WWE Raw Results
April 28, 2025
Kansas City, Missouri (T-Mobile Center)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever. Together.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
The WWE Drone shows us the T-Mobile Center. This is the 18th WWE Raw from Kansas City, Missouri.
Pre-Show Arrivals
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis is shown walking backstage. He’ll be covering as the Raw General Manager tonight. Rhea Ripley is shown arriving at the T-Mobile Center. She’ll battle Roxanne Perez, who is also shown arriving. American Made is in attendance. Ivy Nile will battle NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Logan Paul is also shown arriving at the building.
Michael Cole and Pat McAfee welcome us to the show. Cole announces that Gunther has been suspended following his attack on them last week. McAfee says he’ll have words to say about it later.
Video: Last week on Raw, Bron Breakker joined forces with Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman, helping them to viciously take down CM Punk and Roman Reigns.
Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman address their actions
Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman make their way to the ring. Rollins is clad in a wild robe with sunglasses featuring bejeweled eyes. The crowd happily sings Rollins’s theme song. Rollins says, “Kansas City, welcome to Monday Night Rollins!” He is a visionary. He is a revolutionary. He is Seth “Freakin” Rollins. In case they didn’t know and have been living under a rock, they are looking at the winner of the Main Event of WrestleMania. Rollins hands his sunglasses to Heyman. Rollins knows it’s difficult out there for those who want to chant for CM Punk. The crowd boos and some chant, “CM Punk.” Rollins also acknowledges it’s painful for those who want to point their fingers in the air and chant for Roman Reigns. An “OTC” chant picks up.
What they are looking at this ring right now is the future of our industry. The future runs through one man. That man is not CM Punk, Roman Reigns, John Cena, Jey Uso, or Cody Rhodes. The future of this industry, with Paul Heyman and Bron Breakker at his sides, runs through Seth “Freakin” Rollins.
Sami Zayn’s music hits, and Rollins looks surprised. Zayn gets in the ring, and Rollins gets the crowd to cheer for him. Rollins welcomes Zayn back to Raw. Rollins assumes Zayn caught WrestleMania. Zayn says he saw the Main Event of WrestleMania. Rollins gets excited about that. Zayn asks how long they’ve been friends. Rollins says it’s been a long time. Zayn says he feels the need as a friend and someone who has known him for a long time to tell him to his face that this is a load of crap. Rollins looks confused. Rollins asks what he means. Zayn asks how much time Rollins has spent talking about Reigns and Punk. The one thing they have in common is standing over his shoulder (Paul Heyman). How is Rollins any different? Rollins asks if he’s seriously comparing him to CM Punk and Roman Reigns. This is different. Zayn thought that Rollins had a deep hatred for CM Punk and sounded self-righteous talking about Roman Reigns, but now Zayn thinks Rollins was just jealous. Maybe he wanted to be in the position they were in. Rollins says he’s not CM Punk or Roman Reigns. This is the vision for the future. They’ve talked for years about the future. Zayn says it must be a coincidence that the future revolves around Seth Rollins being front and center. Rollins says it’s not a coincidence because he’s the best man for the job. Zayn says it’s not a coincidence… it’s hypocritical. Rollins has spent all this time talking about the Bloodline. Rollins says this is not the Bloodline. Zayn asks how it’s different because he’s got his Wise Man and his little dog. If Breakker keeps looking at him like that, Zayn will kick his face in.
Rollins says this is the vision for the future. Zayn is either with them or he becomes a target. That’s not a threat. Rollins doesn’t want Zayn to become a target. This is bigger than them. It doesn’t matter if he hates Zayn as much as Reigns and Punk. It doesn’t matter if he loves him the way he does. If Zayn stands in their way, he becomes a target. Rollins doesn’t want that for Zayn. They can find a solution for this. Rollins tells the Wise Man to pull some strings and get Zayn moved off Monday Night Raw. Rollins says it’s not a threat. Zayn is clearly not going to buy into what they are selling, so maybe they can cash him out. This is not a threat. It’s an offer. Zayn smiles crookedly at Rollins. Rollins tells Zayn to think about it. Rollins says they’ll need an answer by the end of the night. Rollins and Heyman turn to leave, but Breakker stands staring at Zayn. Heyman comes back and pulls Breakker away.
Raw Highlight of the Night: Last week on Raw, Roxanne Perez attacked Women’s World Champion IYO SKY during a match against NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Giulia attacked Vaquer. Rhea Ripley made the save to help Sky.
“THIS IS MY BRUTALITY!”
The Xfinity Live and Loud meter shows the crowd noise reaches 110 dBA in the T-Mobile Center as Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring. She’ll battle Roxanne Perez next.
-Commercial Break-
Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez
Referee: Danilo Anfibio
The bell rings, and a “Mami” chant fires up. Ripley goes after Perez, but Perez rolls under her and gets out of the ring. Perez taunts her and takes her time getting back into the ring. Ripley squares up and thrusts forward, but Perez gets out of the ring again. Ripley sticks her head out of the ring, so Perez throws her ring jacket at her. Perez hits a chop block to the knee. Perez kicks away at Ripley’s knee. Ripley grabs her, but Perez smacks her in the face. Ripley charges, but Perez connects with a drop toe hold into the turnbuckles. Ripley soon boots her back and goes for a Razor’s Edge, but Perez gets out of it. Perez goes for a wheelbarrow bulldog, but Ripley fights it. Perez quickly takes her down and goes to twist the injured leg, but Ripley kicks her away. Perez quickly cuts her off and dropkicks her out of the ring. Perez goes for a suicide dive, but Ripley catches her and slings her into the barricade. Ripley scoops her up and drops her sternum-first onto the barricade. Ripley gets Perez back into the ring. Ripley quickly drops her onto the apron and knocks her to the floor. Perez grabs the feet and takes her down before slamming the injured knee off the ring post twice.
Perez gets in the ring and twists around Ripley before going for a side leg sweep, but Ripley doesn’t go down. Ripley connects with a big clothesline. Perez soon fights back and goes for a diving cross-body block, but Ripley catches her and counters into a delayed vertical suplex. Ripley dropkicks her out of the ring and shakes some feeling into her knee.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Perez hits Ripley with a double jump moonsault for a two-count. Perez continues to attack the knee and applies a deathlock. Ripley and Perez trade punches as Perez applies the hold. Ripley gets Perez to release the hold, but Perez answers back with a leg twist. Ripley tries to kick her away, but Perez keeps hold of the leg. Ripley finally kicks her away and kicks her in the face. Ripley avoids a clothesline and hits a pair of short-arm clotheslines, followed by a kick to the midsection. Ripley powers her up and hits a VICIOUS Razor’s Edge, followed by a shining wizard for a near fall.
Ripley clutches her injured knee in pain. Ripley uses the ropes to pull herself to her feet. Ripley clubs away at Perez in the corner. Giulia makes her way to ringside and taunts Ripley. Ripley turns into an inside cradle from Perez. 1… 2… Ripley kicks out. Perez quickly follows up with a head-scissor DDT. Perez connects with a cartwheel into a knee drop and covers: 1… 2… Ripley kicks out! Perez slaps Ripley in the face, so Ripley answers back with a slap. Perez goes for Pop Rocks, but Ripley counters out. Ripley connects with a Ripcord Knee to the face and looks at Giulia. Ripley yells at Giulia and grabs her by the head. Perez rolls Ripley up, but Ripley rolls through and headbutts Perez. Ripley goes for a Riptide, but Giulia chop blocks her!
Winner by Disqualification: Rhea Ripley
Perez and Giulia double-team Perez. Women’s World Champion IYO SKY runs down for the save and uppercuts them both. Sky slings Giulia’s foot into Perez’s face and hits Giulia with a roll-up into a double stomp to the midsection. Perez quickly drops Sky onto the apron, but Sky knocks her back. Sky goes for a springboard maneuver, but Giulia hits the ropes to trip her. Giulia and Perez double-team Sky until Ripley chases them off.
The Judgment Day Clubhouse
The Judgment Day is celebrating in their clubhouse. Finn Bálor embraces the returning JD McDonagh before pulling him aside. Bálor says he was surprised to see him return. McDonagh says he told Dominik Mysterio, but it didn’t get back to Bálor. Bálor says he wishes he had told him. McDonagh apologizes. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Liv Morgan walks up and asks if all is good. Bálor says they’re catching up. She asks why they’re not preparing for their match, but Bálor is confused. McDonagh says Morgan thought it would be a good idea if they went after the Tag Team Titles. McDonagh says he went to Nick Aldis, and they have a match against the War Raiders. Morgan says she thought it was a good idea since Bálor isn’t a champion. Bálor says he doesn’t have a problem with this, but he wants to be kept in the loop. They walk off. Carlito says everyone will be a champion… maybe he should be a champion. That’d be cool.
Backstage Segment
Logan Paul is walking backstage. We’ll hear from him tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Last weekend, 124,693 members of the WWE Universe attended WrestleMania, representing all 50 states and 68 countries worldwide.
Logan Paul appears live
Logan Paul is in the ring, and the crowd loudly boos him. He doesn’t know if they all remember, but he beat “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles last weekend at WrestleMania. Paul says Kansas City is a victim of circumstance. They don’t recognize greatness standing in front of them. They are so stupid and don’t know what a true legend looks like. This may offend some people, but a true legend does not look like your current World Heavyweight Champion, Jey Uso. Paul had seven days to think about it, and he realized that he had done everything there is to do in this industry except win a World Title. Uso’s days are numbered because he has something Paul wants.
World Heavyweight Champion “Main Event” Jey Uso makes his way to the ring. Uso gives his sunglasses to a young man in the front row who defeated cancer. Uso says he’s going to silence Paul’s noise. After fifteen years of trying to get the World Title, he’s not going to hand it over to “some punk ass YouTuber.” Uso watched Gunther beat his twin to a bloody pulp. It did something to him and lit a fire that isn’t ever going out. This title is not given. It’s earned, and it belongs to Uso. If he wants it, he can come take it. Uh-uh… YEET!
Paul rolls his eyes and says Uso is YEETing himself stupid. He’s done more in four years than Uso has done in fifteen. Paul is going to take the title from Uso. Uso will do what he does best, which is crash out, screw up, and lose the title in less time than he held the Intercontinental Championship. Paul tells Uso to enjoy it while he still can. Uso then flattens the Maverick with a superkick!
Uso walks off, shouting that Monday Night Raw belongs to him. Paul comes to in the ring and sneers at Uso.
Backstage Segment
The War Raiders are shown walking backstage. Elsewhere backstage, Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh are walking.
-Commercial Break-
World Tag Team Champions Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston of The New Day are on commentary for this next match.
Tag Team Match
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh) w/ Carlito vs. The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar)
Referee: Jessika Carr
JD McDonagh will start against Ivar. Ivar quickly takes him down with a shoulder tackle. Finn Bálor distracts Ivar, so McDonagh attacks. Ivar knocks Bálor down, so McDonagh hits him in the back of the surgically repaired neck. Bálor tags in and punches Ivar down before taunting the crowd. McDonagh tags back in. His lower back is already red. Ivar hits him with a back body drop and tags Erik in. Erik attacks McDonagh and hits Bálor with an exploder suplex. Erik then dropkicks McDonagh down before tagging Ivar in. Ivar avalanches Bálor and sends him into a clothesline from Erik. Erik grabs McDonagh and viciously knees him in the face. Erik throws McDonagh out of the ring. The War Raiders pose in the ring, prompting the New Day to yell at them.
Bálor and McDonagh try to blindside them, but the Raiders hit them with stereo scoop slams. Erik scoop slams Ivar onto McDonagh. Erik tags back in, and Ivar goes to ringside. Ivar goes for a running cross-body against the LED apron, but Carlito pulls McDonagh out of the way.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, McDonagh punches away at Erik in the corner. Erik fights back and takes Bálor down before flooring McDonagh with a forearm to the jaw.
Ivar and Bálor tag in. Ivar hits a shoulder tackle, followed by a side slam and a running basement cross-body. Bálor avoids an avalanche, but he runs into a seated senton. Ivar cartwheels around an attack from McDonagh and drops him with a spin kick. Ivar gets the crowd going and hits Bálor with a Bronco Buster. Ivar heads to the top rope for a Doomsault, but Bálor moves out of the way. Ivar hits the mat hard. McDonagh tags in and jumps off Ivar’s back to attack Erik. McDonagh knocks Ivar out of the ring and hits the War Raiders with an Asai Moonsault. McDonagh gets Ivar back into the ring and connects with a moonsault! 1… 2… Erik breaks up the pin.
Bálor runs in to help, but Ivar runs through a double clothesline and hits a handspring double back elbow on them. At ringside, the War Raiders scoop them up and lawn dart them into each other. The New Day taunt the Raiders from commentary. Ivar throws Bálor into the New Day and avalanches them all! Erik knocks Carlito down on the apron. McDonagh rolls Erik up for a near fall. McDonagh uses his giant head to floor Erik with a jawbreaker. Carlito distracts Jessika Carr. Penta runs down and knocks McDonagh off the top rope. The War Raiders hit McDonagh with the War Machine for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The War Raiders
Penta taunts Bálor and McDonagh while standing on the commentary table. Meanwhile, the War Raiders shout at the New Day as they back up the aisleway. The New Day is not happy.
Locker Room Segment
Sami Zayn is talking with Otis in the locker room when Paul Heyman walks in. Heyman tells Otis to give them a moment, so he leaves. Heyman was thinking about what Zayn said in the ring about the Bloodline. They’re OG Bloodline. Zayn says it’s true, but Heyman blew up whatever was left of it at WrestleMania. Heyman says he respected Zayn when he broke away from the Bloodline. Perhaps one day, Zayn will understand why Heyman had to do what he did. Heyman says Seth Rollins views himself as the future of the industry. Whether he is or he isn’t, that’s how he views himself. Bron Breakker is Rollins’s dog at the gate. Whether he is or he isn’t, that’s how he views himself. Bron Breakker is demanding a match against Sami Zayn. Heyman and Rollins can’t say no to that because Breakker is a key to their plans.
Rollins views Zayn with reverence and is offering him a pass. If Zayn accepts a trade to SmackDown starting this Friday, everybody wins. Heyman has spoken to Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis. Rollins is going to do Zayn a favor if he accepts this offer. Heyman says that upon Zayn’s trade to SmackDown, he’ll face the winner of John Cena vs. Randy Orton. Just like that, he’s an instant title contender. Heyman tells Zayn to think of his future and his family’s future. Zayn can live in the future or die with the past. Heyman puts an arm around him and tells him to think about it. Heyman walks off. Bron Breakker is standing in the doorway, seething with anger.
Backstage Segment
Becky Lynch is walking backstage. We’ll hear from her next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Backlash: St. Louis is coming on Saturday, May 10.
Jeff Passan is at ringside. Ryan Blaney of NASCAR is also there.
“The Man” Becky Lynch addresses her attack on Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria
“The Man” Becky Lynch heads to the ring. The crowd cheers her, but there are some boos in there. Lynch says, “The Man has come around to Kansas City.” She is back in business, so let’s get down to it. Lynch sarcastically says Bayley was tragically taken out of her WrestleMania match, but there won’t be any murder mystery or weeks-long “who did it.” Lynch has found the culprit… “It was me! I did it!” The crowd boos.
Lynch yells at them not to act like she’s the bad guy and to fake outrage. That woman has attacked her nonstop since 2019. Not one time did Bayley apologize to her. Bayley forgets what this business is. While Bayley was begging for people to like her and wondering why she wasn’t a bigger star, she got to see a bigger star when Lynch walked down the ramp at WrestleMania.
That brings her to Lyra Valkyria. There’s an old phrase that goes “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” The reverse also works because “the friend of my enemy is my enemy.” Valkyria wouldn’t be in this business if not for Lynch. Lynch had high hopes for her, but while she was out, Valkyria was cozying up to the woman she’s been fighting for six years. Even then, she still tried to save her. She wanted Valkyria to “ditch that bitch.” She never would have won the Tag Titles with Bayley. Valkyria was already compromised. She’s already a loser.
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria has heard enough and comes out to the stage. Valkyria incredulously says Lynch had high hopes for her, but many women warned her about Lynch. Bayley was one of the first. She told Valkyria that Lynch would step on anyone’s throat to get ahead. Valkyria didn’t buy into it because she wanted to have Irish Tag Team Champions at WrestleMania. She didn’t buy it because of the hopes she had for Lynch. After multiple Manhandle Slams, she knows exactly what Lynch is. Valkyria gets on the apron. The illusion of Becky Lynch is dead. Valkyria wants to make her pay for what she did to her and Bayley. Lynch quickly gets out of the ring. Valkyria can’t believe she’s running away. Valkyria reminds her that she beat Lynch to win the NXT Women’s Championship.
Lynch says The Man only fights when it matters. It does not matter in Kansas City. Valkyria says the Man is too good for Kansas City. Valkyria then suggests Backlash and will put the title on the line to get her to do the match. Lynch says she’ll make the title matter like she made Valkyria matter. Valkyria tells her to shut up. Lynch never made her matter. Valkyria did that. She’s not interested in being the next Becky Lynch. She’ll be a better person than Lynch. She already knows she’s a better wrestler than Lynch. Lynch flips out at ringside, so Valkyria wipes her out with a Wrecking Ball Dropkick. Valkyria attacks her at ringside and gets her into the ring. Valkyria punches away at Lynch, but Lynch quickly escapes and runs through the crowd. Valkyria stands tall and gets a nice ovation.
Replays are shown of Lyra Valkyria’s attack on Becky Lynch.
Valkyria poses on the stage with the title. Lynch blindsides her and warns her not to forget her.
Backstage Segment
Penta is backstage when Interim Raw General Manager Nick Aldis comes up to him. Aldis says he can’t let Penta interfere in matches, but he won’t fine him. Aldis says he made a match for next week. Penta will battle JD McDonagh. Penta is excited. Chad Gable walks up with Ivy Nile. Gable says he wants to talk to a luchador on the descent. Gable says Penta beat him in his first match, but look at him now. Penta losing at WrestleMania wasn’t his favorite moment. It was when his “useless” brother, Rey Fenix, lost to El Grande Americano. Penta kicks Gable down and shouts that he’s messed with the Lucha Bros.
Backstage Segment
NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer is walking backstage and gets a HUGE ovation.
-Commercial Break-
Video: WWE’s great work with Make-A-Wish is showcased.
Video: Rusev says he had it all once upon a time. He had the gold, the fame, and a tank at WrestleMania. Then he lost himself. He left the WWE and fell into the abyss in Bulgaria. He found himself in the abyss and fixed himself. In hell, he realized he won’t fight for a woman that isn’t his or a flag that never was. He had an epiphany. Rusev is free to crush people not because he was told to, but because he wants to. He will use his hands and jacked body for good. Rusev will hunt the flawed, the arrogant, and those who waste their talents, just as he did. Through pain, he will perfect them all for good. He is the tempest rolling in. Rusev will hunt them and fix them, just as he fixed himself.
Non-Title Match
Ivy Nile w/ Chad Gable vs. NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer
Referee: Eddie Orengo
The bell rings, and Vaquer signals for a test of strength. Nile declines. Nile takes her down for a one-count. Nile hooks a front facelock and fights through some escape attempts. Vaquer twists out and hits a nice pinning combination for a one-count. Nile hooks a side headlock. Vaquer whips her off, but Nile shoulder tackles her. Nile hits the ropes, but Vaquer hits a shoulder tackle. Vaquer sends her into the ropes, but Nile connects with a head-scissor takeover. Vaquer answers back with a head-scissor into a roll-up for a two-count. Nile angrily gets up and swings, but Vaquer ducks and hits a vertical suplex. Vaquer grapevines the head for Devil’s Kiss, but Nile gets out of it and stretches her out. Vaquer rolls through and executes the Devil’s Kiss. Chad Gable is not happy.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the break, Vaquer hits another Devil’s Kiss. Vaquer crushes her with a running meteora in the corner and covers. 1… 2… Gable puts Nile’s foot on the bottom rope. Vaquer gets out of the ring and confronts Gable. Nile grabs Vaquer and gives her a German Suplex on the floor! Nile gets Vaquer in the ring and hits a running kick in the corner. Nile hits a German Suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Nile heads to the top rope, but Vaquer gets up and uppercuts her. Vaquer climbs the ropes, but Nile fights her off. Vaquer headbutts her before hitting a superplex. Vaquer covers for a near fall.
The crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Vaquer and Nile trade punches and slaps from their knees. They get to their feet and keep laying it in. Vaquer kicks her and goes for an SVB, but Nile counters into a swinging side slam for a near fall. Nile charges for a boot, but Vaquer moves. Vaquer gets Nile’s legs tied on the ropes and hits a dragon screw. Vaquer connects with the SVB for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer
Raw General Manager’s Office
Interim Raw General Manager Nick Aldis is giving a pep talk to AJ Styles. Even though it didn’t go his way at WrestleMania, Styles can get back on the horse with a list of new opponents. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez walk in with WWE Intercontinental Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. Morgan says she hates to tank the ratings on Raw, but she’ll be gone for a bit because she’s filming a big Hollywood movie. Aldis says the paperwork came through, and she is good to go.
Mysterio says he needs time off as well. Aldis asks why, and Mysterio replies he’s the champion and can do what he wants. Aldis says Mysterio should’ve listened to his old man. When you’re a champion, you have to show up more. Mysterio asks what he’s talking to Styles about… finding a retirement home? Didn’t he break his hip like his deadbeat dad? Styles says he’d like to break something. Morgan pulls Mysterio away. Styles turns to Aldis and says he has an idea.
Backstage Segment
Sami Zayn is pacing backstage when Karrion Kross walks up. Kross says Zayn has a big decision to make. Hopefully, he makes the correct one.
-Commercial Break-
Money in the Bank is coming to Los Angeles on Saturday, June 7, from the Intuit Dome.
Pat McAfee addresses last week’s attack by Gunther
Michael Cole apologizes for his mouth getting him and Pat McAfee into trouble last week. Cole believes that, after 28 years sitting behind the desk, he has earned the opportunity to offer his opinions. Sometimes he gets carried away because of his emotions and love for what they do.
Replay: Last week on Raw, Gunther attacked Michael Cole before Pat McAfee made the save. Gunther would then viciously attack McAfee and choke him out.
Cole says Raw General Manager Adam Pearce has suspended Gunther indefinitely.
McAfee gets on the commentary table and says it’s great to be in the home of the Chiefs. People have forgotten who the hell he is. McAfee has been so successful on the microphone that even he’s forgotten who the hell he is. This past week has made him look in the mirror and realize some things. He’s still that dog who was born in the East Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He’s the son of a truck driver who lived paycheck to paycheck. He wasn’t given a lot, but he’s blessed with great friends. McAfee went from an irrelevant bum to someone who is known around the world. He doesn’t have more talent than anyone else, but he has a few things he hopes people will remember him by. When he dies and is six feet in the dirt, he hopes people say he was in incredibly hard worker who worked his ass off for his friends, family, and community. He hopes they think of him as an empathetic man who gave millions of dollars to his community, children’s hospitals, military foundations, homeless shelters, LGBTQ communities, public schools, and underprivileged communities. He hopes they see that he left the world better than he found it. Last, but not least, when he’s dead and gone, they will say that he was a “loyal motherf—er.” The crowd loudly cheers.
A “McAfee” chant fires up. McAfee says you have to ride with those who ride for you. If one goes, all go. You’re either with him or against him. There’s one man who has been with him since he met him. He’s the greatest of all time, Michael Cole. The crowd loudly cheers Cole. A “Michael Cole” chant picks up. McAfee will be loyal to him until he’s in the soil. Last week, when that “Austrian asshole” put his hand on the GOAT, he had no option but to protect his boy. After it happened, he got attacked from behind. McAfee has seen himself choked out all over social media and television. His friends and family have been warning him about Gunther. McAfee curses and says, “If I die, I die.”
McAfee calls Nick Aldis out. Aldis comes out to the stage. Adam Pearce lets chaos reign, but that’s not his style. Aldis tells him to keep it professional. McAfee says he knows Aldis is a middle manager, but he can make things happen. McAfee isn’t happy that Gunther isn’t here. McAfee tells Aldis to lift the suspension so he can fight him ASAP. Aldis says he discussed this with Pearce. As far as lifting the suspension, the answer is no. They’re both valuable assets to the company. They can lift the suspension, and McAfee can get his hands on him as long as it is a sanctioned match in a WWE ring. Aldis suggests Pat McAfee face “The Ring General” Gunther at Backlash. McAfee agrees to the match!
Video: John Cena battled Randy Orton for the first time at SummerSlam 2007 for the WWE Championship. Cena defeated Orton to retain the title.
John Cena will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WWE Backlash: St. Louis.
Backstage Segment
Sami Zayn is deep in thought backstage when World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso comes up to him. Uso says he has a big decision to make. Uso says that whatever decision he makes, he loves Zayn. Zayn says he loves him, too, and they embrace.
Zayn walks off, and Uso looks a little worried. All of a sudden, he’s blindsided by Logan Paul with a huge right hand! Paul says that’s karma.
-Commercial Break-
SummerSlam is coming to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this August.
Next week on Raw from Omaha, Nebraska:
— Rusev vs. Otis
— Penta vs. JD McDonagh
Seth Rollins wants an answer from Sami Zayn
Seth Rollins is in the ring, and he looks very pensive. Rollins says it’s nearly the end of the night. He’d love for Sami Zayn to come out here and talk it out with him.
Sami Zayn makes his way to the ring. Zayn has a solemn look on his face. Rollins says that before Zayn makes his decision, he wants Zayn to hear him out. Zayn is putting him in a very difficult position. They go back a long way. For the life of him, he doesn’t want to see anything bad happen to Zayn. Rollins gets that Zayn doesn’t like Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman, but this is about them and twenty years of friendship. Last week, he watched Zayn come back to Raw and celebrate with Jey Uso because they’re friends. When Zayn came out tonight, Rollins was hoping Zayn would give him the same respect. Rollins knows Zayn disagrees with it, but he, Breakker, and Heyman are the way forward. Rollins believes with his whole heart that this is the vision for the best future of WWE. Rollins wishes he had someone else to believe in, but there is no one better to lead the future than him. The fact that Zayn doesn’t believe in him hurts. This business tears relationships and friendships apart. They’ve both been on the sides of those. How many true friends can Zayn count in this business? Less than five? For Rollins, Zayn is one of those true friends. When his baby girl was born, Zayn was one of the first people he called. Zayn had just become a new father himself. Rollins was scared out of his mind, and Zayn gave him the best advice he’d gotten in his life. Rollins is grateful for that.
Rollins begs Zayn to allow him to return the favor and give him a piece of advice that could save his life. Rollins thinks for a moment and says, “Take the pass, Sami. Take the way out. Whatever Heyman’s got lined up for you, take it, man.” If Zayn stays on Raw and doesn’t believe in him, bad things will happen. Rollins begs Zayn to take the out.
Zayn looks conflicted and has his head down. Zayn looks at Rollins and says that if he hurt his feelings, as a friend, he’s sorry. Everything Rollins is saying is true. Their friendship transcends this business. Their kids play together. Outside of the ring, that’s true. When it comes to everything Rollins says inside this ring, Zayn thinks Rollins is playing games. Rollins is really good at it. That’s why he’s in his position. Rollins uses those games because Zayn has confided in him. Rollins is dangling the one thing Zayn has wanted, the WWE World Championship. Has Rollins ever known Zayn to run away? Rollins talks about hurt feelings, but he won’t stand here while his “friend” threatens him. Rollins is saying that if Zayn doesn’t acquiesce to his vision, then he will be a target. Zayn can live being a target, but he can’t live with being blackballed and extorted. Zayn shouts, “I will not be threatened!” Zayn will win the WWE Championship. He will become a World Champion. When he does, it won’t be because of any favors from anyone. He’ll get it because he did it the right way. Zayn says, “So buddy, as a friend, I respect you. I love you, but this is me telling you to go to hell.”
Rollins looks upset and shakes his head at Zayn. Bron Breakker’s music hits, and he comes dressed to wrestle with Paul Heyman trailing behind him.
-Commercial Break-
Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker w/ Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman
Referee: Chad Patton
The bell rings, and Breakker immediately tackles Zayn into the corner. Breakker hits some shoulder thrusts before connecting with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Seth Rollins stoically watches from ringside. Breakker rakes Zayn’s face on the top rope. Breakker whips Zayn into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Zayn boots him in the face and comes off the second rope with a double ax handle. Zayn kicks him in the midsection and bounces him off the top turnbuckle. Zayn comes off the second rope with an ax handle attempt, but Breakker catches him and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Breakker taunts the crowd and grabs Zayn before talking some trash. Breakker chokes Zayn on the middle rope and sends him into the ropes for a back elbow.
Zayn fights back and chops the chest. Breakker quickly knees him, but Zayn sends him into the ropes. Zayn drops down and goes for a leapfrog, but Breakker slams him out of mid-air for a two-count. Breakker backs Zayn into the ropes and knees away at the midsection. Breakker sends him into the ropes, but Zayn springboards over him and hits a clothesline. Zayn then sends him over the top rope. Breakker quickly grabs him as he goes to the apron and pulls him down. Breakker bounces Zayn off the commentary table a few times before leaping up to the apron. Breakker dives and clotheslines him over the commentary table.
-Commercial Break-
Back from the final break of the evening, Zayn fights off a superplex attempt. Zayn connects with a sunset flip powerbomb for a two-count. The crowd is holding up their cell phone flashlights for some reason. Zayn goes for an exploder into the turnbuckles, but Breakker fights it. Zayn grabs the arm and climbs the ropes for a tornado DDT. 1… 2… Breakker kicks out.
Heyman looks a little worried, but Rollins’s expression hasn’t changed. Zayn goes to the top rope, but Breakker crotches him. Zayn fights him off, but Breakker scales the ropes and hits a Frankensteiner. Breakker sizes him up and charges for a Spear, but Zayn kicks him in the face and hits an exploder into the turnbuckles. Zayn goes to the opposite corner and gets the crowd going. Zayn charges for a Helluva Kick, but Breakker counters with a Spear. Heyman looks fired up. Rollins coldly looks at Breakker and nods at him. Breakker hits the ropes at a wicked speed and hits a second Spear.
Zayn rolls to the apron, gasping for air. Rollins says, “It doesn’t have to be this way. Take the out. There’s still time.” Zayn defiantly shouts, “Go to hell!” Breakker hits the ropes and connects with a third Spear. The dogs are barking in the crowd. Zayn rolls out of the ring and falls at Rollins’s feet. Referee Chad Patton goes to ringside and shouts for some EMTs. Heyman tells Rollins this isn’t his fault. Rollins goes over to Breakker and nods again. Breakker leaves the ring, runs around, and crushes Zayn with a fourth Spear on the floor!
The crowd chants, “One more time.” Zayn is struggling to breathe. Breakker gets Zayn in the ring. Patton lies on top of Zayn and calls for the bell to end the match.
Winner by Referee Stoppage: Bron Breakker
WWE Official Jamie Noble begs Breakker off. Rollins talks to Breakker in the corner. Rollins tells him some people deserve their respect and affection. Zayn made his bed. Rollins turns and crushes Zayn with a Stomp! Rollins stands tall as Heyman evilly looks on with Breakker by his side. Raw comes to an end at 10:33 EST.
Quick Match Results
— Rhea Ripley def. Roxanne Perez via DQ
— The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) def. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh) in a Tag Team Match
— NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer def. Ivy Nile
— Bron Breakker def. Sami Zayn via Referee Stoppage
Email – mike@wrestleview.com
X – @MikeTedescoWV
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