This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates Green Bay, Wisconsin! The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continue. Bayley calls out Becky Lynch. JD McDonagh takes on AJ Styles, and more.
We break it all down in this week’s WWE Raw recap!
We Hear From Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio
Morgan introduces Dominik as the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. Dominik thanks her, then says tonight is not about him; it’s about Morgan. Morgan says this is her division in WWE. Morgan says Nikki Bella had to learn the hard way last week and is now sitting at home where she should be. Morgan says no one paved the way for her, especially not Nikki. Morgan points out her accolades as a four-time women’s tag champion, which makes her the greatest ever. Morgan demands respect. Morgan demands a rematch for the Women’s World Championship as well.
IYO SKY’s music hits. SKY tells Morgan to shut her mouth because all she does is whine and show disrespect. SKY says Morgan disrespected her and Nikki. SKY welcomes Morgan to fight her right now. Morgan says she only wants to fight for her championship, but she welcomes SKY to just hand it to her. SKY says Morgan can’t just steal the title like she stole Dominik. Dominik says to just give Morgan what she wants. SKY tosses her title to Morgan, then dropkicks her. SKY then kicks Dominik, prompting him and Morgan to retreat.
Queen of the Ring First Round: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Asuka vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Ivy Nile
Asuka runs over Nile with a clothesline. Asuka and Vaquer double superkick Raquel. Vaquer sweeps Asuka off her feet. Nile pushes Vaquer into the corner. Raquel pushes Nile to the mat. Raquel launches Asuka into Vaquer and Nile.
Back from break, Vaquer delivers a snap suplex to Nile, then a jawbreaker to Raquel. Vaquer hits the dragon screw on Asuka in the corner. Vaquer follows up with a back drop to Nile. Raquel interrupts Vaquer’s Devil’s Kiss to Nile. Raquel counters a Devil’s Kiss and hoists Vaquer onto the shoulders. Vaquer sends Raquel over the rope, then hits the Devil’s Kiss on the apron. Vaquer leaps off the top and lands on Raquel. Vaquer fights off the Asuka Lock. Nile kicks Vaquer, then unloads on Asuka in the corner. Asuka hip attacks Raquel off the apron. Nile bridges into a German suplex on Asuka for a near fall.
Back from another break, Asuka takes down all three of her opponents with a missile dropkick. Asuka unloads punches on Raquel, then delivers a codebreaker. Vaquer and Asuka trade strikes. Vaquer headbutts Asuka, then suplexes her. Vaquer plants Asuka with a double-underhook slam. Nile drives Asuka into the mat. Vaquer kicks Nile. Raquel runs in with a big boot to Vaquer, then stacks her up with a Tejana Bomb. Rhea Ripley pulls Raquel out of the ring when she goes for a pin. Ripley follows up with a Riptide on the floor before rolling her back into the ring. Asuka hits a hip attack on Raquel for the win.
Winner: Asuka
After the match, Asuka says the fire didn’t die, it is still alive in her. She adds that no one is ready for her.
Backstage, Dominik Mysterio suggests Finn Balor stay backstage and hold down the fort tonight. Balor suggests that Dominik watch JD McDonagh’s match still.
We Hear From Gunther
Fireworks go off in celebration of Gunther’s recent title win. Gunther says every single night he is untouchable. Gunther directs his attention to Seth Rollins, who claimed that Gunther would be a target. Gunther says he is right here for Rollins. Goldberg’s music hits.
Goldberg says it’s all good because tonight is Gunther’s night. Goldberg says he is here to celebrate with Gunther. He tells Gunther he is proud of him. Goldberg recalls Gunther insulting his family in Atlanta a few months ago. Goldberg says next month he will end his career at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta. Goldberg says Gunther is his and that he’s next for him. Gunther retreats to the outside as Goldberg stands atop the turnbuckle.
JD McDonagh (w/ Dominik Mysterio) vs. AJ Styles
McDonagh and Styles lock up. Styles trips up McDonagh, then puts him in a headlock. Styles and McDonagh trade pinfall attempts. McDonagh chokes Styles in the corner, then chops him. Styles transitions to the Calf Crusher. McDonagh reaches the rope to break the hold. Dominik pulls McDonagh to the outside to recover. Styles chases Dominik around the ring. McDonagh leaps onto Styles, taking them both down.
Back from break, Styles hits a sliding forearm, then a neckbreaker. McDonagh responds with a brainbuster. They go up top, where Styles headbutts McDonagh. Dominik distracts Styles, allowing McDonagh to kick him in the midsection. Styles lays him out with the Styles Clash for the win.
Winner: AJ Styles
After the match, Styles nails Dominik with the Pele Kick. Styles then looks for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Finn Balor pulls Dominik out of the ring. Styles holds up the IC Title. Styles dodges an attack at the hands of the Judgment Day.
Backstage, Akira Tozawa tells Sheamus to kick Rusev’s ass.
We Hear From Bayley
Bayley says she doesn’t take the chants and the fans for granted. She revels in it. Bayley says this is what she puts her heart and soul into. Bayley recalls being robbed of a WrestleMania match because of Becky Lynch. Bayley says she doesn’t put her body on the line for one night and one moment. Bayley does it for nights like tonight. Bayley tells Lynch if she thought taking her out hurt her, she is wrong. Bayley asserts that it made her stronger.
Bayley says she is climbing the ladder and knocking her down. She adds that she is taking back everything Lynch took from her. Bayley calls Lynch out to the ring. Lynch comes out and says Bayley would rather have her friends than her legacy. Lynch says she’d rather have her legacy. Bayley fires back by saying that she already cemented her legacy and doesn’t mind bringing along people with her. Lynch says the people stopped fighting for her, so she stopped fighting for them. Lynch says no one cared that Bayley was out of WrestleMania. Bayley says Lynch is insecure.
Bayley says Lynch was so worried about what the people would think that she had to take Bayley out. Bayley asks if Lynch’s head is too far up her ass. Lynch asks Bayley if she remembers what gold feels like. Bayley tells Lynch to remind her. Lynch says Bayley can have a match, but not tonight and not for her title. Bayley blocks a slap from Lynch, then clocks her. Lynch retreats up the ramp.
Backstage, Jey Uso promises to run it back with Gunther.
Elsewhere, Nick Aldis makes an IC Title match between AJ Styles and Dominik Mysterio. He also confirms Bayley vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s IC Title. Lyra Valkyria tells Bayley she’ll do what’s best for her if Bayley wins the title next week.
Liv Morgan vs. Kairi Sane
Sane sends Morgan crashing into the mat with a single leg takedown. Morgan rolls out of the ring and clutches her shoulder. WWE medical personnel help Morgan to the back. The match is then called off.
Backstage, Sami Zayn says this opportunity to potentially challenge for the world title feels different. Karrion Kross enters the frame and calls Zayn insane for expecting a different result from the same situation. Kross foresees Zayn losing to Randy Orton in the next round of the KOTR tournament. Zayn calls Kross a coward for hiding in the shadows. Zayn says maybe Kross can’t back up what he talks about and step out of the shadows. Zayn says KOTR is his main priority, but once that’s over, he’ll request a match with Kross.
King of the Ring First Round Tourney Match: Jey Uso vs. Sheamus vs. Rusev vs. Bronson Reed (w/ Paul Heyman)
Sheamus and Reed trade blows in one corner, while Rusev stomps away at Jey in another. Reed launches Sheamus into the ring post on the outside. Jey sends Rusev over the top rope. Rusev and Reed trade strikes. Rusev sends Reed crashing into the ring post. Jey then dives onto Rusev.
Back from break, Jey fires off punches on Reed, then an uppercut. Jey follows up with an enziguri. He then superkicks Sheamus and Rusev. Rusev runs over Jey. Reed sends Sheamus over the barricade. Sheamus recovers and lays in forearm strikes on Reed. Jey superkicks Sheamus, then sidesteps a charge from Reed. Rusev clobbers Jey, then returns to the ring.
Sheamus and Rusev trade strikes. Rusev connects with a spin kick. Sheamus boots Rusev, then slams him into the mat. Reed runs over Sheamus and Rusev. Reed catches Jey mid-air, then slams him to mat.
Back from another commercial, Jey and Sheamus exchange blows. Jey blocks Sheamus’ forearm strikes and rocks him with an enziguri. Sheamus responds with a backbreaker. Sheamus hits White Noise on Reed. Reed kicks out of Sheamus’ pin attempt. Rusev drives Sheamus into the mat. Jey kicks all three of his opponents. Rusev kicks Jey in the head, then locks in the Accolade. Sheamus runs in with a knee to Rusev and Reed. Sheamus Brogue Kicks Rusev. Reed runs over Sheamus, then goes up top. Reed hits a Tsunami on Sheamus. Jey breaks up Reed’s pin attempt.
Jey spears Reed, then goes up top. Bron Breakker pushes Jey off the top. Sami Zayn charges in and sends Breakker crashing into the ring post. Breakker launches Zayn across the announce table. Penta dives onto Breakker. Reed hits a Death Valley Driver on Jey. LA Knight pushes Reed off the top. Jey spears Reed, then follows up with a pair Uso Splashes for the win.
Winner: Jey Uso
After the match, Seth Rollins marches down to the ring. Cody Rhodes follows. They stare down, with Rollins retreating, Jey stands beside Cody as Rollins and his crew look on. Cody and Jey shake hands.