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WWE RAW REPORT
MAY 26, 2025
TAMPA, FLA. AT YUENGLING CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON NETFLIX (WORLDWIDE)
REPORT BY MAURICIO POMAREZ, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 9,440 tickets were distributed heading into today; arena set up for 9,762. The arena has a capacity of 10,500 spectators when configured for basketball.
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[HOUR ONE]
– The show opened with a video package recapping the events of Saturday Night’s Main Event, focusing on Bronson Reed’s return.
– Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman made their way to the ring. Heyman put over how much of a badass Breakker was and how he would go on to main event many WrestleManias to come. Heyman talked about Reed making a name for himself when he attacked Rollins and how he did more damage than Roman Reigns and CM Punk ever did. He finished by asking the crowd to acknowledge Seth Rollins. Rollins said that this was the way forward to secure total control, domination and power.
– Rollins said that he told everyone what he would do at Mania and he did it. He called out the fans for singing his song while also cursing him. Rollins said that he was the only person capable of wielding the power and that he would already be the champion if it wasn’t for Sami Zayn and CM Punk. Rollins said that Punk found out what happened when people underestimated him. He said that he had found an object to control the fate of the championships while looking at the Money in the Bank briefcases.
(Pomares’ Analysis: Wasn’t the biggest fan of the Seth Rollins side of this promo and thought that it went on for too long, but the presentation of the group is on point. Bronson Reed is a great addition to the group and I really liked the reasoning for his addition.)
– Penta made his way to the ring, ahead of his match against Chad Gable and Dragon Lee.
[Commercial Break]
– El Hijo del VIkingo was shown watching from the crowd.
(1) PENTA vs. DRAGON LEE vs. CHAD GABLE – Money in
Lee and Penta took Gable down with a thrust kick and stomped him down before throwing him out of the ring. Lee drove Penta into the corner with a headscissors takeover, setting him up for a slingshot dropkick. Gable tried to attack Lee from behind, but Lee shut him down. Lee nailed Petna with a Hesitation dropkick before Gable laid both of them with German suplexes.
Gable countered a slingshot move with a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. Penta caught Gable with a kick to the knee, following it with a sling blade. Penta knocked Lee off the top turnbuckle with a thrust kick and dropped Gable with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Before Lee and Gable could react, Penta dropped them with a Gory neckbreaker and a modified Styles Clash at the same time. Penta crushed Gable and Lee with a Tope con Hilo, as WWE Raw went to commercials.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Gable smashed Penta’s head into the announce table and pummeled him down. Lee shocked Penta with a massive suicide dive, making both men crash over the table. Gable took a cheap shot at Vikingo in the crowd before starting a chop exchange with Penta. Lee nailed Penta with a jumping knee and a poison rana; and dropped Gable with a sitout powerbomb for a nearfall. Penta tried to hit Lee with the Penta Driver, only for Gable to shut him down with a German suplex. Gable crushed Penta with a moonsault and launched Lee into the corner with an overhead throw. Vikingo knocked Gable off the top turnbuckle with an enzuigiri, allowing Lee to crush him with a diving double stomp. Penta immediately took Lee out with a Destroyer before knocking Gable out with the Penta Driver.
WINNER: Penta at 10:03
(Pomares’ Analysis: Really strong match to showcase the luchadors of WWE and put a great highflyer on a ladder match. I kind of thought that Penta would wrestle at Worlds Collide, but it makes more sense for him to appear at Money in the Bank.)
– Backstage, Roxanne Perez handed Dominik Mysterio a plate of nuggets, only for Liv Morgan to finally return. Liv said that Raquel Rodriguez has kept her in touch with everything and that she found the new developments interesting. Liv immediately walked away to get herself a Money in the Bank qualifying match.
– A video package for Memorial Day was shown.
[Commercial Break]
(2) AKIRA TOZAWA vs. RUSEV
Tozawa avoided a clothesline and tried to put Rusev in a headlock. Tozawa caught Rusev with an enzuigiri and nailed him with a missile dropkick, only for Rusev to immediately shut him down with a lariat. Rusev nailed Tozawa with a Machka Kick and forced him to tap out with The Accolade.
WINNER: Rusev at 0:55
– After the match, Rusev maintained the Accolade, until Sheamus showed up to make the save. Rusev and Sheamus had a face-off before Rusev walked away.
(Pomares’ Analysis: Mostly an angle, but Rusev and Sheamus should be a fun match whenever they do it.)
– Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed comedians Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura about their recent specials on Netflix. Bert walked out of the interview to take off his shirt and cheer with the War Raiders.
– The New Day made their way to the ring, ahead of their match against the Creeds and the War Raiders.
[Commercial Break]
– Backstage, Sami Zayn said that he should have gone out there to confront Seth Rollins. Jey Uso told him that it wasn’t a good day and that he should focus on qualifying to Money in the Bank over Rollins.
(3) NEW DAY (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. WAR RAIDERS (Erik & Ivar) vs. CREED BROTHERS (Julius Creed & Brutus Creed) – World Tag Team Championship
Everyone immediately started brawling, until the War Raiders dropped the Creeds and Woods with a series of bodyslams. The Raiders tossed Kofi on top of everyone at ringside before Erik hit Ivar with a bodyslam off the apron onto the New Day and the Creeds. Once the match finally started, Julius sent Ivar out of the ring with a dropkick while Brutus and the New Day threw Erik into the barricade. They all drove Erik into the steel steps, as WWE Raw went to an ad break.
[Commercial Break]
[HOUR TWO]
Back from break, Woods nailed Erik with a diving double stomp to the back. Ivar got the hot tag to knock Brutus and Kofi with a pair of sidewalk slams, followed by a big splash. Ivar crushed Julius with a seated senton and sent all of his opponents out of the ring. Kofi knocked Ivar off the top turnbuckle with an enzuigiri, only for Erik to knock him off the apron. Brutus sat at Erik atop the turnbuckle, but Erik shut him down with a slam. Woods nailed Erik with a Limit Break elbow before receiving a splash from Ivar for a nearfall.
The Creeds hit Erik with a double shoulder tackle, only for Ivar to lay them out with a double handspring back elbow. Ivar blasted Woods with a leg lariat and lifted Woods on his shoulders. The Creeds stole the tag while Woods took care of Erik with a facebuster. Brutus crushed Erik with a springboard cannonball and Ivar took care of Kofi with a crossbody into the LED board on the apron. Julius took care of Ivar with a flying knee strike, only for Woods to immediately roll him up for the win.
WINNERS: New Day at 9:13 (Still World Tag Team Champions)
(Pomares’ Analysis: Decent stuff, but working this match as a handicap match really limited how good this match could be. The New Day’s title reign hasn’t been exciting and I don’t think I care to see them take on the Creeds or the War Raiders again.)
– Backstage, Liv Morgan told Iyo Sky that she would qualify to Money in the Bank and cash in on her. Kairi Sane dared Liv to a match tonight.
– Jey Uso made his way to the ring.
[Commercial Break]
– Jey Uso talked about defeating Logan Paul and coming for John Cena at Money in the Bank. Gunther interrupted to congratulate Jey for the 15-year anniversary of the Usos and his first successful defense. Gunther said that he has held the title longer than he thought he would and that he had a lot to handle. He praised Jey’s willingness to help his friends despite everything he has to do, but said that they weren’t good qualities for a great champion.
– Gunther said that Jey was not used to this position and the reason he himself was champion for over a year was because he only cared about himself. Gunther said that he would choke Jey out and take the belt back where it belonged. Jey said that he was done hearing this kind of stuff from people like Guther. Jey said that he knew everything about Gunther and that at the end of day, he was fighting for the people. He said that he would simply make Gunther tap out again.
(Pomares’ Analysis: Nothing we haven’t seen from either of these guys before. Jey’s promo was very oddly pace and ended the segment in a bit of an awkward note.)
– Liv Morgan made her way to the ring, ahead of her match against Kairi Sane.
[Commercial Break]
(4) LIV MORGAN (w/Raquel Rodriguez) vs. KAIRI SANE
They pushed each other into the ropes, until Liv slammed Sane’s head on the mat. Liv stomped Sane down and smashed her head into the turnbuckle. Sane blasted Liv with a series of chops and knocked her down with a headscissors takeover. Sane clobbered Liv with a sliding forearm strike, but Liv evaded a thrust kick into the ring post. Liv dropped Sane with a sunset flip powerbomb on the floor, as WWE Raw went to a commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Liv dropped Sane with the Three Amigos, but Sane blocked the third suplex. Sane shocked Liv with a Spear and took her down with a running blockbuster. Sane clobbered Liv with a sliding forearm strike, followed by a diving forearm to the head for a nearfall. Liv caught Sane with a double stomp, setting her up for a diving Codebreaker and a two count. Sane blocked Oblivion and cracked Liv with a spinning backfist, setting her up for a clothesline and a two count.
Liv surprised Sane with a sunset flip and dropped her with a backstabber. Sane avoided a jumping knee and surprised Liv with a pinning combination for a two count. Sane dropped Liv with an Alabama Slam, only for Raquel to distract the referee and Roxanne Perez to knock her off the top turnbuckle. Liv got distracted with Raquel and Liv arguing, allowing Sane to counter Oblivion into a victorious roll-up.
WINNER: Kairi Sane at 10:52
(Pomares’ Analysis: This was just fine. I don’t think these two had the greatest chemistry. I was a bit surprised to see Kairi win, but it makes sense if the plan is to have her and Iyo or Asuka challenge for the tag titles at some point after Money in the Bank.)
– A video package was shown, hyping up Rhea Ripley taking part in her first ladder match.
[Commercial Break]
– Backstage, Liv Morgan argued with Raquel Rodriguez and told her that she should have known better.
– Lyra Valkyria made her way to the ring, as it was confirmed that she would face Becky Lynch in a rematch at Money in the Bank. Lyra said that Lynch talked herself into another rematch. She said that she didn’t feel any sense of satisfaction by beating Lynch because she still acted like she won the match the next day. Lyra said that after what Lynch did to her, this was personal. Lyra said that she would hurt Lynch at Money in the Bank and break her go.
– Lynch interrupted to claim that Lyra could have let this go, but she doesn’t because she was the best thing that happened to her. Lyra said that people weren’t talking about her because Lynch shared her spotlight, but because she beat her. Lynch said that she wouldn’t challenge for the title again if she lost, but if she won, Lyra would have to raise her hand. Lyra said that she would happily raise the hand of a woman better than her, but that wasn’t Lynch.
(Pomares’ Analysis: A solid exchange between these two to make the rematch official. I expected some type of hardcore stipulation after their brawls over the last couple of weeks, but the match will most likely still be great.)
– Backstage, Karrion Kross told Sami Zayn that he would never win the title.
– The commentary team ran down the cards for Worlds Collide and Money in the Bank.
(Pomares’ Analysis: They billed the match between Chad Gable and El Hijo del Vikingo to be for the AAA Mega championship, even though Alberto El Patron is the champion. They have a title match on the weekend, so WWE might have just spoiled a world title change.)
– Seth Rollins made his way to the ring, ahead of his qualifying match.
[Commercial Break]
[HOUR THREE]
(5) FINN BÁLOR vs. SETH ROLLINS (w/Paul Heyman) vs. SAMI ZAYN – Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Rollins and Sami brawled, until Sami clotheslined Rollins out of the ring. Sami knocked Rollins down with a suicide dive before Finn attacked them both from behind. Back in the ring, Finn nailed Sami with chops to the chest. Rollins laid Sami out with a clothesline before Finn dropped them both with a DDT and a reverse DDT for a two count, as WWE Raw went to commercials.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Sami hit Finn with a suplex and pummeled him down with a bunch of right hands. Sami sent Rollins out of the ring and knocked Finn off the apron, setting them up for an Arabian moonsault. Back in the ring, Rollins caught Sami off-guard with a Falcon Arrow for a two count. Sami knocked Rollins and Finn off the top turnbuckle before laying Rollins out with a sunset flip powerbomb. Rollins kicked Finn away and cracked Sami with a discus elbow strike, until Finn shut him down with a sling blade. Finn blasted Rollins with a shotgun dropkick and climbed the top turnbuckle. Sami dropped Finn with a superplex before receiving a Frog Splash from Rollins, as WWE Raw went to its final commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Sami launched Rollins out of the with a back body drop and kicked out a pinning combination from Finn. Finn took Sami down with a sling blade, but Sami broke the pinfall. Rollins planted Finn with a Pedigree, only for Sami to knock him down with a crucifix pinfall. Rollins nailed Sami with a Pedigree, but he managed to kick out at two. Sami avoided the Curb Stomp and put Rollins with a Blue Thunderbomb for a nearfall. Sami took Rollins down with a Xploder into the corner, only for Finn to take him down with a sling blade.
Finn drove Sami and Rollins into the corner with a shotgun dropkick. Finn missed the Coup de Grace, allowing Rollins to crush him with a Curb Stomp. Sami immediately took Rollins out with a Helluva Kick, but Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker broke the pinfall. Jey Uso tried to make the save, but Reed and Breakker quickly overpowered him. Dominik Mysterio showed up to hand Finn a chair, only for Rollins to knock him out with a Curb Stomp onto it.
WINNER: Seth Rollins at 19:38
– After the match, CM Punk showed up to hit Seth Rollins with a GTS and ran away.
(Pomares’ Analysis: Good match, but I’m starting to fear that every Rollins, Breakker and Reed match going forward will have some interference. I don’t mind some inspiration from The Bloodline, but let’s not replicate their match layout. CM Punk showing up at the end was fine, but it all made me question why he didn’t show up earlier to even the numbers.)
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