This week’s episode of WWE Raw emanates from Dusseldorf, Germany! We break it all down in this week’s Raw recap!
We Hear From Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY
Ripley points out that she and SKY have finally put the Kabuki Warriors in their place and they are now the Women’s Tag Team Champions. SKY says Asuka and Kairi Sane have no respect, but they beat respect into them. Ripley says the party is just getting started. She adds that they are laying out a challenge for any team to step up to them.
Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez come out to the ring. Morgan congratulates SKY and Ripley on their win, then claims that the titles still belong to her. Morgan points out that she never lost the title and demands that they give them back to her. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria come out next. Bayley points out that Perez did lose the tag titles, and Bayley beat Perez recently in singles competition. Bayley says she and Valkyria deserve a title shot. Sane and Asuka drag Ripley and SKY out of the ring, then toss them into the barricade. All four teams begin brawling. Ripley and SKY eventually stand tall.
Backstage, AJ Styles takes issue with Gunther disrespecting John Cena. Styles then vows to teach Gunther about respect tonight.
Je’Von Evans vs. Bravo Americano (w/ El Grande Americano & Rayo)
Bravo slaps Evans, then fires off stomps. Bravo chokes Evans against the ropes. Evans answers with a slap of his own and a hurricanrana. He follows with a dropkick. Rayo distracts the referee, allowing El Grande to hit Evans with a kick. Evans bounces back with a step-up enziguiri and a dive to the outside.
Evans rocks Bravo with a running knee for a two count. Evans and Bravo trade kicks. Bravo spins Evans around on his shoulders. Bravo climbs to the top, where Evans meets him for a Spanish Fly. Evans follows with the OG cutter for the win.
Winner: Je’Von Evans
After the match, El Grande launches Evans over the announce table. Los Americanos surround the table. Evans jumps over them to escape.
Backstage, Adam Pearce says if Bron Breakker shows up with bad intentions, then Paul Heyman can just tell him to go home.
We Hear From CM Punk
Punk says he feels he can do the impossible sometimes thanks to the people having his back. Punk says he will be a fighting champion through the road to WrestleMania. Punk says The Vision are in his rearview mirror, so he’s now looking ahead at who his new challenger may be. Finn Balor’s music hits.
Balor tells Punk that he’s not waiting for the Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber. Balor recalls Punk naming him as a someone who he wanted to wrestle, so now here he is. Punk points out that he said that two months ago, so he wonders where Balor’s ambition is. Punk says he’s a fan of Balor’s and calls him talented. Punk offers to be a fighting champion today against Balor. Balor says he’s not jumping the line to face Punk, he is the line. Balor says Punk will not have to worry about Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh, but Balor will not be alone. Balor calls for a title match next week in Belfast in front of his people. Punk agrees. He also apologizes to the Belfast people for having to put Balor to sleep next week.
Women’s Tag Titles #1 Contender’s: Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Lyra Valkyria & Bayley
Asuka, Bayley, and Morgan trade pinfall attempts. Bayley kicks away Asuka and Morgan. Asuka rocks Bayley with a thrust kick, then tags in Sane. Perez tags in too, as does Valkyria. Valkyria and Perez trade pinfall attempts. Valkyria whips Perez into the corner. Sane launches Valkyria into Perez. Valkyria dropkicks Sane and Perez, then uses Sane as a weapon against Perez. Sane takes down Valkyria and Perez. Valkyria rolls up Sane, but Sane kicks out. Valkyria dropkicks Perez through the ropes. Morgan knocks Valkyria off the apron, then fires off stomps. An all out brawl ensues on the outside. Sane wipes them all out with an elbow off the top.
Back from break, Valkyria connects with a spin kick to Sane, then another one to Perez. Valkyria shoulder tackles Sane into the corner. All six woman come crashing down from a superplex. Asuka delivers suplexes to Bayley and Perez. She follows with a double German suplex to Valkyria and Bayley. Sane nails Valkyria with an Insane Elbow. Morgan hits Bayley with a backstabber. Valkyria catches Sane mid-air, then tags in Bayley. Bayley and Valkyria deliver a backbreaker-elbow drop combo to Sane. Asuka wipes out Valkyria with a dive to the outside. Perez hits a Pop Rox on Bayley for a near fall. Perez kicks Sane. Morgan tags in and delivers an Oblivion for the win.
Winners: Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez
We Hear From Raquel Rodriguez
Michael Cole asks Raquel about why she attacked Stephanie Vaquer last week. Raquel says used to be the girl that smiled and waited for a shot at the world title, but things and people change. Raquel says she’s been cheating out of the world title multiple times, so she will not stop until she finally gets it. Vaquer walks out onto the stage wearing her walking boot. Raquel heads to the back. Vaquer says her injury will not stop her. Raquel returns and attacks Vaquer again. She slams her bad foot against the stage, then whacks her with the title belt.
Backstage, Otis and Akira Tozawa make it clear that they are eyeing the men’s tag team titles.
Penta & Dragon Lee vs Bronson Reed & Austin Theory
Theory rocks Penta with a kick to the face. Lee and Penta take turns kicking Reed in the corner. Penta follows with a handstand stomp. Lee delivers a basement dropkick as well. Lee launches Reed into the corner with a hurricanrana. Reed drops Lee onto the top turnbuckle.
Back from break, Penta runs over Theory with a clothesline, then superkicks him. Logan Paul hops up to the apron and eats a double superkick. Lee wipes out Theory and Paul. Bron Breakker runs down and spears Lee on the outside. He then slides into the ring and spears Penta.
Winners (DQ): Penta & Dragon Lee
After the match, Breakker lines up for another spear on the outside. Adam Pearce stops him, then berates him. Meanwhile, Reed flattens Penta with a Tsunami. Breakker spears Lee. When Pearce yells at Breakker more, Breakker shoves him into the corner. The Vision pull Breakker off of Reed. Paul Heyman tries apologizing to Pearce, but Pearce isn’t amused.
Backstage, Pearce suspends Breakker indefinitely.
AJ Styles vs. Gunther
Styles kicks Gunther in the leg. They then lock up. Styles fires off more kicks, then dropkicks Gunther to the outside. He follows with a flying elbow. Gunther slams Styles onto the apron. Styles responds with a running knee. Gunther takes down Styles with a clothesline. Styles chops Gunther into the corner. Gunther knocks Styles off the top turnbuckle with a chop of his own.
Back from break, Styles levels Gunther with a dragon screw and a Pele Kick. Styles cinches in the calf crusher. Gunther reaches the bottom rope to break it. He cinches in a sleeper hold against the ropes. Styles escapes and delivers a springboard leg drop. Gunther counters a flying forearm with a sleeper hold. Styles escapes, only to be run over with a clothesline. Gunther powerbombs Styles for a near fall.
Gunther and Styles trade strikes. Styles cinches in the calf crusher again. Gunther slams Styles’ head against the mat to break it. Styles rolls through into another calf crusher. Gunther appears to tap, prompting Styles to let the hold go. While the referee speaks with the ring announcer. Gunther low blows Styles. Gunther powerbombs Styles for the win.
Winner: Gunther