This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas! Penta faces off with Pete Dunne. Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre battle in the main event. Raw’s newest roster member Bayley wrestle Nia Jax. Jey Uso and Gunther trade words, and more!
We break it all down in this week’s WWE Raw recap!
We Hear From Jey Uso
Jey Uso welcomes the crowd to WWE Raw. Gunther’s music hits. They address their upcoming title match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. Gunther says he was excited to face Uso until he saw him acting like a dork. He claims that Uso never follows up with his word. Gunther calls Uso a useful idiot for how much he helps Sami Zayn and Jimmy Uso. He also states that his words and actions don’t align. Gunther says he’ll expose Uso as a flash in a pan when he beats him at WWE SNME.
Uso says everything Gunther said is true. He labels himself a mascot, with the WWE Universe as a team. Uso says he respects Gunther, and soon he’ll make him respect Uso back. Uso says only one of them will main event WrestleMania, and it’s not Gunther. Uso and Gunther begin brawling, with Uso sending Gunther flying out of the ring with a superkick. He then takes the World Heavyweight Championship and poses with it. Gunther picks it back up and retreats.
Backstage, Kofi Kinston and Xavier Woods see JBL. Kingston confirms JBL as the guest commentator for his upcoming match. He then places money in the JBL’s pocket as encouragement for him to be on their side tonight. JBL, however, makes it clear that he isn’t on their side.
Backstage, Bayley confirms herself as an official member of Raw and an entrant into the 2025 Royal Rumble. Nia Jax interrupts her and proclaims herself as the winner of the Rumble. Bayley dares Jax to fight her right now. Jax says she’ll see her later tonight.
Rey Mysterio vs. Kofi Kingston
Kingston and Woods have their music cut off. They declare themselves as walking Hall of Famers and say they don’t deserve to be disrespected by the WWE Universe. Kingston takes his money back from JBL, who is seated as ringside. The crowd chants “New Day Sucks.”
Kingston and Mysterio lock up. Kingston knocks down Mysterio with a shoulder tackle. Mysterio responds with a hurricanrana. He sets Kingston up for a 619, but Kingston moves out of the way, Kingston then drops him on the apron. Back in the ring, Kingston stomps away at him in the corner. Mysterio whips him into the corner. Kingston responds with a series of kicks. Kingston and Mysterio travel to the outside. Kingston kicks him in the gut and slams him against the apron. Mysterio sends him flying into the ring post via a hurricanrana.
Back from break, Mysterio drops Kingston on the mat. Mysterio misses a springboard crossbody, allowing Kingston to hit a sunset flip. Mysterio counters into a pinfall for a two count. Kingston pokes Mysterio’s eye, then descends off the top with a splash. Kingston looks for Trouble in Paradise. Mysterio sets up for 619, but Woods sweeps him off his feet. The referee ejects Woods.
Mysterio sets up 619 again and hits it. Mysterio then looks for a springboard, but Kingston counters it into a cover for a two count. Mysterio rolls up Kingston for the win.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
After the match, Woods attacks Mysterio. Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro run down to make the save, prompting Kingston and Woods to initially retreat. The New Day sneakily return and slam Del Toro into the ring post.
Backstage, Chad Gable says he went to Dominik Mysterio about his “luchador problem.” Ivy Nile notes her interest in the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, while The Creed Brothers plan to pursue the War Raiders for the tag titles.
We Hear From Sami Zayn
Zayn announces his entry into the Men’s Royal Rumble. He then reflects on what he wants and his 14-year-old self. Zayn says he is within the upper echelon of WWE Superstars, who all have world titles to their name, except himself. Zayn says he doesn’t need a world title to complete himself, but he wants it.
Kevin Owens’ music plays. Owens says Zayn has forgiven him, just like Zayn has also forgiven Roman Reigns. Owens calls Zayn his best friend. He also believes Zayn will win the Royal Rumble. Owens makes it clear that he wants to face off with Zayn for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Owens further asserts that he has Zayn’s back at the Royal Rumble, just like Zayn will have his in his title match against Cody Rhodes.
Backstage, Sheamus says the Intercontinental Championship is the first title that drew him to WWE. Still, he has yet to win it. At WWE SNME, he hopes to change that by dethroning Bron Breakker. Breakker approaches Sheamus and vows to break him. Sheamus shoves him.
Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Bayley rains down with right hands in the corner. Jax hoists Bayley on her shoulder, only for Bayley to counter with a DDT. Jax headbutts Bayley in the chest, then chokes her against the ring ropes. Bayley fires off elbow strikes before planting Jax with a back suplex. Jax delivers a sit-down uranage. She begins clubbing the ropes, but Bayley pushes her to the outside. Bayley follows up with a dive. Roxanne Perez, sitting in the front row, tries to hit Bayley. Bayley knocks her down. Security drags Perez away.
Back from break, Bayley nails Jax with an elbow drop for a near fall. Jax targets Bayley’s arm, but misses a leg drop on it. Bayley launches Jax into the ring post via a sunset flip. The referee begins counting. Jax returns to the ring at the count of eight. Bayley hits an Annihilator, then an elbow drops for near falls. Jax plants Bayley with a shoulder breaker. She crushes her in the corner, then rams her into the ring post. Jax ascends the ropes, but Bayley sweeps her off her feet. Bayley connects with a running knee for a near fall.
Bayley ascends the ropes. Jax meets her there. Bayley hits a sunset flip and an flying elbow for another near fall. Bayley looks for a Bayley to Belly, but Jax shoves her off. Jax follows up with a senton and an Annihilator for the win.
Winner: Nia Jax
Post-match, Rhea Ripley charges after Nia Jax. Security initially separate them until Jax leaps at Ripley. Ripley recovers and fires off strikes at Jax. Jax sweeps her off her feet, then slams Ripley’s head on the announce table. Ripley dives off the table, taking out Jax and several WWE officials. Ripley grabs a mic and declares a title match between herself and Jax at WWE SNME.
Backstage, Dominik Mysterio hands Chad Gable a piece of paper that will help him with his “luchador problem.” Mysterio then offers to replace Finn Balor and a tag title rematch with JD McDonagh. Liv Morgan says she hopes their plan goes better then his for her match with Rhea Ripley went.
Backstage, Sami Zayn says he appreciates the words Seth Rollins gave him last week. Rollins says he’s almost rooting for Zayn, but come Royal Rumble, he plans to eliminate him.
Pete Dunne vs. Penta
Dunne and Penta trade strikes. Penta takes Dunne off his feet with a kick to the knee. Dunne knocks him to the floor in return. He then targets his hand and elbow. Penta whips him into the corner. Dunne does the same with an added enziguri. Penta looks for a dive, but Dunne blocks it with a punch. He then slams Penta onto the apron.
Back from break, Dunne connects with a flying elbow. He looks for a second, but Penta ducks, subsequently hitting a slingblade. Penta drops Dunne onto the mat for a near fall. Penta follows up with a Mexican Destroyer and a dive to the outside. Both men are momentarily down. They return to the ring, where Dunne drops Penta on his head for a near fall. Dunne and Penta again trade strikes. Dunne traps Penta in a triangle choke, which Penta reverses into a backbreaker. He finishes off Dunne with The Sacrifice and the Penta Driver for the win.
Winner: Penta
Logan Paul appears in a video package. Michael Cole confirms that Paul will be back in person next week.
We Hear From CM Punk
Punk is with Jackie Redmond for an interview in the stands. He says he is a maker of history, as proven by beating Seth Rollins on the Netflix premiere of Raw. Punk further declares that he’ll outlast 29 other men in the Royal Rumble. He mentions John Cena, whom he can’t see throwing him over the top. Punk throws verbal jabs at Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, and Hulk Hogan. He says he’ll call in a favor if he needs to at the Royal Rumble, but at the end of the day, he will stand tall.
Dakota Kai & IYO SKY vs. Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler (w/ Sonya Deville)
Kai rolls up Baszler for a one count. Stark rocks Kai with a missile dropkick, then applies a headlock. Stark tags in Baszler. The two work together to take down Kai. Baszler targets Kai’s leg with a submission. Baszler tags in Stark. Kai fends off Stark, then pushes Baszler to the outside, paving the way for her to tag in SKY. SKY takes out both Baszler and Stark. She ascends the top rope and descends with a missile dropkick on Stark. SKY nails Stark with a pair of knees in the corner.
Kai wipes out Deville on the outside. Baszler clotheslines Kai in return. Back in the ring, Stark drives SKY into the mat for a near fall. Baszler delivers a running knee to SKY. Kai rocks Stark with a running kick, only for Baszler to then level her. SKY goes up top and hits a moonsault on Baszler for the win.
Winners: IYO SKY & Dakota Kai
Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
McIntyre and Rollins exchange shoves, then chops. McIntyre knocks Rollins to the mat. Rollins responds with more chops. McIntyre stomps on him, then chops him again. Rollins sends his opponent over the top rope, then rocks him with a suicide dive. McIntyre catches him on the second one, then launches him across the announce table.
Back from break, McIntyre and Rollins exchange strikes again. McIntyre elbows him in the corner. Rollins rolls McIntyre up for a two count. Rollins fires off more blows, then drives McIntyre into the ring posts. He stomps McIntyre for a near fall. Rollins hits a springboard senton for another near fall. McIntyre rocks him with an elbow. Rollins meets him up top and descends with a superplex. McIntyre bounces back with a driver for a near fall. McIntyre looks for a Claymore, but Rollins evades it. McIntyre slams Rollins into the mat. Rollins connects with a superkick and a Falcon Arrow.
McIntyre and Rollins counter each other’s finishers until the latter lays out the former with a clothesline. McIntyre goes up top, but Rollins catches him on the descent. Rollins locks in a crossface. McIntyre reaches the rope to break it. McIntyre spikes Rollins with a Future Shock DDT, then follows up with a lariat. Rollins rolls up McIntyre for the win.
Winner: Seth Rollins
After the match, McIntyre fires off right hands on Rollins. Rollins tries to fight back, but instead receives a Claymore. McIntyre sets Rollins’ head up against the ring post. Sami Zayn runs down and rams McIntyre into the steel steps. McIntyre regains his footing and sends Zayn crashing into the barricade. McIntyre corners Rollins in the ring. Zayn charges in with a Helluva Kick. McIntyre sidesteps, causing Rollins to eat the kick instead.