This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Evansville, Indiana! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From Cody Rhodes
Rhodes says they could talk about his Crown Jewel Championship ring. He looks ahead to Crown Jewel 2025, where he’ll face Seth Rollins. Seth Rollins’ music hits. He comes out with Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed, and Bron Breakker. Rollins says he’s had Crown Jewel circled since SummerSlam. Rollins says it should be as simple as the best man winning between he and Rhodes, but it’s not. Rollins says he knows what the locker room, the crowd, and the internet think about him, and he doesn’t care. Rollins says the people don’t know what’s good for them. Rollins says he wants to know what Rhodes thinks of him. Rhodes says Rollins has made some questionable choices in recent months, one of them being aligning with Heyman. Rhodes says Rollins changed his life multiple times, and then he changed his career when he stepped up to be Rhodes’ shield at WrestleMania 40.
Rhodes asks Rollins what he thinks of himself. Rhodes says Rollins could be one of the absolute best, but that version is not hiding behind The Vision. Rhodes asks Rollins what he can do for him now. Rollins points out the watch that Rhodes gave him at WrestleMania 40. Rollins says he wasn’t worn it since then, until tonight. Rollins asks if the watch was a real gift. Rollins takes issue with Rhodes saying he is the quarterback of WWE. Rollins asks what that says about Rollins then. Rollins says he is the tip of the spear of WWE, not Rhodes. Rollins says Rhodes can be the quarterback, but he will be Rollins’ quarterback. If Rhodes doesn’t agree, it doesn’t matter because the truth will come out at Crown Jewel. Rollins asserts that he is the alpha.
Rhodes says he has two questions for Rollins. Rhodes first asks if their Crown Jewel match will be one-on-one. Rhodes then asks how many matches Rollins has won against him in the past. Rhodes leaves the ring. Breakker and Reed step aside for him to walk by.
Backstage, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso argue. Jey vows that they will handle The Vision together after he beats LA Knight tonight.
No DQ Tag: Penta & War Raiders vs. Grayson Waller & The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
All six men start the match brawling. Penta and War Raiders send their opponents to the outside. Ivar drags Woods back into the ring. Woods thumps him in the eye. Ivar crushes Woods with a seated senton. Kingston sends Ivar across the ring with an arm drag. Waller strikes Ivar with a kendo stick. Penta does the same to Waller. Kingston attacks Erik from behind. Ivar runs over Kingston and Woods. Penta wipes out Kingston and Woods with a flying crossbody. Ivar crushes Waller against the side of the ring.
Back from break, Kingston, Woods, and Waller stomp away at Penta. Penta sends Waller to the outside, then sends Kingston flying with a hurricanrana. Woods sweeps Penta off the apron. He lays Penta on top of a table next. Kingston goes up top and descends onto Penta with a leg drop. Ivar and Erik knee Waller in the ring. Kingston and Wood save Waller with kicks to Erik and Ivar. Erik headbutts Waller, then slams Kingston and Woods to the mat. Kingston and Woods dodge a moonsault from Ivar. Kingston crushes Ivar with a running senton on the apron. Waller goes for a rolling flatliner, but instead gets slammed into the apron by Ivar. Kingston takes down Erik with an axe handle on the outside.
Penta launches Kingston into a table inside the ring. Waller strikes Penta with another kendo stick. They trade blows on the top. Penta lands an avalanche Mexican Destroyer for the win.
Winners: Penta & War Raiders
Backstage, Dominik Mysterio is nervous about Rusev coming after his IC Title. Finn Balor says if Mysterio needs help, they he get it from El Grande Americano. Balor and McDonagh say they’re busy tonight. Roxanne Perez implores McDonagh to help Mysterio. McDonagh hesitantly agrees. Mysterio then reveals that McDonagh will take on Rusev tonight.
Backstage, Bayley says last week was awesome. Lyra Valkyria looks confused. Bayley then asks Valkyria to be in her corner tonight. Valkyria asks Bayley is still mad at her, but if means something to Bayley, then she’ll be in her corner.
We Hear From Stephanie Vaquer
Adam Pearce introduces Stephanie Vaquer as the new WWE Women’s World Champion. Vaquer says she made sacrifices and she worked, but she made it. Vaquer says she learned to be strong from her dad. Vaquer thanks the crowd for supporting her too. She adds that nobody can beat her. Pearce confirms that Vaquer will face the winner of a SmackDown triple threat at WWE Crown Jewel.
Backstage, Nikki Bella and Rhea Ripley congratulate Vaquer. Asuka says IYO SKY should be champion. Vaquer invites Asuka to fight her in the future. Ripley says she’s sick of Asuka’s attitude. Asuka warns Ripley to stay away from SKY. Ripley suggests they settle their differences in the ring.
Bayley (w/ Lyra Valkyria) vs. Roxanne Perez (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)
Bayley and Perez lock up. Bayley takes down Perez with an arm drag. Perez shoves Bayley in the corner. Bayley fires off elbows, then trips up Perez. Bayley lays in a back elbow. Perez drives Bayley into barricade on the outside. Bayley drives Perez into the mat with a side slam. They meet up top. Raquel distracts Bayley, allowing Perez to kick Bayley off the ropes.
Back from break, Bayley lands a flying elbow. Bayley goes up top again. Perez sweeps her off her feet and sends her flying with a hurricanrana. Perez follows with a pair of knees. Bayley dodges a Pop Rox. Perez rolls her up for a two count. Bayley strikes Perez in the jaw. Perez drops Bayley onto the mat from the second rope. Bayley rolls to the outside. Bayley clocks Perez as she charges toward her. Perez delivers a Pop Rox on the floor. The referee begins counting. Bayley makes it back in at the count of nine. Raquel boots Bayley as the referee is distracted. Valkyria shoves Raquel into the ring post. Perez wipes out Valkyria with a dive. Bayley yanks Perez back into the ring.
Bayley nails Perez with a Bayley-To-Belly an ad big knee. She follows with a Rose Plant for the win.
Winner: Bayley
After the match, Valkyria cheers on Bayley, then hugs her. Bayley shoves her away, then warns Valkyria to stay out of her business.
Rusev vs. JD McDonagh (w/ Dominik Mysterio)
Rusev rains down with right hands on McDonagh in the corner. McDonagh chops Rusev in response. Rusev drops McDonagh with a pair of suplexes. He then kicks McDonagh in the back. Rusev mocks McDonagh. McDonagh chops him again. McDonagh flees to the outside. When he returns, he gets dropped onto the mat. Rusev dumps McDonagh to the outside. Rusev slams McDonagh into the barricade. McDonagh dropkicks the steel stairs into Rusev, then rams him into the ring post. McDonagh wipes out Rusev with a springboard moonsault.
Back from break, McDonagh lands a corkscrew. He charges in with a running knee for a one count. McDonagh spikes Rusev with a DDT. He follows with a headbutt. McDonagh goes up top and delivers a moonsault. He then elbows Rusev in the face. Rusev slams McDonagh to the mat. He lines up for a Machka Kick and hits it. Rusev locks in The Accolade. Mysterio steps up to the apron, but doesn’t interfere. McDonagh taps out.
Winner: Rusev
After the match, Finn Balor drops Rusev with an elbow. He then sends Rusev to the outside. Balor and Mysterio argue over Mysterio not helping McDonagh in the end.
Backstage, LA Knight questions whether Jey Uso should be more worried him or his health. Knight says he does not want to hurt Jey, but if he has to, he will.
LA Knight vs. Jey Uso
Jey fires off right hands on Knight, then sweeps him off his feet. Jey whips Knight into the corner. Knight attempts a BFT, but Jey dodges it. Jey sidesteps a dropkick from Knight through the ropes. Jey then takes him down with a clothesline.
Back from break, Knight descends off the top with a superplex. Knight and Jey trade strikes. Knight drives Jey into the mat with a burning hammer. Jey dodges a superkick and rolls up Knight for a two count. Jey dives onto Knight through the ropes. Knight returns to the ring and eats a superkick from Jey. Knight spikes Jey with a DDT. Knight goes up top and descends with a jumping elbow. Knight lines up for the BFT, but Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed distract him. Knight levels both of them, only to eat a spear from Jey. Jey follows up with an Uso Splash for the win.
Winner: Jey Uso
After the match, Jimmy Uso implores Jey to help him fend off The Vision. Jey heads to the back. Jimmy grabs a chair and runs down to the ring. Breakker and Reed stare at Jimmy from the apron. Paul Heyman yells for them to retreat. They do as such.
Backstage, Becky Lynch rants away as Seth Rollins listens. Lynch says she’s going to make an example out of their foes.
Elsewhere, IYO SKY asks Rhea Ripley to call off her match with Asuka. Ripley says maybe she and Asuka can beat the respect into each other, like she and SKY did. Ripley warns Asuka to be careful around Asuka. SKY says she can trust Asuka, then questions if she can trust Ripley.
Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka (w/ Kairi Sane)
Asuka kicks Ripley in the leg, then rolls her up for a two count. Ripley launches Asuka across the ring with a suplex. Asuka dodges a big boot, then knocks Ripley to the outside.
Back from break, Asuka delivers a dragonscrew. Ripley slaps Asuka, then takes her down with a pair of clotheslines. Ripley dropkicks Asuka, then bridges into a suplex pin. Asuka dropkicks Ripley in the leg, then follows with a running kick. Asuka lays in more kicks. Ripley boots her in the face in response. Ripley follows with a senton off the apron.
Back from another break, Ripley chops Asuka in the corner. They meet up top. Ripley descends with a superplex. They trade strikes. Asuka rolls up Ripley for a two count. Ripley fires off a spinning elbow. Ripley launches Asuka across the ring with a Razor’s Edge. She follows with a shining wizard for a near fall. Asuka counters a Riptide with an arm bar. Ripley powers out, but runs into the ring post. Asuka levels her with a KO kick.
Asuka knees Ripley in the head. She lands more spinning kicks. Ripley rolls to the outside. Asuka bounces Ripley off the announce desk before dumping her back into the ring. Asuka and Sane argue on the outside. Asuka lands a running elbow on Ripley. Ripley returns fire with a forearm. Asuka cinches in an ankle lock. Asuka suplexes Ripley across the ring. She goes up top next. Ripley rocks her with a dropkick on the descent.
Sane hops on the apron and tries backfist, but Ripley catches it. Asuka accidently knocks Sane off the apron. Ripley rolls up Asuka for the win.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
After the match, Asuka spits mist in Ripley’s eyes. Sane and Asuka issue a post-match beatdown. IYO SKY runs down and begs them to stop. She and Asuka hug. Asuka then nails SKY with a spinning strike. Sane follows with right hands to SKY. Asuka kicks SKY. Sane goes up top. Asuka lays out Ripley with a hip attack. Sane descends onto SKY with an Insane Elbow.