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WWE RAW REPORT
MAY 5, 2025
OMAHA, NEB. AT CHI HEALTH CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON NETFLIX (WORLDWIDE)
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 10,558 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 12,192. The arena has a capacity of 18,975 spectators when configured for concerts.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Chris Maitland to review WWE Raw LIVE tonight right after the show ends. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a four minute highlight package on last week’s angle with Paul Heyman’s crew and Sami Zayn that led to Bron Breakker vs. Sami and eventually Sami being beaten down as Heyman said you can live with the future or die with the past.
-They went to an aerial view of Omaha, Neb. as Michael Cole introduced the show. They showed Iyo Sky walking backstage followed by “feisty upstart” Roxanne Perez, her opponent on the show. Then Otis arriving with Maxinne Dupri and Akira Tozawa. Then Rusev and finally Gunther.
-Jey Uso was standing in the concourse surrounded by fans. He then made his way to the ring. Cole cautioned Pat McAfee on standing on the table since that started problems. McAfee yelled, “I’m Yeeting for life, Cole!” Cole said fans are yeeting around the world for Jey. Jey slapped hands with McAfee while he was standing on the desk and then Cole who was standing behind the desk. Cole said Jey told him he is busier than he’s ever been in his life now that he’s champion and he’s loving every second of it. McAfee said Jey was born for the spotlight, but stressed how hard he had to work to earn it.
About 11 minutes into the show, Jey began talking. He said he knows Logan Paul is in the house and he called him out. Instead, Paul Heyman walked out and introduced himself. He said he came there not to disrespect World Champion Jey Uso. He said he “dragged” himself to Omaha (he said the city full of disdain and disrespect) to say something directly to Jey.
Jey said he had a lot of balls to step into the ring with him after what he did to his family. Heyman asked if he was really going to lecture him about betraying Roman Reigns. Jey said he is. He said he warned his cousin Roman and C.M. Punk too. Heyman said no one bothered to warn him. He said Jey should’ve warned him about Punk. He told the fans to keep their boos to themselves while he has a microphone in his hand. He said his best friend in the world, Punk, put him in a position where he absolutely positively was guaranteed to sabotage his relationship with Reigns. Fans drowned him out with a “C.M. Punk!” chant. He mocked them.
Heyman said he had a dream with his best friend in the world C.M. Punk while Reigns was still playing high school football, long before he even thought about following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and stepping into the wrestling ring. “What did Roman Reigns think I was going to do?!” he said. “Why would he do that after I built the Bloodline for five freakin’ years,” Heyman said. Boos rang out. Heyman paused. He said he found a big stray dog on the island of irrelevancy and turned him into the Tribal Chief and ruler of the WWE Universe. He said he wasn’t the one who blew it all by getting distracted by Seth Rollins and losing to Cody.
“He lost the title that I spent five years of my life building him up as the champion,” he said. “Then what did he do? He disappears. He goes back to being a big dog licking his big wounds and he leaves me in the hands of Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu and the Tongans who put me through a table at Madison Square Garden and almost ended my 40 year career.” He said when Reigns did return, he didn’t seek to avenge him, he came back to get his Ula back. “But I betrayed Roman Reighs, huh?” he said. He yelled that he’s always the liar and always at fault and the betrayer and the double-crosser. “I’m always the freakin’ scumbag in this situation,” he yelled, red-faced. “This time I’m right. I’m right. And you blame me. Screw you!” He also told the fans “screw you.”
Jey seemed a little freaked out about Heyman’s intensity but also conveying perhaps some sympathy for his framing of the story. A loud “You suck!” chant rang out. It switched to “Asshole!”
Jey snidely asked, “Are you okay?” Jey asked what all that has to do with him. Heyman gathered himself and said he owed Jey an apology. “It has nothing to do with you,” he said. “Not that part.” He said he didn’t come out there to talk about Reigns and Punk. He said what he wanted to say to Jey is something that has everything to do with Jey.
Heyman told Jey he won the title because he wants the title, which is all about power and control. He said he doesn’t know how to wield power and control. He said Jey doesn’t understand that leverage. He said Jey thinks Yeeting and putting in the best in-ring performance is all that matters. He said while Jey wants to be champion, Seth has to be champion. “Seth Rollins has to have that power, that control,” he said. Heyman said regarding Bron Breakker, that was just stage one of their plan. He said Jey’s title is stage two.
Heyman said he has a favor to ask, and those always work out well. He said he’ll let Jey pick out the night he’ll lose the title. He said Seth hereby challenges him for the World Heavyweight Championship. He said Seth will fight him for the title anytime, anyplace. He threw the mic down and leaned into Jey, then began to leave. Jey told him to hold up.
Jey asked if Omaha could help him out. He asked if he really said anytime, anyplace. Heyman cowered in the corner. Jey said, “Well Omaha, it’s tonight!” Cole said, “Oh man.” McAfee asked if that was official. Cole said Heyman manipulated Jey into defending the title.
-They went to Cole and McAfee at ringside who reacted. Cole said they’d see if G.M. Adam Pearce made it official. He then threw to a video package on Penta-Judgement Day.
(Keller’s Analysis: Heyman was great there. That’s a case where yelling works because it felt earned because of his angst over how he saw two people important to him treated him and his indignant perspective that he was being wrongly blamed for his response to it. When Jey said he wanted to defend tonight in Omaha, how many viewers felt less than excited because of all of the lame non-finishes recently in big matches on WWE TV? Who could blame any WWE viewer for instantly writing off the match as a possible title change or even a match that would have an actual finish between the two wrestlers?)
-Penta made his ring entrance. Cole noted he has a remixed entrance theme. [c]
-Backstage, Heyman approached Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker. (They started by showing Heyman walking up to them instead of showing Seth and Bron first for NO REASON before Heyman the entered the picture. That feels more realistic than how WWE usually presents those backstage segments. I hope they stick with that.) Heyman told Seth, “He fell for it. I cannot believe he fell for it. He wants to do the match tonight. You were so right!” Seth said more than anything, he likes to say “I told you so.” Seth left. Heyman told Breakker, “He did tell me so.” Heyman asked Breakker if he understands everything going on. He said C.M. Punk and Roman Reigns lost to Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. He said Jey tapped out Gunther at WrestleMania. He said Jey is no easy day in the park, but Jey isn’t focused on Seth. He said he’s distracted by Logan Paul. He said Seth is a sniper and he has Jey in his sights. “Tonight, Bron Breakker, we get handed the keys to the kingdom when the referee hands the WWE Championship to Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins,” he said. Breakker smiled.
-They went to Heyman and McAfee who said Pearce has made the match official. He said the World Title will be put on the line for the first time on Raw in seven months.
(1) PENTA vs. J.D. MCDONAGH (w/Carlito, Finn Balor)
The bell rang 32 minutes into the hour. At 3:00, after a distraction by Balor, McDonagh gave Penta a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron. Then they cut to a break. [c]
Penta avoided a running slidekick by McDonagh in the corner. Penta landed a Sling Blade and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Carlito yanked Penta by his mask from behind. Penta kicked him. McDonagh charged, but Penta side-stepped him and threw him to ringside. Penta then leaped off the top rope with a crossbody onto McDonagh and Carlito at ringside. Balor then tried to interfere. The ref ordered Balor, McDonagh, and Carlito to the back. They threw a fit. Chad Gable then interrupted Penta’s offense from the ring apron. Penta took him down at ringside, but then McDonagh went on the attack. Penta avoided a top rope moonsault and then landed his Mexican Destroyer for the win.
WINNER: Penta in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match, as you’d expect with those two, with the story of the match revolving around Penta overcoming interference on the outside.)
-Backstage Grayson Waller complained to Pearce about the match he booked him in. Austin Theory walked in and asked what was up. Waller offered Theory his match. Theory accepted it immediately. Pearce granted him the wish and left. Theory asked, “Who is it against?” Waller said it’s better as a surprise, but he’s got it. [c]
-Cole plugged When Worlds Collide and Money in the Bank in Los Angeles. Then they showed an aerial view of Omaha as he talked about WWE’s history in the city. They showed Anthony Smith, a retired UFC fighter, in the front row.
(2) SHEAMUS vs. AUSTIN THEORY (w/Grayson Waller)
Theory and Waller were in the ring. Sheamus came out, surprising Theory. Cole asked when Theory would realize Waller didn’t have his best interests in mind. Cole said they hadn’t seen Sheamus since the Royal Rumble. The bell rang 50 minutes into the hour. Sheamus dominated early. Theory rolled to ringside. Sheamus leaped off the top rope and forearmed Theory. Cole said Waller didn’t seem concerned for his partner. Sheamus played to the crowd. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Theory countered Sheamus bending him over the top rope to land forearms by dropping down and snapping his neck. When Theory charged at Sheamus, Sheamus kneed him and scored a two count. Theory avoided a charging Sheamus in the corner and then rallied including a blockbuster for a two count at 7:00. Cole plugged the main event and said Jey has never defeated Seth in his career. “Streaks are meant to be broken,” said McAfee. Sheamus landed a White Noise off the second rope. He caught his breath before following up. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
Theory crawled over and asked Waller, “Why did you do this?” Sheamus then gave him his series of forearm smashes against his chest. The crowd chanted to 14. Sheamus then landed a Brogue Kick for the win. Cole said Waller passing the match to Theory might’ve been the smartest thing he ever did.
WINNER: Sheamus in 9:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A suitable way to fill some TV time and reintroduced Sheamus.)
-Cole announced that Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta has been added to WWE Backlash for the Intercontinental Title. Cole noted Waller and Theory were arguing.
[HOUR TWO]
-McDonagh was frustrated backstage. Dom said he’d get revenge. A.J. Styles showed up. He said R-Truth told him where they were. He said he didn’t want to cause trouble. He said he had a friendly warning. He said he’s going after the Intercontinental Title after Backlash. He said he’d beat up Dom regardless of if he wins at Backlash. Dom said he knew being champion would tough, but this was worse than he imagined. He asked Balor to try to talk to Styles for him since they have a history. Balor acted upset, but then said he was just kidding.
-Gable was checking his nose for blood. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods walked in and said they think American Made should get opportunities that the War Raiders are getting. Becky Lynch walked between them. Xavier said what Lyra Valkyria did was messed up. Lynch nodded and walked to the entrance tunnel. [c]
-Cole plugged Summerslam tickets. He plugged Becky challenging Valkyria for the IC Title at Backlash.
-Becky was in the ring without entrance music playing. Fans booed. She said, “The Man has come back to Omaha!” She said she’s very confused about fans telling her she sucks. “You guys are treating me like I’m the bad guy, like I am the victim here,” she said. She said she did take out Bayley, but when she walked down the ramp at WrestleMania, everyone in the crowd lost their minds. She said no one asked where Bayley was and no one cared. “Of course they didn’t; she’s garbage,” she said. “I took out the garbage.” She said when someone takes out the garbage, you’re supposed to say thank you. “What’s more, I also took out the recycling,” she said. She said Lyra is less offensive than regular garbage, but she’s still garbage. She said she wouldn’t have a title if not for her or even make history. “She doesn’t even have a freakin’ fiance if isn’t for me,” she said. “And I get all this disrespect?” Valkyria interrupted.
Valkyria asked if she really just called her “recycling.” She said Lynch is the queen of recycling. She has been recycling the same tired old act for years. She said she has an issue with her acting like she had anything to do with her success. She said Becky didn’t make her. She said she went on holiday and everyone got better in her absence. She said she made history and then she held up her IC Title. She said she has defended the title more times than Becky has shown up to work this year.
Lyra said Becky did shatter glass ceilings for women wrestlers, and she’s grateful, but she left broken glass everywhere and she never had any intentions of taking anyone else to the top with her. Becky said it’s true everyone had the best year of their careers when she was gone, but only because she wasn’t around to be compared against. She said it’s her job to beat everybody “and I am very freakin’ good at my job.” She cited Sports Illustrated saying that. She said Lyra will only ever be the moment after the moment.
Valkyria then said she would list Becky’s achievements. She listed landmark moments for her except for being the first-ever women’s Intercontinental Champion. She said that was her and she held up her belt. She told Becky to get used to being in second place now. Becky tried to take a cheap shot, but Valkyria blocked her swing and went on the attack. They battled at ringside and then back into the ring. Valkyria blocked a Manhandle Slam and landed her Night Wing. She stood over Becky as her music played.
-Cole hyped Jey vs. Seth.
-Roxanne Perez made her entrance. [c]
-Cole hyped Crown Jewel: Perth on Oct. 11 as part of a weekend of WWE events including Smackdown and Raw. Cole said Ripley has been doing media promotions in Australia for the event all week.
-A clip aired of Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez with Guilia attacking Ripley with Iyo Sky making the save.
(3) IYO SKY vs. ROXANNE PEREZ – Women’s World Title match
The bell rang 22 minutes into the hour. They fought back and forth. McAfee and Cole talked about Perez training since she was 15 and taking ten hour bus rides to train with Booker T. Sky landed a running dive through the ropes. Perez knocked Sky out of mid-air on a slingshot and then kicked her knee. They cut to a break at 3:00 as Perez was yelling at the ref to count her out. [c]
Sky landed a top rope dropkick and then kipped up and played to the cheering crowd. “Just a joy to watch,” said Cole. “Just infectious.” Her knee gave out. Perez went after her, but Iyo rolled through and stomped on her chest. She scored a two count. Sky landed a butterfly backbreaker a minute later. Cole wondered if her right leg would hold up. Sky went for an Over the Moonsault. Sky avoided it and rallied including a cartwheel knee to the back of Sky’s neck for a near fall. She let out a screech in frustration at 9:00.
They exchanged rapid-fire two counts back and forth and eventually Sky leveraged Perz down for a three count. Cole said Sky loves what she does and loves being champion.
WINNER: Sky in 11:00.
-Perez offered a handshake afterward. Sky accepted the handshake and bowed. Perez bowed. Sky smiled. There was no further incident as Perez left the ring, but then Giulia attacking Sky from behind. Perez laughed at ringside and then joined in, making it a two-on-one beatdown. Giulia held Sky as Perez kicked her. Cole called it a statement from “these NXT…” and then he stopped. McAfee added, “…badasses.”
-They hyped Otis vs. Rusev. Cole said it was Rusev’s first match in WWE in over five years. [c]
-They showed Matt Rhule, head coach of the University of Nebraska football team. They showed a couple current players, also.
(4) RUSEV vs. OTIS (w/Maxinne Dupri, Akira Tozawa)
Otis was already in the ring. Rusev’s ring entrance took place. Cole said Rusev went on social media and said, basically, “Otis, I don’t want to hurt you.” Cole said Rusev is going to look after wrestlers who need fixing “so they can end what they are now to create a reformation of them later on.” He said Rusev sees Otis as a reformation candidate. He said Rusev thinks he doesn’t take things seriously enough, but he believes Otis can be a killer. The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour.
Rusev and Otis locked up in a test of strength. Rusev then battered Otis in the corner. Rusev landed a German suplex and they cut to a break. [c]
Otis fought back at ringside with an overhead toss of Rusev into the announce desk. Otis rammed Rusev into the ringside steps. He threw Rusev back into the ring. Rusev met a charging Otis with a big boot. He let out a roar and stomped Otis before applying his Accolade for the tapout win. Rusev held it a few extra seconds.
WINNER: Rusev in 6:00.
-Tozawa entered the ring and got in Rusev’s face. He tore off his t-shirt and yelled, “Right here, right now! Come on!” Rusev waved him off and began to walk up the aisle. Rusev then turned back to the ring and dropped Tozawa on Otis. Rusev threw Otis shoulder-first into the ringpost and then he threw him to the floor. He landed his signature side kick to the jaw and then put him back in the Accolade. Pearce entered the ring with other officials and implored him to release Tozawa. Natalya had shown up to console Maxinne at ringside. “Vigilante justice by Rusev,” said Cole. [c]
-Cole hyped the May 25 Saturday Night’s Main Event and other events that weekend including NXT Battleground, Raw, and NXT.
-A clip aired of Tozawa helping Otis to the back as Otis winced in pain.
-In the ring, Pearce said he wanted to try to get the show back on track. He invited McAfee into the ring followed by Gunther. Gunther walked out. Pearce said they can say what they have to say, but no physical contact and “keep it professional.” He said Saturday on Backlash, the time for talking is over.
McAfee extended his arms as if to invite Gunther to speak first. Gunther said he won’t do anything tonight because “I won’t spoil it for myself.” He said he is unprofessional, unlike Cole. Fans chanted, “You tapped out!” Gunther said he’d get back to that later.
McAfee said he heard him point at his friend Cole. He said Cole is “a walking talking GOAT over there.” Fans chanted, “Michael Cole! Michael Cole!” He said for 28 years, every week of his life, except for three times, he traveled the world. “28 years straight, 52 weeks a year for this company,” he said.
McAfee said he had an opinion on Gunther. He complimented Omaha, Nebraska. He said their streak are the best. “Nobody beats this town’s meat,” he said. He talked about the College World Series being hosted there every year since 1950. He said Omaha is the symbol of working hard and dreams coming true. He said he and Gunther both grew up with the same dream, idolizing the Superstars of yesterday and watching TV for hours and hours thinking they were put on Earth to be pro wrestlers.
[HOUR THREE]
He said the problem with Gunther’s dream is that he’s been at it 20 years and he’s been a champion for 80 percent of his time in WWE. He said for Gunther, it’s a job. He said when he enters a WWE arena, he thinks about 11 or 12 year old him and it’s still a dream come true. He called him an asshole. He said at this stage – “as opposed to the Waltering around stage” – that he doesn’t want it anymore. “You’ve gotten too damn comfortable,” he said. He said it happened with Sami and Jey, and he’ll also overlook him on Saturday. He said he will prove to everyone that this version of Gunther is soft.
Gunther asked him if he enjoyed his little daughter’s birthday last week. He said she’s 2 years old and cute and it was surely a special day for her. He said Saturday will be a special day for him, and he just got him in the mood for it. He said he’ll show up more focused than ever before. He promised him his full and undivided attention. He said on Saturday, he will maul him and drive his head into the mat and choke him out until he drops like a wet towel. McAfee didn’t flinch as he stared into Gunther’s eyes. He said he is untouchable tonight “by my own grace.” He said Saturday “only the grace of God will lift my arms off your throat.” Gunther left the ring.
Cole said reality might be sinking in for McAfee. He said he hopes McAfee knows what he’s doing. Cole then plugged that John Cena would be on Smackdown on Friday. McAfee said it’s a compliment Gunther is giving him his full attention.
-A video package aired on the history of Cena and Orton.
-Cole hyped the Backlash line-up.
-They showed Jey Uso backstage.
-Seth Rollins’s ring entrance took place, accompanied by Heyman and Breakker. [c]
-Cole hyped next week’s Raw including Balor vs. Styles, War Raiders vs. The Creed Brothers, and Perez & Giulia vs. Sky & Ripley.
(5) JEY USO vs. SETH ROLLINS – World Heavyweight Title match
Jey’s ring entrance took place. McAfee said Heyman told him to thank him for this main event. The bell rang 15 minutes into the hour. McAfee said Heyman and Breakker look like they just took a trip back from the sun (a spray tan comment). When Seth got early advantage on Jey, Heyman sang Seth’s song. The fans Yeeted in response. (This might just work at stopping fans from singing Seth’s song and cheering for him.) Jey made a comeback and dove through the ropes, sending Seth onto and over the announce desk. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
They collided mid-air at 9:00. They stood and exchanged strikes. Jey tried to drag Seth to the floor a minute later, but Seth kicked him and the landed his obligatory dive through the ropes to ringside. When he leaped at Jey off the top rope, Jey kicked him out of mid-air and scored a near fall at 12:00. Both were down and slow to get up.
Seth kicked a charging Jey. He gave Jey a buckle bomb in the corner and then went for a frog splash. Jey moved and leaped at Seth. Seth caught him mid-air with a Pedigree for a dramatic near fall. (It’s nice not having a set end-time for these Raw main events as it does add some extra potential for drama for those noting the time.) A “Holy shit!” chant rang out.
Seth set up a Stomp, but Jey moved and applied a sleeper. Seth armdragged out of it. Jey speared Seth seconds later and scored a near fall at 15:00. Jey climbed to the top rope. Seth met him up there. Jey shoved him. Seth pulled the ref down. Breakker knocked Jey off balance. Seth delivered a superplex to Jey and then rolled through into a Falcon Arrow. Seth then set up a Stomp and delivered it. Cole said he didn’t get all of it. Jey kicked out. As Seth had a conference with Breakker, Sami’s music played.
Breakker marched toward the entrance aisle, but Sami leaped onto him from the crowd. He threw Breakker into the ringpost. Jey then superkicked a distracted Seth and landed a spear. Jey leaped off the top rope with a frog splash for a near fall. Both were down and slow to get up again at 18:00. Meanwhile, Breakker speared Sami at ringside. Breakker then speared Jey at ringside as Heyman distracted the ref. Seth then gave Jey a Stomp. Cole said, “Seth is going to win the damn heavyweight title,” giving away he definitely wasn’t. C.M. Punk came out to his music and went after Seth in the ring, bashing him with a chair across the back and then jabbing him in the gut with the chair. He smashed Breakker, too. Fans loudly chanted “C.M. Punk!” Sami stood next to him as Punk’s music played. Heyman, Breakker, and Seth retreated up the aisle. Cole said Uso is still the champion.
WINNER: Rollins via DQ (?) in 20:00.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Chris Maitland to review WWE Raw LIVE tonight right after the show ends. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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