This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Sacramento, California! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From Adam Pearce
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is seen in the ring, ready to give an update on Seth Rollins. Bron Breakker appears on the big screen, holding Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship. He, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman get out of a car and head to the ring. Pearce confirms that Rollins had major surgery because of what Breakker and Reed did last week. Pearce strips Rollins of the World Heavyweight Championship. Pearce announces that a battle royal will determine CM Punk’s opponent for the world title, with the battle royal taking place tonight.
Pearce says the world title doesn’t belong to Rollins nor Breakker, so he asks Breakker to hand it over. Breakker asks what happens if he doesn’t. Heyman tries talking sense into Breakker. Breakker demands respect from Pearce. Pearce again asks him to hand over the title. Breakker tells Pearce to say please. Pearce does as such, but Breakker hands the title to Heyman, who then hands it to Pearce. Pearce leaves the ring.
Heyman asks why everyone is mad at The Vision. Heyman says The Vision had nothing to do with Rollins. Heyman says he did not betray Roman Reigns and CM Punk for Rollins, but rather for Breakker and Reed. Heyman says Rollins couldn’t shoulder the responsibility of leading the future. Heyman calls Rollins a bum shoulder b*tch. Heyman adds that winners write history; Breakker and Reed are winners. Heyman says Breakker and Reed have the intensity to become WrestleMania main eventers. He adds that they are revisioning the future.
Backstage, JD McDonagh and Finn Balor tell Dominik Mysterio to handle Rusev tonight without them.
WWE World Tag Titles: JD McDonagh and Finn Balor (c) vs. AJ Styles vs. Dragon Lee
McDonagh and Styles lock up. McDonagh dodges a dropkick, but eats a knee to the face. Lee chops McDonagh against the ropes, then stomps his chest. McDonagh delivers a stomp of his own. Balor tags in and fires off kick on Lee in the corner. Balor follows up with a chop. Lee sends Balor flying with a hurricanrana. Lee nails McDonagh with a high knee on the apron. Balor dropkicks Lee in the ring. McDonagh fires off kicks in the corner. He follows with a neckbreaker. Balor hits a snap suplex; McDonagh descends off the top with a double axe handle. Styles launches McDonagh to the outside. McDonagh pulls the ropes open, sending Styles to the outside next.
Back from break, Lee knocks McDonagh upside down and double stomps him as McDonagh hangs from the turnbuckle. Balor pulls McDonagh to the outside. McDonagh wipes them both out with a dive. Lee hits a sling blade on McDonagh. McDonagh answers with a powerbomb. Styles chops Balor. Balor rakes Styles’ eyes. Styles delivers a backbreaker to McDonagh. Balor lands a sling blade on Styles, then sends Lee to the outside. Styles connects with a Phenomenal Forearm on Balor. McDonagh breaks up the subsequent pinfall attempt. Styles nails McDonagh with a Pele Kick. McDonagh responds with a Spanish Fly.
Balor tags in. McDonagh lands a moonsault. Balor follows with a Coup De Grace. Lee hits a flying headbutt to save Styles from being pinned. Lee wipes out McDonagh with a dive to the outside. Styles hits the Styles Clash on Balor for the win.
Winners (And New): AJ Styles & Dragon Lee
Backstage, Jey Uso says he was mad at himself last week. Jimmy reminds Jey that they are both in line for a potential world title shot. Jimmy says Jey lost the world title because he stopped believing in himself. Jimmy says he’s going in on everyone tonight, but he and Jey are good.
Intercontinental Title: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Rusev
Dominik rams Rusev into the steel steps, then rolls him into the ring. Rusev runs him over a shoulder. The bell officially rings. Rusev tosses Dominik across the ring. Rusev drives a shoulder into Dominik, then his boot. Dominik leaps off the top, but is caught. Rusev delivers a series of suplexes, then a fallaway slam.
Back from break, Dominik leaps off the top with a Frog Splash, but Rusev blocks it with his knees. Rusev looks to lock in the Accolade, but Dominik escapes to the outside. Dominik grabs his titles. Penta confronts him at ringside. Rusev kicks Dominik over the barricade. Rusev rocks Penta with a right hand. Rusev blocks a 619 from Dominik. Rusev takes the bell hammer out of Dominik’s boot. The referee prevents him from using it. Dominik hits a low blow. He follows with a 619 and Frog Splash for the win.
Winner (And Still): Dominik Mysterio
After the match, Penta spikes Rusev with a springboard tornado DDT.
Women’s IC Title: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri
Lynch stomps away at Maxxine in the corner. She follows up with a series of shoulder checks. Maxxine rolls up Lynch for a two count. Lynch lands a big boot. She then sends Maxxine flying over the barricade.
Back from break, Maxxine lands a big boot and a step-up leg drop for a near fall. Maxxine follows with a suplex and big knee for another two count. Lynch and Maxxine trade strikes. Maxxine cinches in an ankle lock. Lynch rolls through to escape. She locks in an arm bar. Maxxine counters into another ankle lock. Maxxine and Lynch meet up top. Lynch goes flying to the mat. Maxxine leaps off the top with a crossbody. Lynch grabs her title and starts heading to the back. Maxxine rolls her back into the ring. Maxxine tries to roll her up, but Lynch kicks out. Lynch strikes Maxxine with her belt, causing the referee to call for a disqualification.
Winner (by DQ): Maxxine Dupri
After the match, Lynch fires off stomps. Lynch lowers her knee pad, then knees Maxxine in the corner. Lynch follows with a Manhandle Slam.
Backstage, Adam Pearce confirms that Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed have been removed from the battle royal. Paul Heyman then tells Lynch that he had no choice but to side with Breakker and Reed last week. Heyman says there is a vision that includes Lynch. Lynch says Heyman’s salesman crap doesn’t work on her. Lynch says Seth Rollins used Heyman. She adds that Rollins won’t hurt Heyman when he comes back because he meant nothing to Rollins. Lynch confirms that Rollins will target whoever Heyman attaches himself to.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)
Vaquer and Perez jockey for positioning. Vaquer boots Perez off the ropes. Perez responds with a knee to Vaquer’s midsection. Vaquer answers back with an arm drag. Perez bridges into a pin for a two count. Perez delivers an arm drag of her own. Vaquer looks to drop Perez, but Perez escapes and rolls to the outside. Vaquer rolls up Perez for a two count. Perez responds with a slap. Vaquer drops Perez onto the back. Vaquer looks for the Devil’s Kiss, but Perez rolls to the apron. Raquel clocks Vaquer as the referee is distracted.
Back from break, Vaquer nails Perez with a meteora in the corner. She follows with a dragon screw and the Devil’s Kiss. She covers Perez, but Perez kicks out. Perez targets Vaquer’s arm, then drives her knees into Vaquer. Perez delivers an elbow drop to Vaquer’s arm. Vaquer blocks a crossface attempt, but eats a spinning kick. Vaquer responds with a 619. Raquel distracts Vaquer, allowing Perez to slingshot Vaquer’s arm off the rope. Vaquer pushes Perez into the Raquel. She then wipes out them both with a crossbody to the outside. Vaquer finishes off Perez with an Angel Wings for the win.
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer
After the match, Raquel attacks Vaquer from behind. Perez joins in the assault. Nikki Bella runs down and dumps Raquel to the outside. Nikki then clotheslines Perez. She eats a big boot from Raquel. Vaquer spikes Raquel with a DDT. Nikki rocks Perez with a right hand. She and Vaquer dropkick Raquel to the outside.
Backstage, Bayley says she has a surprise for Lyra Valkyria. Valkyria asks for it now, but Bayley says she’ll have to wait until next week.
Elsewhere, Paul Heyman recalls Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns succeeding because they listened to him. Heymans tells Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed they are the future of WWE.
Nikki Bella advises Stephanie Vaquer to be cautious as champion. Vaquer says she owes Nikki one for saving her. Nikki says she will likely take her up on that offer in the future.
CM Punk joins commentary for the next match.
WWE World Title Contenders Battle Royal
Otis and Ivar trade strikes in the center of the ring. Otis runs over Ivar with a clothesline. Otis slams Grayson Waller and Kofi Kingston. Rusev and Otis trade strikes. Rusev eliminates Otis. Akira Tozawa taunts Rusev, only to then be eliminated by him. Jey tries to eliminate Dominik, but Dominik holds on to the ropes. JD McDonagh and Finn Balor toss Dragon Lee to the outside for an elimination. Penta and Rusev go to the apron. Penta rocks Rusev with a kick. Dominik pushes them off of it for a double elimination.
Back from break, Styles dropkicks Ivar. Ivar then crushes Styles with a seated senton. Ivar and Sheamus trade blows. Ivar rocks Sheamus with an uppercut. Sheamus and Ivar go to the apron. Sheamus drops Ivar with a White Noise for an elimination before rolling back into the ring. El Grande Americano tries to throw Jey Uso over the top rope. Jimmy saves Jey. Americano loads his mask with a steel plate, then headbutts Jimmy and Jey. Jimmy and Jey deliver a 3D on Americano before throwing him out of the ring. Sheamus nails Dominik with a backbreaker. McDonagh and Balor double team Sheamus with kicks. They then try to eliminate Styles, only for Sheamus to then eliminate McDonagh. Sheamus delivers the ten beats to Balor. Balor drops to the outside. Kofi Kingston eliminates Sheamus with the help of Balor and McDonagh. Sheamus fights off the Judgment Day members on the outside. Styles eliminates Dominik, but the referee doesn’t see it. Dominik reenters the ring.
Kingston tries to eliminate Styles, but Styles pulls himself back into the ring. Kingston elbows Styles, then sends him flying with a monkey flip. Styles throws Kingston over the top rope. Kingston lands on the apron, though Styles elbows him to the floor. Knight fires off right hands on Jimmy. Knight leaps off the top with an elbow on Jimmy. Knight dodges a Styles Clash. Jey superkicks Knight. Knight and Jey exchange blows. Jimmy superkicks Knight. Styles eats a double superkick from Jimmy and Jey. Jimmy eliminates Styles. Jey eliminates both Knight and Jimmy. Dominik and Jey stand as the final two. Dominik sets up for the 619. Jey avoids it and launches Dominik to the outside for the win.
Winner: Jey Uso
After the match, Jimmy Uso stares at Jey from the outside. Punk and Jey then stare down each other in the ring.
Winner: