This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Grand Rapids, Michigan! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
Asuka (w/ Kairi Sane) vs. Rhea Ripley
Ripley tosses Asuka across the ring, then lays in a series of right hands. Ripley goes for a Riptide, but Asuka escapes and rolls to the outside. Ripley rams Asuka into the barricade. Asuka hip attacks Ripley off the apron while Sane distracts her. Asuka then launches Ripley into the barricade as well.
Back from break, Asuka headbutts Ripley. Shen then fires off kicks to Ripley’s face. Asuka delivers a backslide for a near fall. Sane trips up Ripley as Asuka distracts the referee. Asuka nails Ripley with a dropkick next. She follows with a series of hard kicks. Ripley catches Asuka’s leg, then slaps her. Ripley lands a pair of clotheslines and a dropkick. Ripley sets up for a Riptide, but Asuka counters into a roll-up. Ripley kicks out. Asuka connects with backfists and a kick. Ripley answers with a kick of her own.
Back from another break, Ripley cinches in the Prism Lock. Asuka escapes and applies an ankle lock. Asuka transitions to a German suplex and a sliding kick. Ripley kicks Asuka in the corner. They then meet up top, where Ripley kicks Asuka in the face. Ripley drops Asuka face first into the mat for a near fall. Ripley sets up for Razor’s Edge. Asuka reverses into a roll-up for another near fall. Asuka dumps Ripley to the apron. Asuka German suplexes Ripley on the apron. Asuka scales the turnbuckle to the top. Ripley blasts Asuka with a mid-air kick. Asuka rolls to the outside, where Ripley wipes her out with a cannonball. Ripley goes up top, but Sane trips her up. IYO SKY runs down and levels Sane with an uppercut. Sane drops SKY on the apron in return. When Ripley checks on SKY, Asuka surprises her with a roll-up.
Winner: Asuka
Backstage, Paul Heymans says he has a vision for Austin Theory, but it’s up to Theory to carry it out tonight.
We Hear From Maxxine Dupri & Becky Lynch
Lynch says this will not be a celebration for Maxxine because there was an illegal interference and a corrupt referee in their title match last month. Lynch says she is the real Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Lynch says she knows some very powerful people to address the corruption. Lynch confirms that she is taking matters into her own hands now. Maxxine comes out and meet Lynch in the ring. Maxxine admits that Sports Illustrated was right to name Lynch the greatest of all time, but she beat the GOAT three times.
Maxxine says Lynch can have a title shot anytime she wants, but Maxxine will stop at nothing to retain it. Maxxine says all she wants is for Lynch to admit that Maxxine is the IC Champion. Maxxine says Lynch doesn’t look like the GOAT when she complains, but rather someone who has their best years already behind them. Lynch clocks Maxxine, then poses with the Women’s IC Title. Lynch continues to beat down Maxxine, only for Maxxine to counter into the ankle lock. Lynch taps to the ankle lock. Maxxine releases the hold, allowing Lynch to roll to the outside.
Backstage, Adam Pearce confirms that Stephanie Vaquer will defend her Women’s World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez and Nikki Bella next week.
Je’Von Evans vs. Rayo Americano (w/ El Grande & Bravo)
Evans runs over Rayo with a shoulder tackle. Evans follows with a dropkick. Rayo delivers double knees to Evans’ arm. He then locks in an armbar. Evans escapes and takes Rayo down with a hurricanrana. Rayo sends Evans to the outside, though Evans wipes him out with a dive.
Back from break, Rayo fires off forearms and a stomp. Rayo and Evans trade strikes. Evans connects with a running knee. He follows with a flying forearm and a suplex. Evans hits a springboard forearm for a near fall. Rayo plants Evans with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall of his own. Rayo slaps Evans. Evans answers with a kick. Rayo lands an enziguiri in return. Rayo counters a cutter with a big right hand. Evans bounces back with the OG Cutter for the win.
Winner: Je’Von Evans
After the match, Evans escapes a beatdown attempt from The Americanos.
Backstage, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee confirm they will defend their tag titles against The Uso next week.
We Hear From Nikki Bella
Bella grabs a mic and says everyone has forgotten who she is. Bella asserts that she is a legend, a Hall of Famer, and a former champion. Bella says the crowd would know nothing about being champions. Bella says they are looking at the star of the women’s division. Bella vows to destroy Stephanie Vaquer’s reign next week. Bella says Vaquer is a big deal in the ring, but she is a big deal everyone. Bella says it’s time the world title gets around the waist of a global star like her.
Bayley (w/ Lyra Valkyria) vs. Roxanne Perez (w/ Liv Morgan)
Bayley delivers a Bayley to Belly out of nowhere for a near fall. Perez rolls to the outside, where Morgan provides encouragement. Perez strikes the back of Bayley’s knee. Perez dropkicks Bayley’s knee. Bayley sends Perez up and over to the apron. Perez slams Bayley’s leg against the ring post.
Back from break, Perez targets Bayley’s leg again. Bayley sends Perez’s face into the mat. Bayley lands a knee and a pair of clotheslines. Bayley follows with a Thesz Press. Raquel Rodriguez emerges at ringside and briefly distracts Bayley. Bayley drops Perez with a side slam. Valkyria boots Raquel on the outside. Morgan launches Valkyria across the announce desk. Perez delivers a tilt-a-whirl facebuster and double knees to Bayley. Bayley kicks Perez into the corner, then tosses her into the turnbuckle.
Morgan trips up Bayley, then distracts the referee. Perez unties the turnbuckle pad and sends Bayley crashing into the exposed corner. As Perez covers Bayley, Raquel distracts the referee. Morgan and Raquel argue on the outside. Valkyria wipes out Morgan and Raquel with a crossbody. Bayley levels Perez to back suplex and a big knee. Bayley fires off right hands. She follows with double knees and an elbow drop for the win.
Winner: Bayley
Backstage, Theory says he will start the tag match with Bronson Reed tonight and Reed can follow his lead.
We Hear From Gunther
Gunther embraces the sea of boos from the audience. Gunther says the people shouldn’t be mad at him, but they should be mad at John Cena, who tapped out like a “little b*tch.” CM Punk comes out and stares down Gunther. Gunther returns the stare, then laughs as he leaves the ring.
Backstage, AJ Styles says it looks like Gunther doesn’t know when to shut up. Gunther say he guess he doesn’t, then laughs again.
The Vision (Austin Theory & Bronson Reed) (w/Paul Heyman) vs. CM Punk & Rey Mysterio
Punk fires off stomps on Theory. Theory answers with a high elbow. Theory delivers a drop-toe hold that sends Punk into the turnbuckle. He follows with a dropkick.
Back from break, Theory stomps Punk’s hand, then elbows him in the head. Theory cinches in a headlock. Theory releases it and runs over Punk with a clothesline. Reed tags in and twists Punk’s head. Reed headbutts Punk, then rains down with right hands. Reed flattens Punk with a senton and cinches in a headlock. Punk escapes, only to meet a boot to his face. Reed headbutts Punk again, then slams him into the mat. Punk evades the senton attempt that follows and tags in Rey. Rey lands a senton on Reed. Theory tags in and is greeted by a hurricanrana from Rey. Rey then wipes out Theory with a seated senton on the outside.
Back from another break, Theory stomps Rey in the gut. Reed slams Ray to the mat. He follows with a splash. Punk breaks up the pinfall attempt that follows. Reed drops Rey with a vertical suplex. Theory tags in again and stomps away at Rey. Rey rocks Theory with an enziguiri, then a wheelbarrow bulldog. Punk tags in and delivers a swinging neckbreaker to Theory. Punk follows with a running knees and a bulldog. Punks sets up for a GTS, but Theory fights out of it with elbows.
Reed tags in. Punk tries to clothesline Reed, but fails. Reed tosses Punk into the corner. Punk leaps off the top with a flying clothesline for a two count. Rey sets up for a 619 on Reed. Theory tags in and runs over Rey before he can hit it. Theory knocks Punk off the apron. Rey hits a 619 and a crossbody on Theory. Reed pulls Rey to the outside, then flattens him with a senton. Punk wipes out Reed with a dive through the ropes. Punk sends himself and Reed into the timekeeper’s area. Rey goes up top, but Theory trips him up by hitting the top rope. Theory lands a stomp for the win.
Winners: The Vision
After the match, Bron Breakker attacks Punk from behind. They trade strikes until Theory intervenes and gets sent over the top rope from Punk. Punk turns around the eat a spear from Breakker.