This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from New York City’s Madison Square Garden! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From John Cena
Cena heads to the ring to a huge ovation. Alicia Taylor introduces him as the GOAT and the last real champion. Cena says MSG is where careers are made, then welcomes the crowd to Raw. Cena says tonight will be the last time they can talk together on Raw and in MSG. Cena says tonight is an important night for him, but before he can finish, Dominik Mysterio interrupts. Dominik says Cena was handed a title shot last week, just like he has for his whole career. Dominik demands a rematch against Cena for the Intercontinental Championship. Cena says he isn’t going to back down from a challenge, then proposes they do a rematch tonight.
Dominik says no to tonight, that they’ll do it his way. Dominik demands it be in his hometown at WWE Survivor Series. Cena accepts. Cena insists that he will still have a match tonight. Cena suggests that Dominik face him in a non-title match tonight. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh head to the ring and stand beside Dominik. Dominik says Cena will get his ass beat. The Judgment Day members begin attacking Cena. Sheamus runs down and levels Balor and McDonagh, but the numbers game catches up with him. Rey Mysterio runs down next to even the odds. Rey trades hands with Dominik. All the Judgment Day member gets thrown out of the ring. Cena calls for a six man tag match right now.
John Cena, Rey Mysterio, & Sheamus vs. Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, & Finn Balor)
Balor stomps away at Sheamus in the corner. McDonagh follows with a leg drop on the apron. McDonagh rams his shoulder into Sheamus repeatedly. The Judgment Day members take turns striking Sheamus. Sheamus double clotheslines Balor and McDonagh. Rey tags in and takes down Balor with a hurricanrana. Rey delivers one to McDonagh next. He sets up Balor for a 619, but Dominik trips him up. Rey dropkicks Dominik through the ropes. Balor throws Rey to the outside.
Back from break, Rey launches Balor into McDonagh in the corner. Rey tags in Cena, who hits McDonagh with shoulder tackles. Cena plants McDonagh with a side slam, then lands a Five Knuckle Shuffle. McDonagh evades an Attitude Adjustment and headbutts Cena. Sheamus kicks McDonagh. Balor connects with a sling blade on Sheamus. Rey lands a West Coast Pop on Balor. Dominik superkicks Rey out of the ring. McDonagh lands a moonsault on Cena. Balor follows with a Coup De Grace. Dominik hits a Frog Splash. Rey and Sheamus break up the subsequent pinfall attempt. McDonagh and Balor pull Dominik to the outside when Rey sets up for a 619. Cena, Sheamus and Rey hits the ten beats on the apron. Sheamus hits a backbreaker on Balor. Rey rocks Dominik with an Atomic Drop. They follow with triple Five Knuckle Shuffle. Rey hits Balor and McDonagh with a double 619. Sheamus Brogue Kicks Balor. Cena hits an AA on McDonagh for the win.
Winners: John Cena, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus
After the match, Cena, Rey, and Sheamus celebrate their win on the stage.
Backstage, Paul Heyman apologizes to Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce for the events of last week’s SmackDown. Heyman teases that his fifth pick for WarGames will upset them.
We Hear From Stephanie Vaquer
Jackie Redmond introduces Stephanie Vaquer. Nikki Bella attacks Vaquer from behind and slams her into the Titantron screen. Nikki says she didn’t come back to be Vaquer’s sidekick; she came back to take back the women’s division. Nikki thanks Vaquer for reminding her who she is. Nikki asserts that Vaquer will give her a title match and bow down to her. Nikki drops the microphone onto Vaquer.
Backstage, Asuka and Kairi Sane ask Bayley to join their WarGames team. Bayley tells them no. Lyra Valkyria says she is proud that Bayley is all together now.
Last Time Is Now Tournament, First Round: Solo Sikoa (w/ Talla Tonga) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler fires off right hands in the corner. Sikoa responds with a shoulder tackle. Ziggler dropkicks Sikoa, then lands a neckbreaker. He follows with an elbow drop and an STF. Sikoa reaches the bottom rope to break it up. Ziggler leaps off the apron and wipes Sikoa on the outside. Ziggler bounces Sikoa off the announce desk. Ziggler rolls Sikoa back into the ring. He nails Sikoa with a top rope elbow drop next.
Back from break, Ziggler elbows Sikoa in the face. He follows with a DDT and a Famouser for a near fall. Sikoa drives Ziggler into the mat with a spinning slam for a near fall of his own. Sikoa calls for a Samoan Spike, but Ziggler ducks. Ziggler sends Sikoa crashing into the corner, then hits a Zig Zag for another near fall. Ziggler tunes up for a superkick. Sikoa blocks it, but Ziggler hits another one anyways. Sikoa connects with Samoan Spike for the win.
Winner: Solo Sikoa
We Hear From Alexa Bliss
Bliss recalls Charlotte Flair ignoring her this past weekend. Bliss says she gets that they lost the tag titles, but they can get them back. Bliss says she trusted Flair, but it looks like she might not be able to now. Bliss says she has had Flair’s back, but when Bliss needed Flair, she stepped back because she didn’t like Rhea Ripley. Asuka and crew interrupt.
Asuka mocks Bliss. Nia Jax calls Bliss a loser and points out that she’s alone in the ring, Jax says she understands why Flair left Bliss. Jax taunts Bliss with a beatdown. Jax, Asuka, Lash Legend, and Kairi Sane surround the ring. IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley run down to save Bliss. Asuka and crew enter the ring and trade strikes with Ripley, SKY, and Bliss. Ripley fights with Asuka on the outside. Legend clocks Bliss with a right hand. Jax slams Bliss into the mat. Flair runs down with a kendo stick. Flair hits Jax and Legend with it until they leave the ring. Ripley and SKY fend off Asuka and Sane on the outside. Flair helps Bliss to her feet. Flair points to Ripley and smiles.
Women’s IC Title: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri
Maxxine rocks Lynch with a boot for a near fall. Lynch slams Maxxine to the mat, then fires off stomps in the corner. Lynch follows with a backbreaker. Maxxine rolls to the outside.
Back from break, Maxxine connects with a big boot. She then delivers a snap suplex and a leg drop for a two count. Lynch lands a boot on Maxxine’s arm. Maxxine fires off elbows, then right hands in the corner. Lynch powerbombs Maxxine. Lynch goes for an armbar, but Maxxine counters into an ankle lock attempt. Lynch reverses into another armbar. Maxxine rolls Lynch up for a two count. She cinches in the ankle lock next. Lynch eventually escapes and hits Maxxine’s bad arm. Lynch delivers a Man Handle Slam. Maxxine gets her foot on the bottom rope to break the pinfall attempt. Lynch argues with the referee. She fires off right hands on Maxxine, then dumps her to the outside. The referee begins counting while Lynch unties the turnbuckle pad.
AJ Lee skips down to ringside, distracting Lynch. When Lynch turns back around, Maxxine leaps off the top with a crossbody and pins her for the win.
Winner (And New): Maxxine Dupri
After the match, Maxxine celebrates her title win with AJ Lee.
Last Time Is Now Tournament, First Round: Gunther vs. Je’Von Evans
Evans dropkicks Gunther, then slaps him. Evans fires off right hands and a chop. Gunther launches him into the corner. Evans chops Gunther again. Gunther runs over Evans with a big boot.
Back from break, Evans chops Gunther even more. He follows with a dropkick. Gunther locks into a Boston Crab submission. He follows with a strike to Evans’ back. Evans responds with an elbow and a superkick. Evans rolls up Gunther for a two count. Gunther locks in a sleeper hold, but Evans counters with an arm drag. Gunther catches Evans mid-dive to the outside, then slams him into the side of the apron.
Back from another break, Evans connects with several punches. Gunther returns fire with a chop. Evans and Gunther trade kicks. Evans lands a cutter on Gunther. He knocks Gunther off the apron with a right hand, then wipes him out with a dive to the outside. Evans leaps off the top with a crossbody. He goes up top again and lands another splash for a near fall. Gunther German suplexes Evans across the ring. He follows with a powerbomb for a near fall. Gunther cinches in a sleeper hold. Evans taps out.
Winner: Gunther
Backstage, Maxxine Dupri says her win means all her hard work has paid off. Maxxine feels that she finally belongs thanks to AJ Lee. Lee says she loves an underdog and hates a bully. Maxxine celebrates with Otis and Akira Tozawa. Lee says Lynch has lit a fire under her that she had forgotten. Lee encounters Rhea Ripley, who asks if she has a second to chat.
We Hear From The Vision
Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, Paul Heyman, and Logan Paul head to the ring. Drew McIntyre follows. Heyman introduces them all. Heyman says he’s assembled the best team for WarGames. CM Punk’s hits. He walks down to ringside. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso follow, as does Cody Rhodes. They surround the ring as Heyman and crew stand inside of it. A brawl ensues. Jimmy superkicks Reed out of the ring. Rhodes trades strikes with McIntyre. Paul delivers right hands to Punk. Punk answers with a high knee and a bulldog. Brock Lesnar’s music hits. Lesnar hits the ring and drops Punk with suplexes. Rhodes sneaks up behind Lesnar and lays in right hands. Lesnar suplexes him in return.
Roman Reigns’ music hits. He stares down Lesnar, then walks into the ring as Heyman watches on. Reigns nails Lesnar with a Superman Punch. Lesnar rolls out of the ring and joins Heyman’s crew. Reed attacks Reigns from behind, then wipes out security members. Reigns blasts Reed with a Superman Punch. Police surround the ring and try to maintain order. Reigns spears Reed through the barricade.