This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Omaha, Nebraska! Jey Uso defends the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Seth Rollins. Roxanne Perez takes on Giulia. Rusev returns to WWE action against Otis. Pat McAfee 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 dances and yeets with the crowd. He then calls out Logan Paul. Instead, Paul Heyman appears. Jey says Heyman has a lot of balls to step into the ring after what he recently did to Roman Reigns. Jey says he warned his cousins and CM Punk about Heyman previously, but no one listened. Heyman says maybe someone should have warned him about Punk. Heyman claims that Punk put him in a position that would sabotage him and his relationship with Reigns. Heyman says he had a dream with Punk long before Reigns even entered a wrestling ring. Heyman says Reigns thought he’d sell the Bloodline secrets to Punk. Heyman asks why would he do that. Heyman says he turned an irrelevant Reigns into the ruler of WWE. Heyman says Reigns lost the title that Heyman had spent building for him, then left him in the hands of a rabid new Bloodline. Heyman says Reigns came back for the Ula Fala, but not him.
Heyman says he always gets blamed, but this time he’s in the right. Heyman says screw Jey Uso and the WWE Universe. Jey asks Heyman if he is okay. Heyman apologizes to Jey and says he didn’t come out here to talk about Punk and Reigns. Heyman did come out here to talk about Jey though. Heyman says his title is all about power and control, something Jey doesn’t know how to yield. Heyman says while Jey wants to be champion, Seth Rollins has to be champion and be in power. Heyman confirms that Rollins is coming after the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. He gives Jey the decision to choose the time and place for a title match. Jey chooses tonight in Omaha.
Backstage, Paul Heyman tells Seth Rollins that Jey Uso fell for their plan. Rollins says he told Heyman so.
Penta vs. JD McDonagh (w/ Finn Balor and Carlito)
Penta and McDonagh trade chops. McDonagh drops Penta with a back elbow. Penta stuns McDonagh with an enziguri on the ring apron. McDonagh answers back with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. McDonagh hurls Penta into the ring post before rolling him back into the ring. He hits a suplex and a Spanish Fly. As McDonagh distracts the referee, Carlito lands a cheap shot on Penta. Taking advantage, McDonagh perches Penta on the top rope, unleashing a flurry of right hands. He then drapes Penta by his knees over the top rope, setting up for a dropkick.
Penta moves out of the way, causing McDonagh to crash into the ring post. Penta hits a Bronco Buster. He then goes for the cover, but McDonagh kicks out. Penta connects with a series of forearms and a kick. He then follows up with a Sling Blade and a chop. Penta nails McDonagh with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, then drops Carlito with an enziguri as he tries to interfere. With momentum on his side, Penta tosses McDonagh out of the ring and soars with a top-rope crossbody. This wipes out both Carlito and McDonagh on the outside.
Finn Balor pulls Penta off the apron. The referee spots it and ejects both Balor and Carlito from ringside. Just as things seem to settle, Chad Gable appears and grabs Penta’s ankle. Penta dives onto Gable to take him out. The distraction gives McDonagh a chance to set up for a moonsault. Penta evades it and hits the Mexican Destroyer for the win.
Winner: Penta
Backstage, Grayson Waller offers Austin Theory his singles match tonight.
Sheamus vs. Austin Theory (w/ Grayson Waller)
Theory fires off strikes in the corner. Sheamus fights back uppercut. Theory dropkicks Sheamus. Sheamus responds with an axe handle. Sheamus lands an Irish Curse Backbreaker, then locks in the Cloverleaf submission. Theory crawls to the bottom rope to force the break. As the action spills to the outside, Sheamus leaps off the ropes and takes Theory down with a flying strike.
Back from break, Sheamus slams Theory to the mat. He rocks Theory with a jumping knee. Theory sends Sheamus shoulder first into the ring post. He then connects with a superkick and a blockbuster. Theory climbs to the top rope, but Sheamus cuts him off and counters with a White Noise from the second rope. Sheamus follows up forearm strikes to Theory’s chest. He finishes Theory with a Brogue Kick.
Winner: Sheamus
Backstage, McDonagh says Penta and Chad Gable need to get a beating ASAP. Dominik Mysterio says he’ll take care of Penta at WWE Backlash. AJ Styles enters the frame and issues Mysterio a warning for his Intercontinental Championship.
Elsewhere, The New Day tell Chad Gable it’s about time he and American Made get some respect. Xavier Woods says opportunities need to come back to American Made as well. Becky Lynch walks through them.
We Hear From Becky Lynch
Lynch claims to be a victim. She says that while she may have taken out Bayley, the crowd erupted when she returned at WrestleMania 41, not because Bayley was gone, but because no one cared where she was. Lynch says she took out the garbage, aka Bayley. Turning her attention to Lyra Valkyria, Lynch calls her “recycling,” claiming everything Valkyria has, including the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, her dream of wrestling, and even her fiance, is thanks to her.
Lyra Valkyria’s music hits. Valkyria fires back, saying Lynch has been recycling the same act and moves for years. Valkyria refuses to let Lynch take credit for her rise. She reminds Lynch that while she was off on vacation, every woman got better. Valkyria made history by becoming the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Valkyria points out that she’s defended the title more days that Lynch has shown up to work this year. Valkyria says Lynch never had any intention of taking anyone to the top with her.
Lynch says everyone else had the best year of her career but only because they didn’t have to compete with her. Lynch calls herself the greatest to ever step foot in a ring. Lynch says Valkyria will only ever be the moment after the moment. Valkyria tells Lynch to keep listing accolades, but she’ll never be able to say she was the first Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Valkyria says as long as she’s here, Lynch will be second place.
The two begin brawling. Action spills to the outside. WWE officials rush in to separate them, but Valkyria breaks free and drops Lynch with Night Wing. She stands tall, raising the Women’s Intercontinental Championship high above her head.
IYO SKY vs. Roxanne Perez
SKY drops Perez with a shoulder tackle. Perez responds with a slap. SKY dropkicks Perez. Perez responds with one of her own, then stomps away at SKY. Perez launches herself through the ropes with a suicide dive. SKY answers with a suicide dive of her own.
Back from break, the two trade strikes. SKY connects with a kick for a near fall. Perez follows up with a missile dropkick. SKY stomps Perez’s midsection. Perez answers with a back suplex. SKY drops her with a backbreaker. Perez plants SKY into the mat with a kick to the back of her neck. Perez takes down SKY with a dragon screw. Perez and SKY trade multiple pinfall attempts until SKY gets Perez’s shoulders down for a three count.
Winner: IYO SKY
After the match, Perez shakes SKY’s hand. Giulia attacks SKY from behind. Perez laughs on from the ramp before joining Giulia in the ring. Perez kicks SKY in the head. Giulia then sets her up for another one.
Otis (w/ Akira Tozawa & Maxxine Dupri) vs. Rusev
Rusev and Otis lock up. Rusev fires off kicks in the corner. He then goes for a clothesline, but Otis is unaffected. Otis does the same. Rusev responds with a heel kick.
Back from break, Otis throws Rusev over the announce table, then into the steel steps. Rusev accidently kicks the ring post. Otis knocks him down with a punch. Otis and Rusev return to the ring. Rusev rocks Otis with a big boot. Rusev cinches in the Accolade. Otis taps.
Winner: Rusev
After the match, Akira Tozawa calls out Rusev to another match right now. Rusev leaves the ring. Tozawa tends to Otis. Rusev runs back into the ring and slams Tozawa. He then slams Otis into the ring posts, which causes Otis to roll out to the ring. Rusev dumps Otis back into the ring and kicks him. Rusev locks in the Accolade again. WWE officials run down to separate them.
We Hear From Pat McAfee and Gunther
Adam Pearce introduces McAfee and Gunther. Pearce tells them to get out all their words tonight, because the time for talk will be over at Backlash. Gunther says he is not going to get physical tonight because he is a professional. McAfee points to Michael Cole and calls him a legend. McAfee also points out that Cole has given his life for the company over the last 28 years. McAfee shouts out the city of Omaha.
McAfee says he and Gunther have a lot in common as they grew up with the same dream of wanting to be in the wrestling business. He says he and Gunther grew up spending hours and hours. McAfee says the problem with Gunther’s dream is that he has gotten jaded. McAfee says Gunther’s dream is now a job. McAfee says the people don’t like what Gunther is about. McAfee says Gunther has gotten too comfortable and doesn’t want it anymore. McAfee says Gunther will underestimate him at Backlash, but he vows to show that Gunther is soft and beat him.
Gunther says Saturday will be a very special day for him and McAfee has gotten him in the right mood for him. Gunther promises to give McAfee his full attention at Backlash because Gunther will maul him. Gunther vows to choke out McAfee as well. Gunther says tonight McAfee is untouchable, but his arms will be around his throat on Saturday. Gunther chucks the microphone at McAfee and leaves the ring.
WWE World Heavyweight Title: Jey Uso (c) vs. Seth Rollins (w/ Paul Heyman & Bron Breakker)
Rollins goes for a quick cover and gets a two count. He and Jey lock up. Rollins takes him down with a shoulder tackle. Jey looks for an enziguri, but Rollins ducks. Jey clocks Rollins with a slap. Rollins and Jey shove each other. Rollins looks for a Pedigree, but Jey escapes it. Jey attempts a kick, which Rollins ducks. Rollins fires off stomps in the corner. Jey connects with an uppercut, then sends Rollins over the top rope. Jey follows up with a suicide dive, which sends Rollins over the announce table.
Back from break, Rollins sits Jey atop the turnbuckle. Rollins meets him there and looks for a superplex. Jey knocks him down with a headbutt. Jey and Rollins collide with a double crossbody. Jey delivers a series of right hands and a Samoan Drop. Jey follows up with a hip attack in the corner. Rollins rolls out of the ring. Jey follows him. Rollins kicks him into the barricade, then takes him down with a suicide dive. Rollins leaps off the top, but Jey catches him with a superkick.
Jey charges in looking for a spear, but Rollins catches him with a kick. Rollins launches him into the turnbuckle, then scales the turnbuckle. Rollins looks for a Frog Splash but misses. Jey looks for a spear, but Rollins counters into a Pedigree. Rollins looks for a stomp. Jey dodges it and spears Rollins. He covers Rollins, but Rollins kicks out. Jey headbutts Rollins. Rollins goes down and distracts the referee. Breakker sweeps Jey off his feet on the turnbuckle. Rollins hits a superplex and a Falcon Arrow. Rollins connects with a stomp. Jey kicks out of his subsequent pinfall attempt. Sami Zayn’s music hits. Zayn leaps off the barricade and onto Breakker. They brawl on the outside, with Zayn driving Breakker into the ring post. Jey superkicks and spears Rollins. Jey descends with a Frog Splash for a near fall.
Jey checks on Zayn on the outside. Heyman distracts the referee, allowing Breakker to spear Jey. Rollins stomps Jey into the mat. CM Punk’s music hits. Punk levels Breakker on the outside. He then slides into the ring and slams a chair into Rollins’ back. Breakker slides into the ring, only to meet chair shots as well. Punk and Zayn stand tall in the ring as Rollins, Breakker, and Heyman retreat.
No Contest