This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Phoenix, Arizona! Jey Uso defends the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Gunther. The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments kick off. Nikki Bella returns to WWE TV. John Cena and CM Punk face off, and more.
We break it all down in this week’s WWE Raw recap!
We Hear From John Cena & CM Punk
Cena says the crowd teaches him something every time they open their mouths. At Money in the Bank, Cena learned that the truth is a lie. Cena says the crowd wasted their energy chanting for a guy who is pretending to be him, in reference to R-Truth. The Phoenix crowd chants “We want Truth.” Cena calls them spineless, keyboard warriors that have no real power to change anything. Cena says Truth is a gimmick and the crowd will not care about him in a year. Cena says this is his farewell tour and we are now halfway done with it. Cena tells the crowd to use their voice and send him competition. Cena points out that he has beaten the best that has been thrown at him.
CM Punk’s music hits. Punk says it is ironic that Cena has vows to ruin wrestling and ruin the establishment that made him who he is. Meanwhile, Punk is defending the establishment. Punk made it clear he is here to defend the people though. Punk asks if Cena is mad that the people didn’t pick him. Punk says Cody Rhodes is the best WWE has and Cena took shortcuts to beat him. Punk says the WWE Universe are his boss. Cena holds up his world title. Punk says if the people want the truth, they’ll get Ron Killings. Punk vows to prove that Cena is just a spoke on the wheel. Punk recalls their encounter at Elimination Chamber when Cena put him in the STF after Rollins stomped Punk. Punk points out that Cena felt bad afterward, and he knows what he’s doing now is wrong too. Punk promises to make Cena apologize for becoming the man he is now. Punk claims that the world title corrupted Cena. Punk says he needs to become a monster to stop the monster that is Cena.
Punk says the title is power and control and it belongs to the people. Punk says he is a Boston Red Sock more than Cena is a New York Yankee and tonight he’ll prove it. Cena teases a title match against Punk and agrees to do it at Night of Champions. Punk first has to accept the challenge. Seth Rollins and crew come out to the stage. He holds up his Money in the Bank briefcase.
Chad Gable (w/ Creed Brothers) vs. AJ Styles
Styles and Gable lock up and trade arm drags. Gable hits a drop toe hold then cinches in a headlock. Styles dropkicks Gable. Gable rolls out of the ring. Gable sweeps Styles off the apron then tosses him across the floor.
Back from break, Styles hits a spinning slam on Gable. Gable drops Styles with a German suplex, then leaps off the top with a flying headbutt. Gable goes back up top. Styles lifts him up and slams him to the mat. Brutus Creed distracts the referee, allowing Julius to pull Gable to the outside. Styles wipes out both Julius and Brutus. Styles looks for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Gable sweeps him off the ropes and transitions to the ankle look. Styles rolls through, but Gable keeps his grip. Styles kicks Gable off and follows up with a Styles Clash for the win.
Winner: AJ Styles
Backstage, Liv Morgan tells Roxanne Perez she will win the Queen of the Ring then beat IYO SKY for the Women’s World Championship. Perez offers to work together in their first round matchup. Morgan tells Perez to stay out of her way. Perez says may the best woman win.
Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals: Liv Morgan vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Kairi Sane vs. Rhea Ripley
Morgan shoves Perez. Sane and Perez then fight in a corner, with Ripley and Morgan in another. Morgan dropkicks Sane. Sane takes down both Perez and Morgan, then dropkicks them out of the ring. Ripley dropkicks Sane then covers her for a two count. Sane drives Ripley into the mat. Ripley boots her in the face, then sends Perez to the outside. Morgan and Sane double team Ripley. Morgan then hits Sane with a running knee. Ripley chokes Morgan with her legs. Perez separates Ripley and Morgan. Ripley pushes Perez to the outside. Perez sweeps Ripley off her head. Morgan hits a codebreaker on Ripley, while Perez then drops Ripley on her back. Morgan and Perez catch Sane mid-crossbody, then throw her onto Ripley on the outside.
Back from break, Sane elbows Morgan in the face, then hits another on her in the corner. Ripley dropkicks Perez. Morgan kicks Ripley then rocks her with a codebreaker. Sane breaks up Morgan’s cover on Ripley. Sane slams Perez to the mat, then goes up top. Morgan strikes Sane before she can hit an Insane Elbow. Perez and Morgan set up for a superplex, but Ripley drops them both to the mat. Sane connects with a flying forearm on Ripley. Ripley and Sane trade strikes. Sane kicks Ripley in the back of her neck, then stuns her. Morgan and Perez launches Ripley into the corner. Morgan stomps away at Ripley. Perez follows up with a kick. Morgan hits a backstabber on Sane, then tosses her out of the ring. Ripley reaches her feet and clotheslines Morgan and Perez.
She delivers a fallaway slam to Perez, then boots Sane. Ripley headbutts Perez. Morgan looks for Oblivion, but Ripley blocks it and hits a Riptide. Raquel Rodriguez pulls Ripley out of the ring when she tries to pin Morgan. Sane takes out Raquel and Ripley with a dive to the outside. Sane goes back up top and hits an Insane Elbow on Morgan. Perez interrupts Sane’s pinfall attempts and stacks up Sane for the win.
Winner: Roxanne Perez
Backstage, Nikki Bella introduces herself to IYO SKY. Nikki adds that she respects SKY for how she represents the title and the women’s division. SKY thanks Nikki.
We Hear From Becky Lynch
Lynch says she knows she deserves the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Lynch goes down the list of her accolades. She says her title is about opportunity, but the greatest opportunity it got was when she got it. Lynch welcomes the title to the big time as she is now the owner of it. Lynch says she should have been celebrating her win, but Lyra Valkyria ruined it. Lynch recalls Valkyria aggressively raising her hand, so much so that Lynch thought she dislocated her shoulder. Lynch claims Valkyria tried to kill her as well. Lynch then calls out Valkyria to apologize to her and then raise her hand properly. Valkyria makes her way out to the ramp. Bayley then atttacks Lynch from behind. Lynch rolls out of the ring, only for Valkyria to throw her back into it. Bayley looks for the Roseplant, but Lynch escapes through the crowd before she can hit it.
R-Truth hops up on the commentary desk in a hoodie. R-Truth tells the crowd to never let anyone tell them that they don’t matter. R-Truth says WWE heard, listened, and understood them. R-Truth says he is back because of the WWE Universe. R-Truth says he is back for all of the fans and for himself. Truth says we love R-Truth. He says Truth can be too funny and forgiving sometimes. He says now he feels different and alive. Truth says for anyone who thinks he is a lie or gimmick…then proceeds to cut off his hair. He then says the truth has set him free. He proclaims himself as Ron Killings before telling everyone to put some respect on his name.
Backstage, Dominik Mysterio says Roxanne Perez did a pretty good job in her match. Perez says she tried to help Morgan in their match. Morgan questions if that’s what she did before congratulating her on her win. Mysterio heads out for his King of the Ring tournament match.
King of the Ring Quarterfinals: Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Bron Breakker (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. Sami Zayn
Dominik rolls out of the ring, only for Penta to dive onto him. Breakker shoulder checks Zayn in the ring, then launches him across the ring. Breakker nails Penta with a backbreaker. He then turns Dominik inside out.
Back from break, Breakker tosses Dominik across the ring. Penta, Zayn, and Dominik triple team Breakker with a flurry of punches. Dominik tries to roll up Penta, but he kicks out. Penta takes him down with a hurricanrana and a stomp to Dominik’s chest. Zayn spikes Penta with a tornado DDT. Breakker lays in punches on Zayn, then chokes him against the ropes. Breakker stomps on Dominik. Zayn and Breakker trade strikes. Zayn takes Breakker down on the outside. Penta then dives onto Zayn. Dominik dives then DDTs Penta. Breakker sends Dominik crashing into the announce table.
Back from another break, Penta hits a running powerbomb on Dominik. Breakker goes up top and sends Zayn flying with a Frankensteiner. Penta and Breakker exchange blows. Penta drives Breakker into the mat with a DDT. Dominik throws Penta to the outside then covers Breakker for a two count. Dominik blocks a Blue Thunder Bomb and hits two suplexes on Zayn. Zayn bounces back with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Penta superkicks Zayn, then delivers the Sacrifice and a Penta Driver on Zayn. Penta takes down Dominik with a sling blade, then a Mexican Destroyer. Breakker breaks up Penta’s pinfall attempt. Breakker spears Penta on the outside. LA Knight hits the BFT on Breakker on the outside. Zayn hits the Helluva Kick on Dominik for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Backstage, AJ Styles says he can’t stop thinking about last week, with Seth Rollins and crew costing him his MITB qualifier. Styles says if one disrespects them, he’ll punch them in the mouth.
Cathy Kelley approaches The New Day about their next title defense. Kofi Kingston says we should be thankful we have champions like them. Xavier Woods says we should pray to god for The New Day.
We Hear From Nikki Bella
Nikki says she missed the Bella Army and thanks the crowd for their cheers. Nikki brings up WWE Evolution and recalls main-eventing the first edition of it. Nikki says there is so much talent in the women’s division now and the talents of the past could not be more proud of them. Liv Morgan storms down and says Nikki better include her name in the conversation of the best women today. Morgan recalls her world title reign last year and now being a women’s tag team champion. Morgan claims Nikki didn’t mention her out of jealousy.
Morgan points out that she has a championship and a man. Nikki questions who Dominik Mysterio belongs to, Morgan or Roxanne Perez. As Nikki goes to leave the ring, Morgan says she is still a champion and all Nikki will ever be is a Reality Show diva. Nikki gets back into the ring, only to be hit with an Oblivion.
WWE World Heavyweight Title: Jey Uso (c) vs. Gunther
Gunther and Jey lock up, with Jey locking in a sleeper hold. Gunther fights out of it by backing Jey into a corner. Jey goes for another one, only for Gunther to push him off. Gunther then dodges a superkick.
Back from break, Jey leaps off the top with a splash. Gunther kicks him in the midsection twice, then rips off Jey’s shirt. Gunther follows up with a backbreaker and a stomp. Jey fires back with right hands. Gunther responds with a suplex. Gunther knees Jey in the midsection, then delivers another kick. Jey doubles over, clutching his stomach. Gunther launches him into the turnbuckle. Jey goes for another sleeper hold before transitioning into a German suplex. Jey charges in with a spear, but Gunther counters into a sleeper. Jey shoves him to the outside, then goes for a dive. Gunther intercepts and eventually lays out Jey with a suplex on the outside.
Back from another commercial, Jey drives Gunther into the mat with a suplex of his own. Gunther and Jey trade strikes. Jey rocks Gunther with an enziguri and a hip attack. Jey counters a sleeper hold by pulling Gunther over the top rope. Jey wipes him out with a suicide dive through the ropes. Gunther rolls Jey back into the ring, then looks for a headbutt, but Jey gets his knees up to block it. Jey spears Gunther. He then goes up top, hitting an Uso Splash on his descent. Gunther kicks out of a pinfall attempt. Jey lines up for another spear, but Gunther sees it coming and turns Jey inside out. Jey counters a powerbomb with a hurricanrana. Jey superkicks Gunther. Gunther nails him with a backbreaker in return. Gunther powerbombs Jey for a near fall.
Gunther spears Jey. Still, Jey kicks out of his pinfall attempt. Gunther takes down Jey with a lariat. Jey shoves him then locks in another sleeper hold. Gunther reverses it into one of his own. Jey shoves him into the corner. Jey follows up with a superkick and a spear before going up top. Gunther dodges an Uso Splash. Gunther cinches in a sleeper hold. Jey crawls toward the ropes, but Gunther rolls back to the middle. Gunther eventually releases, allowing Jey to lock in a sleeper of his own. Gunther escapes and elbows Jey before cinching in another sleeper. Jey finally fades.
Winner (And New): Gunther