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WWE RAW REPORT
MAY 5, 2025
OMAHA, NEB. AT CHI HEALTH CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON NETFLIX (WORLDWIDE)
REPORT BY MAURICIO POMARES, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
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.
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[HOUR ONE]
– The show opened with a video package recapping Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker’s assault of Sami Zayn.
– Jey Uso had a lengthy entrance to the ring before calling Logan Paul out. Paul Heyman interrupted to speak personally with the world champion. Jey said that he saw through Heyman and warned Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Heyman said that Punk put him in a position to sabotage his relationship with Roman. Heyman said that he turned Roman in the Tribal Chief and he still left him after losing his world title. He yelled that this time he wasn’t wrong and told the fans to get screwed for booing him.
– Heyman said that he wasn’t here to talk about Roman, but to talk about the world title. Heyman said that the world title was about power, but Jey didn’t know anything about power. He said that Seth Rollins needed that belt and said that he would give Jey the chance to choose the time and place for their match. Jey cornered Heyman and told him that the match would take place tonight.
(Pomares’ Analysis: A very impassioned promo from Paul Heyman who confirmed all the rumors as to why he chose to side with Seth Rollins. Surprising to see the match booked for tonight, but I doubt there’s any real chance that Seth could win so soon. However, I’ll gladly take a short world title reign if it means I don’t have to see a Jey vs. Logan feud.)
– A recap of the War Raiders beating the Judgment Day after interference from Penta was shown.
– Penta made his way to the ring, ahead of his match against JD McDonagh.
[Commercial Break]
– Backstage, Paul Heyman told Seth Rollins that Jey Uso fell for it and the title match was official. Heyman hyped up the match
(1) PENTA vs. JD MCDONAGH (w/Finn Bálor & Carlito)
JD took Penta down with an arm drag and tripped him off his feet. Penta avoided a Penalty kick, only for JD to hit him with a standing moonsault. Penta attacked JD with chops to the chest and kicks to the legs. JD blocked a superplex and kicked Penta to the apron, but Penta quickly retaliated with an enzuigiri. Finn distracted Penta, allowing JD to plant him with a Death Valley Driver on the apron, as WWE Raw went to commercials.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, JD missed a sliding dropkick and hit his crotch into the ring post. Penta immediately hit JD with an elevated dropkick in the corner. Penta blasted JD with chops to the chest and forearm strikes, followed by a rising kick and an inverted sling blade. JD missed a strike, allowing Penta to floor him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. Finn distracted the referee while Carlito pulled Penta’s mask.
Penta knocked Carlito off the apron with an enzuigiri and tossed JD out of the ring, setting them up for a high crossbody. Finn swept Penta off the apron behind the referee’s back and tossed him back into the ring, only for the referee to eject him and Carlito from ringside. Chad Gable grabbed Penta’s leg, but Penta quickly hit him with a suicide dive. JD shocked Penta with a jawbreaker, only to miss a moonsault, allowing Penta to take the win with a Destroyer.
WINNER: Penta at 10:54
(Pomares’ Analysis: A solid opening to maintain Penta strong, continue Finn’s inability to help Judgment Day and continue this Penta/Gable feud. I’m assuming they are building to a Penta vs. Grande Americano match at Backlash or Saturday Night’s Main Event.)
– Backstage, Grayson Waller argued with Adam Pearce about his match tonight. Austin Theory showed up and Waller immediately offered him his spot tonight. Pearce begrudgingly agreed and Waller told Theory that it would be a surprise.
[Commercial Break]
(2) AUSTIN THEORY (w/Grayson Waller) vs. SHEAMUS
Sheamus attacked Theory with a series of forearm strikes and uppercuts. Theory caught Sheamus with a dropkick, only for Sheamus to lay him out with a clothesline. Sheamus floored Theory with two Irish Curses and trapped him in a Cloverleaf. Theory was barely able to reach the ropes and roll out of the ring. Sheamus took Theory down with a diving clothesline, as WWE Raw went to an ad break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Sheamus dropped Theory with a tilt-a-whirl powerslam, only for Theory to pull his head into the ropes. Sheamus blocked a rolling move with a pump knee for a two count. Theory evaded a diving clothesline and made Sheamus crash into the ring post, setting him up for a thrust kick and a rolling blockbuster. Sheamus flattened Theory with an avalanche White Noise and beat him down with the Beats of Bodhran. Sheamus hit Theory with a Brogue Kick to pick up the win.
WINNER: Sheamus at 9:39
(Pomares’ Analysis: Fine match while it lasted. It feels like they are close to finally pulling the trigger on breaking up Theory and Waller, but this seems like a case too little, far too late. Also, it’s cool to have Sheamus back, but I get the feeling he is really reaching a point in his career where I just see him as a stepping stone for other title contenders.)
– It was announced that Dominik Mysterio would defend his Intercontinental title against Penta at Backlash.
– Backstage, AJ Styles confronted the Judgment Day and warned Dominik Mysterio that he would come for his title after Backlash. Dominik asked Finn to take care of AJ for him.
– Backstage, New Day told Chad Gable that it was time that American Made got some respect. They said that if they took care of the War Raiders, they could get them some opportunities.
[Commercial Break]
[HOUR TWO]
– Becky Lynch stood in the middle of the ring and claimed that she was the victim. Lynch said that they cheered when she out out the garbage in Bayley. Lynch said that Lyra was similar and she wouldn’t have anything if it wasn’t for her. Lyra Valkyria interrupted to tell Lynch that she didn’t make her. Lyra said that while Lynch went on holidays, she made history and won gold. She said that she thanked her for what she did for the division, but she never had any intention of taking anyone to the top with her. Lynch said that everyone got better because she wasn’t there.
– Lynch claimed that she was the best and event Sports Illustrated agreed with her. Lyra started listing Lynch’s accomplishments before reminding her that she wasn’t the first women’s Intercontinental champion. Lyra said that while she was here, Lynch should get used to being second. Lynch tried to attack Lyra, only for Lyra to take her out with a hook kick. They continued brawling, until Lyra blocked the Manhandle Slam and dropped Lynch with Nightwing.
(Pomares’ Analysis: Another strong showing from Lyra Valkyria who has finally been given some much needed mic time. She and Becky have great chemistry and this is easily the first meaningful feud either of the women’s midcard champions have been a part of.)
– Roxanne Perez made her way to the ring, ahead of her match against Iyo Sky.
[Commercial Break]
– A recap of Rhea Ripley saving Iyo Sky from a post-match assault by Giulia and Roxanne Perez.
(3) IYO SKY vs. ROXANN PEREZ
Perez nailed Sky with a slap and went for a headscissors takeover, but Sky landed on her feet. Sky blasted Perez with a dropkick before Perez turned her inside out with a dropkick to the knee. Perez smashed Sky’s knee on the mat and caught her off-guard with a dragon screw into the ropes. Perez crashed into Sky with a suicide dive, only for Sky to retaliate with a suicide dive into a crossbody. Back in the ring, Perez swept Sky off her feet and stomped her leg into the turnbuckle, as WWE Raw went to a commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
[HOUR TWO]
– Becky Lynch stood in the middle of the ring and claimed that she was the victim. Lynch said that they cheered when she out out the garbage in Bayley. Lynch said that Lyra was similar and she wouldn’t have anything if it wasn’t for her. Lyra Valkyria interrupted to tell Lynch that she didn’t make her. Lyra said that while Lynch went on holidays, she made history and won gold. She said that she thanked her for what she did for the division, but she never had any intention of taking anyone to the top with her. Lynch said that everyone got better because she wasn’t there.
– Lynch claimed that she was the best and event Sports Illustrated agreed with her. Lyra started listing Lynch’s accomplishments before reminding her that she wasn’t the first women’s Intercontinental champion. Lyra said that while she was here, Lynch should get used to being second. Lynch tried to attack Lyra, only for Lyra to take her out with a hook kick. They continued brawling, until Lyra blocked the Manhandle Slam and dropped Lynch with Nightwing.
(Pomares’ Analysis: Another strong showing from Lyra Valkyria who has finally been given some much needed mic time. She and Becky have great chemistry and this is easily the first meaningful feud either of the women’s midcard champions have been a part of.)
– Roxanne Perez made her way to the ring, ahead of her match against Iyo Sky.
[Commercial Break]
– A recap of Rhea Ripley saving Iyo Sky from a post-match assault by Giulia and Roxanne Perez.
(3) IYO SKY vs. ROXANN PEREZ
Perez nailed Sky with a slap and went for a headscissors takeover, but Sky landed on her feet. Sky blasted Perez with a dropkick before Perez turned her inside out with a dropkick to the knee. Perez smashed Sky’s knee on the mat and caught her off-guard with a dragon screw into the ropes. Perez crashed into Sky with a suicide dive, only for Sky to retaliate with a suicide dive into a crossbody. Back in the ring, Perez swept Sky off her feet and stomped her leg into the turnbuckle, as WWE Raw went to a commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Sky launched Perez across the ring with an avalanche arm drag. Sky dropped Perez with an uppercut, a flapjack and a roundhouse kick. Sky knocked Perez away with a missile dropkick, but couldn’t go for a double knee strike due to her hurt knee. Perez tried to go for a roll-through, only for Sky to counter it with a double stomp. Sky planted Perez with a German suplex before receiving an Olympic Slam. Sky nailed Perez with a double underhook backbreaker and climbed the top turnbuckle. Perez evaded a moonsault and spiked Sky with a basement rana, followed by a cartwheel knee drop to the head for a nearfall. Sky avoided Pop Rox, but Perez shou her down with a dragon screw. They exchanged numerous pinning combinations, until Sky was able to pick up the three count.
WINNER: Iyo Sky at 10:09
– After the match, Roxanne Perez shook Iyo Sky’s hand. Giulia attacked Sky from behind and Perez returned to join the attack. They hit Sky with a thrust kick and Curb Stomp combination.
(Pomares’ Analysis: Another great match as part of this tag feud that for once had an actual finish. I’m not fully sure what the immediate plan for Perez and Giulia is, but as long as I get more Roxanne Perez on TV, I’m satisfied.)
[Commercial Break]
(4) RUSEV vs. OTIS (w/Akira Tozawa & Maxxine Dupri)
Rusev cornered Otis and stomped him down before nailing him with a pair of clotheslines. Otis avoided a clothesline and hit Rusev with a body block, only for Rusev to shut him down with a leg lariat, as WWE Raw went to commercials.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Rusev dropped Otis with a Xploder over the announce table. Otis drove Rusev into the steel steps, but missed a forearm to the ring post. Rusev missed a kick to the ring post, allowing Otis to shut him down with a spinning backfist. Back in the ring, Otis hit Rusev with a corner splash, only for Rusev to shut him down with a Machka kick. Rusev stomped Otis’ back and forced him to tap out with The Accolade.
WINNER: Rusev at 6:26
– After the match, Akira Tozawa tried to fight Rusev, but Rusev simply walked away. Tozawa checked on Otis, only for Rusev to return to the ring and drop him on top of Otis with a gutwrench suplex. Rusev drove Otis into the ring post and the steel steps before trapping him in the Accolade again. Numerous agents and security guards showed up to separate them.
(Pomares’ Analysis: A fun match while it lasted to establish Rusev as a dominant force. I don’t think this to be a major feud, so I’m wondering what Rusev’s first real will be and wonder if they will wait for the Draft to get him into a proper program. It would be interesting to see if this actually leads to anything for Otis, but I’ve already seen WWE drop plans for him plenty of times, so I won’t get my hopes up.)
[Commercial Break]
[HOUR THREE]
– A recap of Rusev’s post-match assault on Otis and Akira Tozawa was shown.
– Adam Pearce stood in the middle of the ring to introduce Pat McAfee and Gunther to the ring. Pat put over how great Michael Cole and the Omaha crowd. Pat said that he and Gunther were very similar and dreamed of making it in pro wrestling, but Gunther had become jaded. He warned Gunther that he would underestimate him, just like he did Sami Zayn and Jey Uso. Gunther told Pat that he would give Pat his entire attention and that only the grace of God could take his hands off Pat’s neck when he puts him in a sleeper.
(Pomares’ Analysis: A good promo exchange to build this Gunther and Pat program. I’m still not particularly excited to see this one take a whole PPV slot, but at least it should be a decisive win for Gunther with a chance he writes Pat off TV.)
– Seth Rollins made his way to the ring, ahead of his match against Jey Uso.
[Commercial Break]
– It was announced that AJ Styles would face Finn Bálor; the War Raiders would battle American Made; and Iyo Sky would team with Rhea Ripley to take on Roxanne Perez and Giulia on next week’s Raw.
(5) JEY USO vs. SETH ROLLINS (w/Bron Breakker & Paul Heyman) – World Heavyweight Championship
Rollins avoided an enzuigiri and posed atop the turnbuckle. They traded right hands, until Rollins hit Jey with a kick to the abdomen. Rollins evaded a superkick and rolled out of the ring to recuperate. Rollins stomped Jey down, until Jey caught him with an enzuigiri and clotheslined him out of the ring. Jey launched Rollins over the announce table, as WWE Raw went to its final commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Rollins pummeled Jey down and sat him atop the turnbuckle. Jey knocked Rollins off the top turnbuckle before they hit each other with running crossbodies at the same time. Jey attacked Rollins with right hands and floored him with a Samoan Drop, followed by a corner hip attack. Rollins blocked a Samoan Drop and kicked Jey into the barricade, setting him up for a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Jey blocked a springboard move with a superkick for a two count. Rollins blocked a Spear with a rising kick and dropped Jey with a buckle bomb.
Rollins missed a Frog Splash, but was able to counter a Spear with a Pedigree for a nearfall. Jey avoided the Curb Stomp and put Rollins in a sleeper hold. Rollins missed a clothesline, allowing Jey to shut him down with a Spear for a close two count. Jey knocked Rollins off the top turnbuckle, only for Breakker to trip him onto the turnbuckle. Rollins dropped Jey with a superplex and a Falcon Arrow, setting him up for a Curb Stomp and a nearfall. Sami Zayn’s music started playing and he appeared from the crowd to attack Bron Breakker.
Sami smashed Breakker’s head into the ring post, distracting Rollins in the process. Jey took Rollins down with a Spear and an Uso Splash for a shocking nearfall. Breakker took Sami out with a Spear and Jey rolled out of the ring to check on him. Heyman distracted the referee, allowing Breakker to blast him with a Spear. Rollins crushed Jey with a Curb Stomp, but got distracted with CM Punk as he made his way to the ring. Punk beat Breakker and Rollins down with a chair, as the match ended with no result.
WINNER: No Contest at 19:24
(Pomares’ Analysis: A great main event with some actually believable nearfalls that just kind of ended after the shenanigans at the end. Despite that, this was still a strong set up for an all start tag match on a big show. Frustratingly, it feels like they have already finished the Backlash card and it really could have used a big match filled with star power. I can appreciate how good this match was, but I wish WWE wasn’t so relying on non-finishes whenever they book a big match on TV.)
Advertised Matches & Appearances
- Iyo Sky vs. Roxanne Perez – Women’s World Heavyweight Championship match
- Penta vs. J.D. McDonagh
- Rusev vs. Otis
- Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman to deliver message to WWE Universe
- Becky Lynch to call out Lyra Valkyria
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