This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Raleigh, North Carolina! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley says she always knew it would come to this with Asuka and Kairi Sane. Ripley says what they did to IYO SKY last week crossed the line. She adds that the three of them are going to settle things in the ring tonight. Ripley invites Sane and Asuka to come to the ring. SKY comes out instead, frowning. SKY says Ripley was right about Asuka and Sane, but they are her family. SKY says she still loves them. Asuka appears on the big screen. She says she taught SKY everything she knows. Asuka says SKY acts like Ripley is here family now, but Asuka made SKY a champion. Asuka says she’s willing to forgive SKY if she apologizes. Asuka says SKY can still be her student, but for Ripley, it’s too late.
Ripley tells Asuka she can go to hell. Ripley pleads with SKY to trust her. Ripley says there’s no way SKY can go back to Asuka and Sane after what they did. An emotional SKY says she needs time to decide what to do. Asuka and Sane attack Ripley from behind. SKY runs back into the ring and yanks Asuka off Ripley. Sane begs for forgiveness. Asuka spits mist in SKY’s face. Ripley rains down right hands on Asuka, then headbutts Sane. Asuka kicks Ripley. She and Sane then toss her into the ring posts. Sane and Asuka follow up with spinning backfist. Sane delivers an Insane Elbow while Asuka holds Ripley in the Asuka lock.
IC Title: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Rusev
Rusev tosses Dominik across the ring. Dominik rolls out. Rusev follows. Dominik fires off stomps and right hands. Rusev delivers a fallaway slam. Rusev rocks Dominik with a right hand. Dominik dropkicks Rusev. Dominik goes flying to the outside, but gets caught. Rusev throws Dominik across the announce table.
Back from break, Dominik sends Rusev flying with a hurricanrana. Dominik launches himself over the ropes and crushes Rusev. Dominik trips Rusev and tries to set up for a 619. Rusev sweeps Dominik off his feet. Dominik rolls to the outside. Rusev follows and gets rammed into the steel steps. Dominik lands a pair of 619s. Dominik goes for a Frog Splash, but Rusev dodges it. Rusev connects with a Machka Kick for a near fall.
Rusev kicks Dominik in the back. Dominik rolls to the outside again and grabs his titles. Rusev rolls Dominik back into the ring. As the referee is turned, Dominik strikes Rusev with a title belt. Dominik tosses a title into Rusev’s hands, but the referee isn’t falling for his tricks. The referee turns his back to place the titles on the outside. Dominik low blows Rusev and rolls him up for the win.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
Backstage, LA Knight says he’ll be a world champion in the future, then calls for a match against Kofi Kingston. Adam Pearce makes it official, much to Kingston’s dismay.
Elsewhere, Bayley is wearing Lyra Valkyria’s shirt. Bayley asks Valkyria if she wants to come out to be in her corner for her next match. Valkyria sarcastically says they can do the same thing as last week. Bayley says she has a right to mad, but she doesn’t think she can do this without Valkyria. Valkyria says she can’t give anymore second chances, so Bayley is on her own tonight.
Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez (w/ Roxanne Perez)
Raquel blocks a headlock takedown from Bayley. Bayley jumps, but gets caught. Raquel runs her over with a shoulder next. Bayley lays in right hands in the corner. Raquel launches Bayley into another corner and shoulder checks her. Raquel whips her into the opposite corner. Bayley fires off elbows. Raquel issues back elbows. Bayley returns fire and slingshots Raquel off the middle rope. Bayley delivers a suicide dive and a dropkick. Raquel blocks her hurricanrana attempt and sends Bayley crashing into the barricade.
Back from break, Bayley lands a neckbreaker on the outside. The action returns to the ring with Bayley delivering a Swanton Bomb. Bayley leaps off the top again, but gets caught and tosses across the ring. Raquel lands a splash in the corner. Bayley stuns Raquel. Raquel responds with a clothesline. Bayley locks in a Figure Four leg lock. Perez rakes Bayley’s eyes as the referee isn’t looking. Raquel runs her over with a boot, then follows with a Tejana Bomb for the win.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
After the match, Perez fires off right hands on Bayley. Lyra Valkyria runs down to the ring and levels Perez and Raquel. Raquel clotheslines Valkyria. Perez follows with double knees. Bayley runs over Raquel with a knee. She drives Perez into the mat, then sends Raquel over the top rope. Bayley stares down Valkyria, then laughs. She pulls Valkyria up and celebrates.
Backstage, Jey Uso asks why Jimmy Uso why helped LA Knight last week. Jey says he previously said not to help him. Jey says if he hadn’t helped people in the past, he might be world champion again. Jey then says to forget LA Knight because they have to take care of The Vision.
Elsewhere, Kairi Sane asks IYO SKY to apologize to Asuka.
Kofi Kingston (w/ Xavier Woods) vs. LA Knight
Kingston and Knight lock up, Knight fires off right hands, then lands a neckbreaker. Knight yanks Kingston’s arm, then runs him over with a clothesline. Kingston bounces Knight off the top rope. Knight sends Kingston to the outside. Kingston then launches him into the ring post. Kingston follows with a jumping knee off the apron.
Back from break, Knight delivers right hands. Kingston sweeps Knight off his feet. Knight lands a jumping neck breaker. He goes up top and knocks Woods off the apron. Kingston rolls up Knight for a near fall. Knight dodges a Trouble in Paradise. Knight delivers a BFT for the win.
Winner: LA Knight
Backstage, Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri get into an argument. Lynch then beats down Dupri. Lynch offers to go out to the ring with Seth Rollins, but he insists on going out on his own.
We Hear From Seth Rollins
Rollins says his past matches with Cody Rhodes are in the past; all that matters now is Crown Jewel. Rollins questions the people believing that Rhodes is the quarterback of WWE. Rollins says he is the one to lead the industry into the future. Rollins says he has taken Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed under his wing so they can secure their place at the top. Rollins says he’s tried to rid WWE of people like Roman Reigns and CM Punk, yet the people still chant for Rhodes.
Rhodes’ music hits. Rhodes says Rollins nor himself has control over the future of the industry, the fans do. Rhodes points out that Paul Heyman sent Breakker and Reed to SmackDown last week, not Rollins. Rhodes then asks who is really in control of The Vision. Rollins asserts that everything goes through him. Rhodes then asks if Rollins allowed Heyman to announce Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza. Rollins reiterates that every decision runs through him.
Rhodes pivots the conversation to Crown Jewel. He likes to think that he and Rollins are reminiscing on their old matches 20 years from now. Rhodes recalls WrestleMania, where he thought Rollins was his friend. Rollins says he was never Rhodes’ friends. Rollins says that was a means to an end. Rollins says Rhodes was the lesser of two evils. Rhodes says they will never be friends and he will never raise Rhodes’ hand. Rollins plans to cleanse their timeline, then write a new future at Crown Jewel. Rollins says he will lead the future.
Backstage, IYO SKY confirms that she and Rhea Ripley will take on Asuka and Kairi Sane at Crown Jewel. SKY insists that Ripley can trust her.
Before the next match, AJ Styles thanks the people for getting him a match against John Cena at Crown Jewel. But tonight, he is focused on kicking Americano ass.
AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs. Bravo & Ryo (w/ El Grande Americano)
Lee stomps Bravo (most likely Tyler Bate). Both Bravo and Ryo (likely Pete Dunne) yank Lee into the ring post, then dropkick him in the corner.
Back from break, Lee chops the Ryo. Bravo kicks Lee in the corner, then fires off right hands. Lee blocks a hurricanrana, then a single stomp. Lee tags in Styles, as does Ryo. Styles levels Bravo and Ryo. Styles lands a forearm on Ryo. Americano pushes Styles off the top rope. Bravo and Ryo double team Styles. Lee delivers a big knee to Ryo. Styles nails Bravo with Pele Kick. He then dives onto Americano. Styles nails Ryo with a Phenomenal Forearm. Lee dives onto Ryo. Styles plants Bravo with a Styles Clash for the win.
Winners: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee
Backstage, Stephanie Vaquer says she is ready for anyone, even Tiffany Stratton. Vaquer says Stratton will learn why no one can beat her. Stratton says she has proven herself. Stratton adds that it will always be Tiffy Time. Vaquer says Stratton’s time will be over. Stratton says Vaquer will have get used to coming in second.
Tornado Tag: Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed (w/ Paul Heyman)
Jey leaps onto both Breakker and Reed as they stand on the outside. Jimmy chops Breakker. Jey pushes Reed into the ring post. Breakker shoulder checks Jimmy in the corner. Jimmy superkicks and uppercuts Breakker in response. Jey and Jimmy splash Breakker in the corner, then fire off right hands on Reed. They follow with running hip attacks on both Breakker and Reed. Jimmy and Jey send Breakker to the outside. Reed yanks Jimmy to the outside. Breakker runs over Jey in the ring. Jey rocks Breakker with a kick from behind. Jimmy sends Breakker into the barricade. Reed blocks a dive from Jey, then whips him into the steel steps. Jimmy superkicks Reed. Breakker leaps off the barricade with a jumping clothesline on Jimmy. They crash into the announce table.
Back from break, Reed catches a crossbody from Jey, then slams him into the mat. Breakker runs over Jey with a right hand. Reed hoists Jey on his shoulders. Breakker leaps off the top for an electric chair bulldog. Reed goes up top for a Tsunami, but Reed pushes him off the turnbuckle. Jimmy rocks Breakker with a superkick. Jimmy drives Breakker into the mat with a Samoan Drop. Reed sends Jimmy crashing with a Jagged Edge. Breakker spears Jey. Jimmy and Jey are stacked up. Roman Reigns’ music hits. Reigns emerges with a chair.
Reigns strikes Reed with the chair. He does the same to Breakker. Reigns returns Breakker to the ring, while Reed is in the crowd. Jimmy superkicks Breakker. Jey follows with a spear. They finish off Breakker with a double Uso Splash.
Winners: The Usos
After the match, Reigns nails Breakker with the chair again. He then shakes hands with Jey.