This week’s WWE Raw featured Jey Uso facing Bronson Reed, a big 8-woman tag team match, a Gunther-CM Punk discussion, and more.
It’s WWE Monday Night Raw from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The commentary team was Michael Cole and Corey Graves. The ring announcer was Alicia Taylor.
Raw started with the WWE crew on the stage while a graphic said, “In Memory of Hulk Hogan 1953-2025.” Triple H spoke while Hulk’s son Nick was there, along with Eric Bischoff and others who were close to Hogan. The speech that played was the one that Triple H said on SmackDown because Triple H wasn’t shown talking at Raw. There was a 10-bell salute for Hogan.
A tribute video aired for Hulk Hogan, showcasing numerous images and videos from his legendary career. It also featured clips of others discussing Hogan’s legacy.
Jey Uso made his entrance from the back part of the arena, but not from the steps where he usually comes from because Jey was on the stage for the Hogan tribute earlier. The WWE Hall of Famer, Paul Heyman, made his entrance to huge boos. Paul said he wasn’t there to be disrespectful to Jey. Heyman said he wanted to speak from the heart about family. Jey stared at Paul, so Paul stayed on the floor rather than go into the ring. Heyman said he can’t believe that Jey would agree to team with Roman Reigns at SummerSlam against Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. Heyman told Jey that family is always going to let you down. Heyman kept on walking backward as he said that family will get you in trouble. There were “OTC” chants for Roman Reigns. Heyman wondered if your mother told you that Santa Claus left the presents under the tree and he said your mother lied to you. Heyman told the same thing to the fans. Heyman said not his Jewish family, though. Heyman told Jey that his father Rikishi lied to Jey as well because he didn’t want Jey to be more iconic than him. Heyman said that Roman Reigns picked Solo Sikoa as his successor, not Jey. Heyman said if Reigns told Jey that he wants Jey to be rich and famous as Reigns then Reigns lied to him too. Heyman told Jey that he loved him, so the fans booed that because they didn’t believe Paul. Heyman said that he loved Jey just like family…yeet. The fans chanted “Bullshit” at Heyman.
Jey Uso said that family is why he’s here. Jey said that he’s going to support his family every time and that Bloodline still runs deep in his veins. Jey said that Heyman is disrespecting him talking about what Jey can do without Roman. Jey said that he won the World Heavyweight Championship to prove it to himself. Jey said that they brought Heyman to Jey’s family. Jey said that Heyman screwed his cousin at WrestleMania, then Paul’s boys screwed Jey out of his World Title, so whatever happens tonight and at SummerSlam is on Paul’s ass…yeet. Jey said that we’re gonna run this shit back and Jey’s music played as he did some more Yeeting with the fans.
Match #1: AJ Styles, Asuka & Kairi Sane defeated The Judgment Day – Dominik Mysterio, Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez by pinfall. The heels worked over Sane for most of the match. Styles got the hot tag against Dom and the fans went wild. Styles hit a leaping clothesline on Dominik and a Ushigoroshi slam onto the knee. Perez stood in front of Dominik, so Styles stopped himself and Styles hit a Pele Kick on Dom. Asuka kicked Perez and Raquel on the floor. Sane ran the ropes and Styles launched Sane over the top with an Insane Elbow on the floor. Styles hit a Phenomenal Forearm on Dom for the pinfall win. The fans were on fire for the last few minutes.
Sheamus was interviewed by Jackie Redmond earlier in the day. Sheamus said it was an old school banger, and as Big E would say, it was big, meaty men slapping meat. Grayson Waller and The New Day interrupted. Waller bragged about how he dumped Austin Theory as an ally. Waller said that The New Day has his back now, while New Day didn’t seem to have his back. Sheamus wondered if Waller wanted to fight. Sheamus said that’s music to his ears and primed for a Banger Beatdown. Sheamus said it’s banger after banger after banger. When Waller turned around, The New Day was gone.
Match #2: Sheamus defeated Grayson Waller by pinfall. Sheamus beat on Waller with 10 forearms to the chest. Sheamus wanted more, but Rusev was on the apron, so Sheamus knocked him down with a punch. Waller got a rollup for two. Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick for the pinfall win. It went about 5 minutes.
After the match, Rusev went into the ring with the shillelagh that Sheamus uses. Rusev hit Sheamus in the back with the shillelagh a few times. Rusev applied the Accolade submission. It took three referees to get Rusev to stop. Rusev stood tall over a fallen Sheamus.
The Women’s World Champion Naomi was interviewed by Jacie Redmond, who mentioned Naomi will be against Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky at SummerSlam. Naomi said that Rhea won’t be the only one bringing the brutality and Naomi will fly high like Sky. Naomi did a crazy laugh saying she didn’t care who you throw at her. Naomi said she’ll take everybody out. Naomi said don’t be shocked because you’ve all been warned to proceed with caution.
A Hulk Hogan video aired featuring comments from people that were at SmackDown and some from Raw. There were comments from Logan Paul, AJ Styles, Jimmy Hart, Natalya, The Miz, and Cody Rhodes.
Bronson Reed was backstage with Paul Heyman, who told Reed that Jey Uso’s family thinks that this is now a group without a leader since Seth Rollins is injured. Bron Breakker walked in saying he’s a leader and we’ve got this. Bron said that they’re going to restore total power in all of WWE and it starts with Reed tonight. Reed said that starting tonight he’s gong to leave Jey Uso and any member of his family down, out and Tsunami’d. Reed walked away. Heyman said that works. Bron said he has a plan.
Lyra Valkyria made her entrance for a promo. Lyra mentioned the giant shoes she was wearing and said she calls these Becky Stompers. Lyra said in one week she’ll either be here as the two-time Women’s Intercontinental Title or without the title because she won’t be able to challenge Lynch again. Lyra said that she knows that Becky Lynch doesn’t like playing by the rules, which is how Lynch beat Lyra for the title. Lyra said that you can’t break rules if there are no rules to be broken. Lyra spoke about how Lynch doesn’t know what Lyra is capable of, but Lyra will go to a place she’s never gone before.
Becky Lynch’s music played and Lyra realized that Lynz was behind her, so Lyra hit Lynch with a dropkick on the floor. Lyra used a kendo stick to hit Lynch several times in the ribs and back. They went into the ring, Lynch got the kendo stick, Lyra fought back and Lynch bailed to the floor.
Sami Zayn was interviewed by Corey Graves earlier in the day. Zayn said that he is ready to be done with Karrion Kross because it’s impeding him. Zayn said that at SummerSlam he’ll put an end to it. Karrion Kross and Scarlett interrupted, so Graves left. Kross said that he had this idea that he would blast Zayn across his ribs again because then Zayn wouldn’t make it to Summerslam, which doesn’t work for Kross. Kross said that after he beats Zayn at SummerSlam, he wants Zayn to say Kross told the truth and then Kross will go away. Kross said with everybody else, he was able to change them, but he hasn’t done that with Zayn yet. Kross said Zayn isn’t better than anybody else and Kross had his steel pipe that he gave to Zayn. Zayn wondered what Kross thinks. Zayn said if Kross beats Zayn at SummerSlam then he’ll say what Kross wants him to say. Zayn said maybe you’re wrong about yourself. Zayn said that when he beats Kross at SummerSlam, he wants Kross to say that he (referring to Kross) was wrong. Zayn gave Kross his steel pipe back and left.
Bayley was interviewed by Jackie Redmond backstage. Jackie mentioned Bayley isn’t on the SummerSlam card. Bayley said that she lost her opportunity for the Intercontinental Title and lost her opportunity for the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Bayley said she was at a loss for words. Bayley looked sad and left.
Match #3:Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Stephanie Vaquer & Nikki Bella defeated Naomi, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven & Alba Fyre by pinfall. Sky hit a missile dropkick on Naomi. Niven was back up with a double clothesline and a mockery of Sky’s taunt. Ripley battled the powerhouse Niven and hit a headbutt. Ripley hit Riptide on Niven. Green slapped Ripley. Vaquer was back in and hit SVB onto the knee on Green for the pinfall win.
The Judgment Day was shown in their clubhouse. Finn Balor tried to cheer up Dominik Mysterio, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez about how they have all this gold and how they have survived as a team. JD McDonagh said that they’re going to beat up the LWO. Balor told Dom they didn’t need help. Roxanne suggested that Dom plays WWE 2K25 with her. Raquel mentioned that Liv Morgan loves video games too, so Dom said let’s Facetime her.
There was a backstage scene featuring Rhea Ripley, Nikki Bella, Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer. They were happy about their win. Iyo Sky pulled Rhea Ripley toward her. Ripley said she’s finally going to have Sky’s number as a way of saying she’ll beat Sky. Iyo said that Rhea never beat her and never will. Ripley: “We’ll see about that.” Rhea left.
Match #4: World Tag Team Championships: The Judgment Day – Finn Balor & JD McDonagh defeated LWO – Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro by pinfall. El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) showed up at ringside, Cruz was distracted by him and Dragon Lee showed up to fight with Grande. Balor got an inside cradle for two. Cruz kicked Balor and kicked JD on the apron. Wilde hit a somersault dive off the top onto JD on the floor. There was somebody in a mask who tripped up Wilde on the top rope. The referee never saw it. Balor hit a Coup de Grace double foot stomp on Wilde for the pinfall win.
Rusev was interviewed by Byron Saxton in the skybox. This was during a break for some fans. Rusev said that Sheamus is a backstabbing snake. Rusev said that next week on Raw, he’s coming to break Sheamus’ mind, body and spirit. Rusev said that he will finally celebrate his day and the camera zoomed in on his face.
The World Heavyweight Champion Gunther made his entrance in street clothes. Gunther said that last week was a clean victory for him. Gunther bragged about going toe to toe with the best talker in the business and supposedly best in the world, so the fans chanted “CM Punk” at him. Gunther told Punk what’s going to happen at SummerSlam and he left the Voice of the Voiceless speechless. Gunther said that he made Punk understand that he doesn’t deserve to call himself the Best in the World and he made CM Punk realize he won’t be the World Champion. Gunther said he made CM Punk shut the hell up.
CM Punk made his entrance to confront his SummerSlam opponent as the fans sang along to the “Cult Of Personality” song. CM Punk got in the ring to say that he was dumbfounded last week, not speechless. Punk said it dawned on him standing across the ring, across from somebody as great as Gunther. Punk claimed it dawned on him he didn’t need to be World Heavyweight Champion…I need to be World Heavyweight Champion. Punk said he needs the title like he needs air to breathe, blood in his veins and like the Detroit Red Wings need a Stanley Cup. Punk said that he understands addiction because wrestling is his addiction. Punk said that he needs the World Heavyweight Title as a thank you to the people who chanted his name for over 10 years. The fans chanted “CM Punk” for him. Punk said it means the world to them and it means a lot to him. Punk NEEDS to be World Heavyweight Champion. Punk said Gunther is here, saying Punk doesn’t deserve to call himself the Best In The World. Punk said that he earned the right to call himself that. Punk said he earned the right to be arrogant about it. Punk said that Gunther can’t back it up, while Punk has beaten Hall of Famers and top superstars. Gunther wanted Punk to shut up. Punk told Gunther that there are levels to this, but Gunther is not on his level. Punk said on Saturday night, he’s leaving the World Heavyweight Championship, but at least Gunther will finally learn what it’s like to be in the ring with the Best in the World…CM Punk – the fans chanted his name. Punk left to cheers while Gunther was frustrated.
Who Happened In WWE Raw’s Main Event?
Match #5: Jey Uso defeated Bronson Reed (w/Paul Heyman) by disqualification. Jey hit a suicide dive onto Reed on the floor. Bron Breakker showed up and hit a Spear on Jey on the floor. It went about 7 minutes. Awesome Spear by Bron there.
Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed beat up Jey with punches. Roman Reigns made the save. Reigns did a necksnap on Reed across the top rope. Reigns clotheslined Bron across the ring. Reigns sent Reed shoulder-first into the turnbuckle. Reigns helped cousin Jey back up. Jey superkicked Bron off the apron. Reigns hit a Superman Punch to knock Reed off the apron and to the floor. Reigns and Jey went for attacks on the floor, but Bron hit a spear on Reigns while Reed nailed Jey with a clothesline on the floor. Reed held Jey in the ring, so Bron ran the ropes and hit another Spear on Jey. Bron held Jey, while Reed went up top and Reed hit a Tsunami splash on Jey. There was nobody at ringside trying to break this up. Bron jumped off the apron and hit Reigns with a clothesline over the commentary table. Bron put Reigns into the ring. Reed went up top and hit a Tsunami on Reigns. Reed stood tall over Reigns. Bron said that this used to be Roman’s ring, but this ring is Bron’s ring now. Bron said that they own this camera and the fans in the arena bark for him. Bron threw Reigns out of the ring. Bron and Reed stood tall in the ring.
Bron Breakker left the ring and hit a double Spear on Reigns and Jey through the barricade. That was amazing. Reed said that this is theirs now. Reed took Roman’s white sneakers off and said they are his sneakers now. Bron and Reed stood tall in the ring with Heyman. That was the end of Raw.
This week’s Raw had a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes on Netflix.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.