into something more. Ivy unloads dropkicks on both women before running into Rhea clotheslines and a faceplant. Lyra and Rhea trade roll-up attempts before Rhea fails to muscle Rhea onto her shoulders. Lyra ends up there anyway and Rhea faceplants her, Ivy also leaping off the top over them both and missing everything. Well. Ivy suplexes Rhea almost on Lyra’s skull and gets a two count. Lyra rolls Ivy into a two and Rhea into a DDT. Ivy grabs Lyra into a Dragon Sleeper and that brings in Rhea and a headbutt. Rhea sets up Riptide, Ivy rolls it into a nasty backstabber. Lyra rolls Ivy into Nightwing and connects, Rhea breaking it with a running knee. Rhea Riptides Lyra and that’s all she wrote.

Rhea Ripley pins Lyra Valkyria and advances to the Elimination Chamber match. Friends, you know I love the women, but this was a lot of roughness. Rhea is probably the right choice, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see her and Iyo both in the Chamber.

In the Judgment Day clubhouse, Raquel Rodriguez notices a bummed Finn Balor. Dom says JD will be back soon and Finn will be tag champ again. Finn wants the World Title. Dom: “I get it, but everyone’s kind of talking about Punk and Roman at WrestleMania. Your window might be closed.” Finn shakes his head, questions the family part of Judgment Day, and leaves.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is walking. He’ll talk to us when we return.

Michael Cole, in-ring, tries to set up his talk with CM Punk when Finn Balor pops out to talk instead. “CM Punk is hurt and I know he’s hurt because I’m the one who hurt him. I’m not just going to step aside and let Roman Reigns slide in and take advantage of my kill. Wouldn’t be the first time Roman took advantage.” He remembers the rope breaking when he faced Roman. “I want CM Punk, I want the World Heavyweight Title, and I want it at Elimination Chamber.”

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce comes out, waving for security, and telling Finn they’ve already had this conversation. WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk interrupts for the confrontation, Finn rolling out. Adam tells them to relax, Punk responds by snatching the mic. “You’re not an after thought, you’re the first thought but you don’t deserve a title shot, you deserve an ass beating.” Finn says he isn’t fighting for no reason but he’ll finish what he started for a title shot. Punk offers to do it in front of the Cleveland crowd. Pearce says absolutely not because he’s not putting the WrestleMania main event in jeopardy. Punk tells Pearce to give him what he wants or he spends the rest of the show chasing Finn around. Pearce announces it as official for Elimination Chamber to the great dislike of the Cleveland crowd. As Finn leaves, Cole asks Punk why he would jeopardize one of the greatest main events in Mania history for Finn. Punk says he’s chasing greatness and being the fighting champion the crowd deserves The only way Mania ends is with the ring announcer naming him as champion. The Finn/Punk part of this was hot until Pearce shot the crowd down, but the Punk part afterwards dragged on a bit.

Pearce is with security and met by the non-injured members of the Vision. Heyman says Pearce caused Bron to train too much by pushing his buttons. Pearce knows Bron is one of the keys to the future of WWE and nobody wants him back faster, but they should concentrate on the Chamber with Theory in a qualifying tonight. Pearce suggests they don’t get involved. Well, I wonder if perhaps any masked individuals will get involved in this no-disqualification triple threat tonight. Logan stops to tell Pearce he is the biggest star to come out of Cleveland which is an insult to WWE Hall of Famer Drew Carey.

Maxxine Dupri vs Nattie

Nattie’s entrance has been tweaked a bit more and Alicia Taylor introduces her as representing the Hart Family Dungeon. Maxxine tries for an ankle lock early, Nattie counters out as Corey tells us this is the real Nattie. Dupri tries another ankle lock on the outside and Nattie boots her into the steel steps and tosses her over the announce table. Nattie pounds Maxxine on the announce table and the match ends by countout.  Nattie hooks the Sharpshooter on the table and out comes AJ Lee for the rescue, Nattie breaking it and leaving. Becky attacks AJ as she helps Maxxine out

Maxxine Dupri vs Nattie goes to a double countout. This was all window dressing to set up the AJ and Becky saves. I’d say we’re going for a tag match, but I don’t think AJ is wrestling between now and the Chamber and I don’t see how it fits in after that.

L.A. Knight has some thoughts on his Chamber qualifying match tonight.

Los Americanos (Bravo & Rayo Americano with El Grande Americano) vs Je’Von Evans & Original El Grande Americano

Rayo has gained a golden vest. Evans has gained Original Americano as his mystery tag team partner. Graves notes that Original Americano is more popular in the States while Americano is more popular in Mexico. Lucha Libre AAA has turned into a fun little Saturday night YouTube show. Evans hits a stunner on Rayo and a bouncy rana on Bravo. Original Americano tags in and leaps from the top onto the dancing Americanos to take us to a break.

Los Americanos are double-teaming Evans as we return. Evans bounces onto Bravo and gets the hot tag to Original Americano while Rayo tags in as well. Original Americano suplexes Rayo as Cole thinks it looks familiar. Original Americano double-suplexes both Americanos and gives us the “thank you,” hooking an ankle lock on Rayo, Graves noting that he is a big Maxxine Dupri fan. Evans and Bravo tag in, Je’Von with a soaring flying clothesline. Original Americano goes up top and Modern Americano pushes him down. Bravo leaps from one corner and Evans leaps from the other with an OG Cutter. WILD. That’ll be in replays for years. Original Americano hits a flying headbutt onto Bravo for the win.

Original El Grande Americano pins Bravo Americano, Original El Grande Americano & Je’Von Evans defeat Los Americanos. This was hit or miss, but that OG Cutter is something you have to see to believe.

El Grande Americano attacks Original El Grande Americano, Original Americano tries to unmask him but fails. I’m even confused after typing the word “Americano” approximately 85 times.

Here’s a video package on Oba Femi. He says that people fear change but it is inevitable. Change is here and you will hear his drums, see his strut and know he is here.

Here’s a look back at Gunther gloating last week and then trying to decapitate Dragon Lee.

Gunther laughs backstage and is joined by Saxton. “I couldn’t care less” about Lee, says Gunther. Gunther is in a qualifying match next week and tells Byron that the result will be the same and he’s leaving WrestleMania the new WWE Champion. That match will be against Je’Von and Dominik. Also, next week we have Bayley, Asuka and Nattie trying to qualify and AJ Lee will join us.

Elimination Chamber Triple Threat Qualifying Match: Penta vs Austin Theory (with WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman) vs L.A. Knight

Penta rolls up Knight quickly and then they team up on Theory. Penta dives onto Knight as Heyman yells at the announce team. Theory pulls Penta out and dropkicks Knight before rolling back out to throw Penta into the steps and send us to break.

We’ve slowed down to a Theory beatdown of Penta as we return. Penta chops Theory but runs into a big boot. Knight springs in and clotheslines Theory to the outside. Knight bounces both men off the announce table before throwing Theory back in, setting up a BFT that Theory counters into a rollup. This is plodding along, honestly, almost as disjointed as the women’s triple threat. Knight takes Penta to the top and is shoved off. Theory tries and is shoved off as well. Knight leaps up and Knight superplexes them both because that has to happen in every triple threat match. Theory misses the stomp on Knight, Knight turns it into an inverted DDT but doesn’t cover. He drops a top rope elbow and sets up the BFT again as Logan Paul runs out, being knocked off the apron. Knight dropkicks Logan and Bronson Reed splashes him, throwing him in for the Tsunami. Adam Pearce runs out and yells. Theory stomps Knight and Penta pulls him out of the ring, superkicking him. Theory backdrops Penta onto the announce desk as The Masked Man appears and superkicks Theory and stomps him at ringside. He tosses Theory in and runs off. Knight gets the BFT on Theory and advances.

L.A. Knight pins Austin Theory and advances to the Elimination Chamber match. Much like the women’s match earlier in the show, this was a bit sloppy. The ending was hot at least, but I didn’t feel much from this one.

Heyman and Pearce staring each other down at ringside.

We end with a graphic in loving memory of Jim Shank, January 28, 1966 – February 6, 2026. Jim was a 26-year veteran of the WWE production team who lost his battle with cancer last Friday. Cancer sucks.

Most of this episode didn’t hit for me. The opening was really good, and AJ and Becky bounce off each other well. I don’t think I have a “you have to watch this” match this week, but there are little fun highlights like Tozawa’s surge and of course the wild OG Cutter. Nothing notable you can’t catch in the “Raw Highlights” video that the company will post on YouTube tomorrow.

Happy Groundhog Day! The groundhog saw his shadow today which I believe means we get six more months of Vision main events on Raw. We’re coming off of Saturday’s Royal Rumble (review from me here). Now we begin the ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA with tonight being the first of eleven Raws on the way and the Elimination Chamber in the middle of it all. Hope you like that Aerosmith song, we’re going to hear it at FEIN levels between now and then.

Have you been keeping up with my journey through the early days of SmackDown? You should. Last week, Mideon asked The Godfather about the availability of farm animals. Wait, don’t leave! This Thursday, we have Fabulous Moolah vs Mae Young for the WWF Women’s Title. No, really, don’t go!

The last week: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown / Royal Rumble

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER.

We start cold with Bron Breakker approaching the announce table, Michael Cole and Corey Graves running. Bron tosses Corey’s chair and flips the table before threatening Cole and yelling for a mic. “Adam Pearce, you want to ruin my moment in the Royal Rumble?” The rest of The Vision (Logan Paul, Big Bronson Reed, Austin Theory and WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman) run down to try to intervene and Bron yells no, he’s going to ruin the show. Paul grabs a mic and says this isn’t Bron’s fault, it is Adam Pearce’s fault. Paul argues about Adam having to approve the visa of every man – the mask man included – who had to go to Saudi which doesn’t SEEM like it would be Adam’s job. Bron threatens to count to three and wants Adam right now.

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and a sea of security come out. Adam says Bron drew his number and he doesn’t know who the masked man was, and in fact the last one was Theory. Adam says he has a gift for Bron, letting him keep his job “after that piss poor performance in the Royal Rumble.” Bron charges for Adam, the music of L.A. Knight interrupts and Knight attacks the rest of the Vision boys in the ring. As Knight taunts, Bron looks increasingly frustrated on the ramp and asks Paul what they’re even doing now.

We are live in Philadelphia in the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Netflix and presented by DoorDash. Here’s a look back at the Rumble.

Tonight, Roman Reigns is here. Will he pick his Mania opponent tonight? Probably not. Arrivals! 2026 Royal Rumble Winner Liv Morgan is here. Will she make a choice? Probably not! WWE Women’s World Heavyweight Champion Stephanie Vaquer is in the makeup chair. Tonight, she’ll defend her belt in a Philly Street Fight against Raquel Rodriguez. Gunther walks in smirking.

WWE Fact of the Night from Papa Johns: Je’Von Evans lasted 40:58 in his Royal Rumble debut, making him the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble iron man.

Je’Von Evans vs El Grande Americano (with Bravo & Rayo Americano)

We begin with the match we tried to have a few weeks ago before a match stoppage. Americano is hammered in the corner as Cole and Graves discuss the appearance of the other El Grande Americano at the Royal Rumble. Je’Von dropkicks Americano and dives – taped shoulder first – right into the ring post. They fight outside as Graves explains that sometimes there are multiple versions of a wrestling including La Parka. Je’Von nails Americano with an elbow and then springboards over the top rope onto him. “Evans from the heavens,” notes Cole. That’s a good one. Rayo trips Je’Von, Je’Von tries to unmask him but El Grande dropkicks him back to the outside. Americano throws Je’Von shoulder-first into the ring post and then back into the ring. Americano chops Evans and gives him a big back body drop, blowing a kiss to the camera to send us to break.

Back from that break, Americano is in control and still working the shoulder. The men trade chops and Americano runs into a kick. Evans nails a satellite DDT and a superkick. Evans hits a corkscrew kick and chops away at Americano some more. Lots of chopping here. Americano hooks on a backbreaker, Je’Von gains his footing and places Americano on the second rope, kicking him back down with a kick. Je’Von gets a look in his eye and climbs the opposite rope, flying across the ring and grazing Americano with a coast-to-coast Swanton. Evans climbs again and Rayo distracts the ref as Bravo knocks Evans down. Rayo passes the metal plate to Americano as the music hits and Original El Grande Americano joins us. Chad Patton takes away the metal plate; Evans hits the OG Cutter and gerts the pin. Original Americano gives the peace sign pose on the ramp.

Je’Von Evans pins El Grande Americano. A very good match, though a bit slow in the chop-fest portion. We probably could’ve cut two minutes out of this but it’s worth watching. Evans waves across the arena at Original Americano.

Here’s a look at the Orlando Eye as we promote the NXT Title ladder match tomorrow night on NXT before we go through a video package of recent newcomers and NXT names impressing during the Rumble matches last night including Royce Keys, Sol Ruca, Jordynne Grace and Trick Williams. This was a really good package that hyped up about ten people at once.

Congratulations to Bad Bunny and Jelly Roll, both of which won Grammy Awards last night.

The music of AJ Styles plays and out marches Gunther, doing AJ’s entrance. It goes from cheers to boos really quickly and it is great. Great heeling. “Career Killer” has been added to the sides of Gunther’s entrance trons and his entrance chyron. A fan’s sign: “I miss AJ and Cena but not Goldberg.” After a minute of “Fuck you Gunther” and then “you tapped out” chants, the big man has some words. “Just like Bill Goldberg, just like John Cena, AJ Styles found out that when you step in the ring with the Career Killer, your career and your legacy dies.” Out runs Dragon Lee, very upset over the career ending of the man who teamed with him for two months, and attacks Gunther. Lee springboards over the top onto Gunther and ranas him into the ring post. Lee springs at Gunther and is smacked with the ring bell. Gunther hooks a sleeper on Lee on the outside and the officials run out to break it up. Gunther grabs Lee from inside of the ring and hooks the sleeper again as Lee hangs over the side of the ring, Lee going limp and hanging from Gunther’s arms before he drops him. Great segment and the image of Gunther holding Lee’s limp body by the head was quite the good one.

Pearce is texting with a smile when Heyman walks up. Heyman demands Breakker vs Knight. Pearce says he can’t do it because he just walked Knight out of the building for disrupting his show and tells Heyman he should do the same with Bron. Pearce tells Heyman to tell Reed to get ready because he has a match against Penta. Heyman questions if Adam knows who he is talking to and in which city.

After breaks, Bron is throwing stuff around.

The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) vs…

We’re told it is a tag match, but we get the music of Oba Femi and a shocked look on the Raiders’ faces instead. Oba’s entrance with the Goldberg-like “Oba” chants is already epic and they’ll have to try really hard to mess up his rise. Cole notes Oba is still a free agent as Oba tosses both Raiders around like they are nothing. The fans chant “Oba” and what a debut. He dances over the body of Erik.

The next video package looks at Finn Balor. He says he’s always given respect but it is never returned. He wants more, he wants the World Heavyweight Championship and he’s willing to do bad things for it.

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella is walking and comes across WWE Hall of Famer Brie Bella. The Bella Twins, next on Raw!

WWE Hall of Famers The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie Bella) join us to some high-pitched screaming and camera shots of some very happy female fans across the arena. Nikki makes fun of the Eagles and feels like this is a very full-circle moment as they haven’t been together on Raw in seven years. She thinks we’re all on the same page and happy that Brie Mode is back. Yes, she’s definitely been reading the comments section on Blog of Doom. Brie says she’s finally home and she says she’s not back because Nikki was getting her butt kicked every week but because they were the original tag team and the division is better than it has ever been. “Nikki and I, we want in. It is time for the Bella Twins to go for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.” Listen, I know a lot of you are mad at it but I’m fine with it. There’s a lot going on in the tag division and if a popular legacy team wants in, why not.

Here’s a look at all four covers of WWE 2K26, including three with the center of our universe Triple H, and some gameplay footage.

Alpha Academy (Otis and Akira Tozawa) meet up backstage with Bert Kreischer to give us some big man bonding and cross-promote some Netflix. Maxxine Dupri walks up and Bert can’t wait to see her get revenge on Nattie. Maxxine yells that she is breaking Nattie’s ankle next week. Bert and Otis touch bellies to finish the segment as Corey wonders how Tozawa has the best grasp on the English language out of the three men.

Penta vs Big Bronson Reed (with WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman, Logan Paul and Austin Theory)

I have a sneaky feeling this doesn’t end in a clean manner. Cole implies that Penta is in trouble because Lee was destroyed earlier tonight and Rey Mysterio was injured at the Rumble. Penta should make more friends. Reed takes down Penta with elbows. Penta’s able to rana his way back into things for a minute, knocking Reed to the outside and leaping onto him, giving us the Penta strut to take us to break.

After the break, Reed has a headlock on Penta in the ring. Penta dodges a running Reed and runs right into his fist. Reed sentons Penta for a two and then pounds away on him. We get a few minutes of Reed pounding on Penta before Penta finally battles back, chopping and super kicking Reed. Penta hits a flying DDT for a two count. Reed powerslams Penta for a two, then Penta offers more chops and a backstabber for his own two count. Theory creeps up on the apron and is super kicked off, Legan is knocked down and the ref is knocked in the crossfire. Penta leaps on Theory and Logan on the outside, then sets up a Destroyer but falls into the Jagged Edge. Reed hits the Tsunami but the referee is still down. Reed decides to grab a chair and L.A. Knight returns, hitting a BFT on Reed and escaping through the crowd again. Man, Pearce is bad at throwing people out of the building. The referee recovers and counts Reed out.

Penta defeats Bronson Reed by countout. This was a good match but also suffered from being about two minutes too long. I do like Knight sneaking in to keep attacking people.

Here’s a video package on WWE World Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer and Raquel Rodriguez. They’ll face off tonight.

Liv Morgan, wearing a “hot girls love Dominik Mysterio” shirt, is walking and we’ll talk to her next.

Celebrities! They love Raw! Bert Kreischer whips his shirt off again at ringside.

WWE Intercontinental Champion and AAA Mega Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio has returned to grace us all. Thank god. Tonight he has glasses, overalls and his moustache styled just right and this might be his best look yet. Corey: “Do you have any idea the effect Dom’s facial hair has on the opposite sex? Hell, the same sex?” The fans serenade him with the “Dirty, Dirty Dom” song. He tells us the only reason he’s willing to show up in a place like Philly is to celebrate and introduce the winner of the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble.

Liv Morgan joins us to a good ovation and runs out to leap into Dom’s arms. The fans serenade her with a “you deserve it” chant and they are correct. She thanks Daddy Dom for the intro and says we’re lucky to have him buck, but we’re in the presence of the greatest Royal Rumble winner of all-time. Who is she going to pick as her WrestleMania opponent? We’re going to have to wait because she says it is a big decision and she’s even going to SmackDown this week to assess her options. She knows that tonight we’re crowning a new Women’s World Champion and introduces “my best friend, my sister” Raquel Rodriguez. Raquel says it has been a big week for the Judgment Day but there is something they haven’t addressed, why Liv eliminated Raquel. Liv knows Raquel isn’t selfish and now they both have title opportunities. “A win for one in the Judgment Day is a win for all, right?” Raquel agrees and tells Liv to stay in the back tonight and she will do it on her own. Liv says to say no more and she and Dom head to the back.

WWE Women’s World Title Philly Street Fight: WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer vs Raquel Rodriguez

They have changed Stephanie’s music for reasons. The great Alicia Taylor is back this week and gives us the championship introductions. Anything goes, win by pinfall or submission only. Raquel charges Stephanie and Raquel is dressed for a street fight, jeans and all. I always appreciate that. She pummels Vaquer with elbows in the corner and the fans immediately chant for tables. Stephanie rolls up Raquel for a one count and then is clotheslined down. Cole notes Raquel’s success in a Last Woman Standing match against Rhea Ripley in the past which is a good move. Vaquer pulls Raquel to ringside and drops a knee to Raquel’s neck on the apron. Stephanie springboards onto Raquel and tosses Raquel back in. Stephanie goes under the ring for some plundah, finding the Slim Jim Table and being ran over by Raquel. Raquel tosses Stephanie into the barricade and sets up the Slim Jim Table. Stephanie leaps onto Raquel from the steps, Raquel catches her and powerbombs her through the Slim Jim Table to send us to a break.

After that break, Raquel has Stephanie’s ankle trapped between the ring post and stairs and stomps it in between. Raquel grabs a chair and swings, Stephanie ducking and smacking Raquel with a kendo stick. Raquel throws the hood of the announce table into Raquel’s face and pulls her up for a Tejana Bomb, Vaquer grabbing the ropes. Raquel tosses Stephanie face-first into the ring post and back into the ring as the chyron advertises the newest wave of Terrifier x Rhea Ripley tees. Raquel sets up a chair in the corner, it falls. Vaquer hits a home run shot with the kendo stick and tries for the Devil’s Kiss, Raquel powering her onto her shoulders and dropping her face-first into the ropes instead. Raquel rolls out and Vaquer tries to chase, Raquel knocking her in the head with a trash can. Raquel rolls out and throws six more chairs into the ring. Stephanie leaps onto her with a crossbody, Raquel catches and tosses her onto the chairs with a fallaway slam. Raquel tries for a corkscrew Vader bomb and misses, giving Stephanie the chances to Devil’s Kiss her onto a few of the chairs. Vaquer rolls Raquel out and does another Devil’s Kiss, this time on top of the steel steps to send us to a third segment.

We return to Raquel crotch chopping the crowd. She unstacks another set of the steps and runs at Stephanie who kicks her and bounces Raquel’s head off the steps. Stephanie dragon screws Raquel and limps over to a trash can, favoring her injured ankle. She sticks the can over Raquel’s head and double knees her, still only able to get a two count. “This is awesome,” chants the crowd. Raquel lariats Vaquer and grabs the trash can, bouncing it into Stephanie’s arms and kicking her down for a two.  Rodriguez goes for more plunder and finds a second Slim Jim Table, sliding it into the ring and kicking the chairs out. Raquel tries to Tejana Bomb Stephanie through the table, Vaquer wiggles out as Liv Morgan appears. Liv grabs the Women’s World Title and hands it to Raquel, Vaquer appears from behind to drive Raquel into a chair and onto the table. Roxanne Perez appears to try to knock Stephanie off the top rope, Raquel headbutts her through a Slim Jim Table at ringside. Raquel pulls Stephanie to the top rope, Stephanie ranas Raquel through the table and hits a corkscrew splash, getting the three.

Stephanie Vaquer pins Raquel Rodriguez to retain the WWE Women’s World Title. This might have been Stephanie’s best match since winning the belt (which isn’t saying much with as little as they’ve done with her) but really, this was an another good performance for Rodriguez. She’s done a great job of reminding people of how much she has improved, but this might be the match to show people to take her seriously. Keep going with her. Opinions seem to be varied on this match, but I dug it.

Liv attacks after the replays, hitting an Oblivion on Vaquer and celebrating over her with Stephanie’s belt.

Here’s another look at Orlando. We’re hyping NXT hard. You can catch Niz’s great review right here on the Blog of Doom. Here’s a look at Finn’s years in NXT as well.

Next Monday, we’re in Cleveland. Maxxine Dupri faces Nattie and the WWE World Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Alpha Academy. Qualifying matches begin for Elimination Chamber as well.

A Range Rover pulls up and out walks OTC1 Roman Reigns. We walk with him from the vehicle to his thunderous entrance, Roman throwing something towards Bobby Roode on his way through Gorilla. Fingers are raised. The fans sing “Roman, Roman Reigns” and he asks Philly to acknowledge him. He won his first WWE Championship here on his daughter’s birthday but also lost his last one here. He won his first Royal Rumble here too and the fans cheer. “It didn’t sound like that,” he laughs. Now having won his second Rumble, he’s back in Philly and he has a decision to make. Does he go after the title that he made – the fans chant for CM Punk – “so you don’t want me to go after Drew McIntyre or do you prefer CM Punk?” Punk gets the loud ovation of course.

“Cult of Personality” brings out WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. Punk addresses the camera and Finn Balor, Roman looking at him confused. “You must have rung your bell or something, you’re coming out here interrupting my segment talking to Finn Balor?” Punk notes that Roman is a visitor on his show and he calls the shots. Punk asks the fans about Reigns vs McIntyre and they boo. They cheer the idea of Reigns vs Punk. He tells Roman to go ahead and take the easy way out and pick Drew.

Roman says he doesn’t like the guy, but Punk is talking crazy. “Hey Phil, I don’t know if you realize this, but Drew is like four times bigger than you and I’m pretty sure last time y’all fought he had you crying over a little plastic bracelet.” Punk says he beat Drew in Hell in a Cell and put him in the dirt. Roman: “I beat Drew for like three years straight.” Roman reminds Punk that his family is the only reason that Punk had a show and company to come back to and to keep them out of his mouth. He heard Roman go on McAfee’s show and that nobody has stepped up into his shoes. Punk remembers being champion for 434 days with Paul Heyman by his side, something Roman also did (but longer). Roman chooses to be a part-timer and Punk chooses to go to ten countries in three weeks. He chose to bring Roman into the company with the rest of the Shield and he’s proud of Roman for learning from the best.

Roman says Punk is making all these towns because he took a ten-year vacation. “I’d be trying to get it in as much as possible too.” Roman laughs about the idea of learning from Punk, saying the only thing he learned was what not to do. “Two years ago, or whatever that was when they wanted to sign you back, who do you think they came to?” “I’ll never forget ten years ago when you went on your little best friend’s podcast running your mouth, making my life harder than it ever should have been.” He came back and took his Wiseman and almost brainwashed him, mocking Zebros – rude – and saying he could pick Punk because he’s the biggest star and on Netflix. “I hate you, I’ve always hated you and WrestleMania’s going to be the best day of my life because in the main event you will acknowledge me.” Mic toss and that’s how we end things as the credits roll. Hell of a promo on both men’s part. It didn’t exactly do much to build up Drew, but that’s something they will hopefully do on SmackDown.

A really, really good show tonight. The Women’s Title was the best match by a good stretch, but the others weren’t bad either. Roman/Punk immediately feels like a giant deal, they made Oba Femi look like a megastar and continued to make Gunther look like a killer. I recommend watching the majority of this one. Best episode in a while.

Good evening and welcome to another edition of Monday Night Raw. This week, we’re making a trip to Canada before boarding the plane for the big weekend of SmackDown and the Rumble in Saudi. We have no football AND Raw is airing at its usual time tonight, so maybe it’ll be an interesting one.

Happy Monday to you! We’re on the road to the Royal Rumble with very little announced, but before that we have this international tour, early start times and Saturday Night’s Main Event ahead of us. With two weeks to the Rumble, you’d think tonight would start some heavy build to the show and give Raw a little more to do on SNME.

Schönen Montag and welcome to another edition of the Raw Review. After Friday’s SmackDown in Berlin, the road to the Royal Rumble continues with exclusively international shows through the big event (excluding NXT). This week, Raw comes to us very early in the U.S. with a trip to Düsseldorf,  Germany. Düsseldorf, of course, has brought us Kraftwerk.

Tonight, it is the one-year anniversary of Raw moving to Netflix. It’s also Stranger Things Raw, a crossover between WWE and the biggest hit of Netflix and one of the biggest hits of the modern times in Stranger Things. Will Vecna be revealed as the real Tribal Chief? Will Delightful Derek join Judgment Day?

Tonight, for the final time in 2025, Raw is War! It’s a big show from Orlando tonight with two title matches and, as always, The Vision. So much Vision.

Happy Monday to you! It’s a taped edition of Raw this week as the talent is on Christmas break, so let’s give this the ol’ taped Raw energy.

Almost 24 hours after John Cena’s Final Match, the wrestling world moves on with another Monday night and another edition of Monday Night Raw. Tonight, Gunther gloats, a classic tag rivalry is renewed, and I imagine we have a tribute or two to the leader of the Cenation.

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.

It’s the first of the month – go pay rent!  Monday night has rolled around again, this time hot off the heels of a Survivor Series that some have called “not good” (Scott) and others have said “I’ve only watched half of it” (me).  Triple H promises that tonight’s Raw will be “epic.” Has he ever lied to us before? (Yes.)

It’s the last Raw before Survivor Series. We’ll find two more winners in the Last Time is Now Tournament, the men battle for the WarGames advantage, and perhaps we’ll have a women’s match after not having one on SmackDown.

It is being billed as the final Raw appearance ever for John Cena.  That’s all the intro this review needs.

Your time is up, Raw’s time is now. Tonight, Monday Night Raw is in Boston. My part of the country is under a freeze warning tonight, but you’ll never catch me in the next man’s sweater.