This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Springfield, Massachusetts! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From John Cena
Cena recalls his history in Springfield, including playing college football, which he says prepared him for life in WWE. Cena says his friends and family made the trip up to Raw. Cena says he has a pretty tall hill to climb now in the form of Brock Lesnar. He points out that Lesnar wants to end him, aka the last real champion. Cena says Lesnar is damn near invincible. Cena says his past matches with Lesnar were some of the toughest of his career. Cena says saying no to a match against Lesnar would have been easier, but the crowd cheering for him is why he said yes. Cena reiterates that he is the last real champion. Cena says he fights his battle in the ring.
Cena says being the last real champion leaves the place better than he found it. He adds that they also operate with hustle. loyalty, and respect. Cena says they give all that they have. He admits that he’s afraid of Lesnar and could fail against him, but he won’t give up from him. Cena will take the fight to Lesnar. Cena says invites Lesnar to come get some at Wrestlepalooza.
Backstage, LA Knight and Jey Uso are arguing over last week. WWE RAW GM Adam Pearce arranges a tag match with Knight and a partner of his choosing against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Knight then seeks out Jimmy Uso.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanna Perez (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)
Valkyria and Perez shove each other. Valkyria slams Perez to the mat. Perez bridges into a pin on Valkyria, but she kicks out. Valkyria rolls up Perez for a two count in return. Perez knees Valkyria in the midsection, then kicks her in the back. Valkyria dropkicks Perez across the ring. Raquel trips up Valkyria while she runs the ropes. The referee catches her and ejects Raquel. Perez rolls up Valkyria for a two count. Valkyria throws Perez through the ropes, then dropkicks her to the floor.
Valkyria goes up top. Perez yanks her off the top rope, sending her crashing to the mat.
Back from break, Valkyria plants Perez with a sitout powerbomb. Perez sends Valkyria flying with a Frankensteiner off the top. Perez follows with double knees for a near fall. Perez locks in a crossface. Valkyria rolls out of it and delivers the Night Wing for the win.
Winner: Lyra Valkyria
After the match, Raquel attacks Valkyria from behind, then boots her in the face. Perez follows with a kick and a Pop Rox. Bayley runs down and rains down right hands on Raquel. She follows with a side slam to Perez. Bayley drives Raquel into the ring post. Bayley then hits a Bayley to Belly on Perez. Bayley hugs Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves at commentary. She then hugs Alicia Taylor and the referee.
Backstage, Stephanie Vaquer and IYO SKY shakes hands ahead of their title match at Wrestlepalooza. Adam Pearce then confirms Vaquer will take on Kairi Sane.
Elsewhere, Jimmy Uso says LA Knight is putting him in a tough spot, so Knight needs to find someone else to team with tonight.
Kofi Kingston (w/ Xavier Woods & Grayson Waller) vs. Penta
Penta kicks Kingston, then wipes him out with a dive to the outside. Kingston dropkicks Penta as the luchador tries to jump back into the ring. Penta strikes down Waller. Kingston then flattens Penta with a splash.
Back from break, Penta chops Kingston against the ropes. Kingston turns Penta inside out, then kicks him in the face. Penta connects with a kick of his own. Kingston responds with a knee. Penta lands an enziguiri. Woods hops up onto the apron and distracts the referee. Penta levels Waller, then lands a springboard Mexican Destroyer on Kingston for the win.
Winner: Penta
Backstage, Jimmy and Jey argue, with the latter telling the former that he can’t team with Knight tonight. Jimmy reveals to Jey that he already told Knight no, but advises that Jey change his tone because he doesn’t have the Ula Fala around his neck. Jimmy then finds Knight to tell him he is actually in for the tag match tonight.
Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch Come Face-To-Face With CM Punk & AJ Lee
Rollins and Lynch come out to the ring first. Rollins says he is going to ignore the live crowd and addresses the audience watching from home. He introduces himself and Lynch. Lee and Punk come out to the ring next. Punk asks which one of them is the man between Rollins and Lynch. Punk calls them goofs for the way they’re dressed. Punk claims that Rollins and Lynch can’t share the spotlight, as evidenced by their separate entrances. Punk points out that he came out to Lee’s theme song. Punk asks if they can truly share the spotlight and be a unified front, or if they’ll let their egos get in the way of Wrestlepalooza.
Rollins calls Punk the most selfish human he’s ever met. Rollins says he’s going to do something selfless, which is giving Punk credit. Rollins says Lee was the best decision he ever made in his personal life. Rollins warns that Punk will regret bringing Lee into their business though. Lee says she wouldn’t even be here if Lynch wasn’t Rollins’ human shield.
Lynch says she can’t believe how irresponsible Punk is. Lynch asks Lee how she’s feeling physically. She also references her past neck issues. Lynch asks Punk how he’s going to feel when she pummels Lee. Lynch asserts that she is the greatest female wrestler ever. Lynch calls Lee a liability. Lee says she did not read Lynch’s book. Lee says Lynch made a good point and admits that she doesn’t know how her neck is going to hold up. Lee says she saw red when she returned on SmackDown. Lee says Lynch should be worried about what she is going to do next. Lee says she’s been known to be erratic. Lee says Rollins can’t plan for something they can’t predict.
Rollins laughs and says Lee isn’t wrong. Rollins says he can’t predict Lee, but he can read Punk like a book. Rollins says Punk has a habit of leaving when things let him down. Rollins says Lee better hope that Punk doesn’t leave her after Lynch rips her to shreds. Lee slaps Rollins. Rollins says he never puts his hands on a lady, but he has someone who will. Lynch and Rollins argue, resulting in Lynch leaving the ring. Lynch says Rollins got them into this. Rollins shoves Punk, then rolls out of the ring. Punk chases after Rollins. Lynch returns to the ring and plants Lee with a Manhandle Slam. She then slaps Punk before celebrating with Rollins.
Dragon Lee vs. El Grande Americano
Dragon dropkicks Americano and rains down with right hands. Americano responds with a kick of his own. Dragon sends Americano flying with a hurricanrana. Americano plants Dragon into the mat with a cutter. They trade strikes. Americano delivers a rolling senton and a running kick. Dragon fires off right hands. Americano returns fire with a chop. Dragon rocks Americano with a kick to the face, then sends him flying to the outside with a hurricanrana. Dragon wipes out Americano with a suicide five.
Back from break, Dragon suplexes Americano across the ring. They exchange chops next. Dragon lands a pump knee. He follows with a Liger Bomb. Lee delivers a double stomp while Americano hangs upside down in the corner. A mysterious masked figure rocks Dragon with a kick. Americano drives Dragon into the mat for a near fall. AJ Styles runs down to the ring, prompting the other masked figure to crawl under the ring. Styles follows and catches him. Styles fires off right hands, then sends the second mask man over the barricade. A third masked figure plants Styles with a DDT on the outside. The second masked man returns and pushes Dragon off the top. Americano locks in a submission on Dragon. Dragon taps.
Winner: El Grande Americano
After the match, Americano celebrates with the other masked men.
Backstage, Lyra Valkyria checks on Bayley. Valkyria thanks Bayley for helping her earlier. Bayley starts yelling at Valkyria for barging into the room. She then advises Valkyria to stay out of her locker room.
Elsewhere, Rhea Ripley says she is eyeing the WWE Women’s World Championship.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Kairi Sane (w/ Asuka)
Vaquer and Sane lock up. Sane applies a front facelock, but Vaquer breaks out of it. Vaquer and Sane hit dropkicks at the same time. Sane shakes Vaquer’s hand, much to the dismay of Asuka. Sane sends Vaquer flying with a head scissor takedown. Sane follows with a flying elbow. Sane tries to slam Vaquer to the floor, but Vaquer holds onto the ropes. Vaquer nails Sane with a double stomp.
Back from break, Sane elbows Vaquer in the corner. Vaquer slams Sane into the turnbuckle, then dropkicks her. Vaquer follows with a meteora. Sane responds with a forearm and double axe handle. Sane follows with a sling blade next. She charges into the corner with an elbow, then climbs the ropes. She leaps off the top. Vaquer dodges an elbow and dropkicks Sane. Sane rolls up Vaquer for a two count. She spikes Vaquer with a DDT. Sane goes back up top. Vaquer slaps her before climbing as well. Sane headbutts Vaquer, then delivers a double stomp.
Vaquer rolls up Sane for a two count. Sane clocks her with a spinning backfist. Vaquer headbutts Sane, then catches her legs. Vaquer lands a dragonscrew from the corner. Vaquer goes up top and crossbodies Sane and Asuka on the outside. Vaquer rolls Sane back into the ring and delivers the Devil’s Kiss. Vaquer finishes off Sane with an SVB for the win.
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer
After the match, Asuka stares down Vaquer from the apron. IYO SKY runs down and puts herself between Vaquer and Asuka. Asuka yells. SKY convinces Asuka to back away. SKY and Vaquer then shake hands.
Backstage, SKY says she needs to do this by herself at Wrestlepalooza. Asuka says fine before storming off.
Elsewhere, Rusev introduces himself to Dominik Mysterio and makes his Intercontinental Championship aspirations very clear.
Jimmy Uso & LA Knight vs. Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker
Breakker and Jimmy lock up. Breakker runs over Jimmy with a shoulder tackle. Breakker shoulder checks Jimmy in the corner next. Jimmy bursts out of the corner with an uppercut. He follows with a back elbow. Breakker knocks Jimmy down in return. Reed tags in and whips Jimmy into the corner. Jimmy rocks Reed with an enziguiri. Knight tags in and fires off right hands on Reed. Reed back elbows Knight. Knight trips him up and lands a series of stomps in the corner. Jimmy follows with a hip attack. Jimmy and Knight send Breakker over the top rope and to the outside floor.
Back from break, Breakker drops Jimmy with a side slam. Jimmy headbutts Breakker off the top, but Breakker still drops him on his back. Reed slams Jimmy into the mat. Jimmy dodges a senton and uppercuts him. Jimmy leaps off the top and wipes out Reed. Knight and Breakker tags in. Knight delivers a neckbreaker. He then elbows Reed, Breakker dropkicks Knight. Knight bounces back with a neckbreaker to Reed. Knight leaps off the top with an elbow. Jimmy follows with an Uso Splash. Breakker breaks up Jimmy’s pinfall attempt.
Knight sends himself and Breakker to the outside. Jimmy wipes out Reed with a dive through the ropes. He tries for a second one, but Reed sees it and clocks Jimmy with a right hand. Knight levels Reed with a leap off the steps. Jimmy spears Reed in the ring. He goes up top. Breakker wipes out Knight with a shoulder tackle. Jimmy kicks Breakker away. Reed drives Jimmy into the mat for the win.
Winners: Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker
After the match, Breakker spears Jimmy. Jey Uso runs down to the ring with a chair in hand. He nails Breakker with it. Jey swings the chair at Reed, then lays in right hands. Jey cracks the chair over Reed’s back. Knight grabs the chair and teases swinging it at Jey. Knight drops the chair. Jey extends his hand. Knight shakes it, but then plants Jey with a BFT.