SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE RAW REPORT
JULY 7, 2025
PROVIDENCE, R.I. AT AMICA MUTUAL PAVILLION
AIRED LIVE ON NETFLIX (WORLDWIDE)
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 8,301 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 8,491. The arena has a capacity of 14,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a scene of the exterior of the arena as Michael Cole introduced the show. He said it is WWE’s “flagship.” A drone flew into the arena and through the lobby into the main interior. Cole noted the big weekend coming up with Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution in Atlanta, Ga. Then they showed wrestlers arriving including Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Penta, and The Judgment Day.
-Seth Rollins’s music played and he made his way to the ring with Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed, and Bron Breakker. Fans sang his song. He bowed to the cheering crowd, but as soon as his music stopped, boos rang out. Heyman clutched the Money in the Bank briefcase and smiled while watching Seth. Fans then sang Seth’s song a capella. Seth held out his hand and Heyman began to hand him the mic, but Breakker stepped between them and took the mic. Seth had a chat with Heyman off-mic in the background as Breakker spoke. Heyman was wide-eyed.
Breakker said he was standing in the ring because Seth and Heyman have a vision for the business that has him the face of the industry for the next two decades. He said he has a vision for a WWE without Sami Zayn. He said he doesn’t like Sami’s ugly face or stupid beard or music or that the fans sing it every time he comes out. His voice cracked as he lost his composure. Fans chanted, “Sami! Sami!” He said he’ll never understand why they cheer for a wrestler with “the athletic ability of a dead fish” who isn’t an athlete and doesn’t go to the gym. He said Sami has an expiration date and he’s stamping it tonight.
Heyman walked up to Breakker and asked for the mic back. Heyman handed it to Seth. Seth said, “You good, Breakker?” He then cackled. Reed asked for the mic. Seth handed it over.
Reed then said Breakker is a tough act to follow, but he is too. He said he hit Seth with six Tsunamis. He said he hurt Seth so badly it caused Seth to respect him and eventually bring him into their group. He said Seth has a vision, and with that vision, he will get the respect he deserves. He told Jey Uso that he doesn’t respect him so he would “tsunami the respect into you.” Reed handed the mic back to Seth. A “C.M. Punk!” chant started and then a brief faint “Let’s Go, Uso!”
Heyman introduced himself. “Tonight, the empire strikes back,” he said. He then said that was a blooper, so strike that. He said tonight, the empire strikes first. He said if Sami hasn’t high-tailed it back to Montreal by now, it’s Sami’s ass. He said tonight it’ll be Reed vs. Jey, and he said Roman Reigns doesn’t have the balls to come back and step up against us. Fans chanted, “OTC! OTC!” Heyman said the OTC is MIA. He said after tonight, Jey will also be MIA due to the master of the Tsunami.
He said the big news is that Seth, whom he described as the biggest box office attraction in pro wrestling, will don the tights tonight against Penta. He spoke in Spanish. He said he is neither young enough nor hip enough to understand the hand signals Penta does, but by the time he gets stomped into the mat, he won’t be able to do those hand symbols ever again. “That’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler.”
When the mic got handed back to Seth, a loud “C.M. Punk!” chant rang out. Seth said everything was covered, so he simply welcomed Providence to Monday Night Rollins and then dropped the mic.
(Keller’s Analysis: Would Heyman spend a “not a prediction, a spoiler” on Penta’s hand signals? I got my wish to hear more from others and not predominantly Seth, as that’s been out of balance since the faction formed. I suppose they’re not giving this group a formal faction name since they’re already giving off signals that they’re not going to last long given Breakker breaking protocol, apparently, early in the promo. Reed was good on the mic for his portion.)
-They went to Cole and Corey Graves at ringside who recapped Finn Balor & J.D. McDonaugh winning the World Tag Team Titles last week on Raw.
-Backstage, Balor was polishing the tag titles. Raquel Rodriguez walked in and noticed a framed portrait of Liv Morgan and a memorial of sorts. Roxanne Perez said she made it. Perez said Liv is still alive. Balor said it could be a long time based on his recovery time of eight months. “And I’m tough,” he added. Raquel said she wants to retain the tag titles. Perez said, “I got you, partner.” Raquel said “Too soon.” Balor and McDonaugh said they were going to go talk to G.M. Adam Pearce. Dominik Mysterio thanked them for the Get Well Soon cake. They said they didn’t get it for him and they left. Dom then noticed it was signed “A.J.” Then A.J. Styles waved from behind a cabinet. Dom told him he has a doctor’s note, so he has to stay away.
(1) KAIRI SANE vs. ROXANNE PEREZ (w/Raquel Rodriguez)
The bell rang 24 minutes into the hour. Kairi landed a spinning backfist a minute in. She followed with a sliding forearm and then a leaping lariat off the ring apron. When Kairi climbed to the top rope, Perez shoved her off. She then stomped on her wrist. Kairi dropped to ringside in agony. They cut to an early break. [c]
Perez landed a springboard moonault for a two count at 7:00. Kairi tried for an Alabama Slam a minute later, but Perez blocked it and went back on the attack. Kairi landed a top rope flying forearm and then landed an Alabama Slam. She set up an Insane Elbow next, but Raquel pulled Perez to ringside. Kairi leaped off the top rope onto an awaiting Raquel at ringside. Perez took over and set up Pop Rocks in the ring, but Kairi escaped and scored a three count with a backslide.
WINNER: Perez in 10:00.
-Afterward, Perez and Raquel attacked Kairi. Asuka then ran out for the save. Cole said Asuka and Kairi are former tag partners in the Kabuki Warriors. Asuka put Raquel in an armbar and then landed her Empress Attack. Asuka then held Perez vulnerable in the air for an Insane Elbow. Asuka and Kairi celebrated as Asuka’s music played.
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside. Cole threw to a clip of Karrion Kross attacking Sami Zayn last week backstage which left Sami vulnerable to a loss to Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed in a tag match later.
-Jackie Redmond interviewed Sami backstage. She asked how he’s dealing with everything. He said he can’t deal with everyone. He said he has to pay attention to Bron Breakker only tonight. After Sami walked off, Scarlett showed up. Redmond asked if she had anything to say. She paused, then said, “No.” [c]
-Cole got in plugs.
-Pearce met with The Creeds and Ivy Nile backstage. Nile asked if El Grande Americano was scheduled tonight. Brutus Creed said Chad Gable is hurt. Julius slapped Brutus across the back of his head. Pearce asked what Gable has to do with Americano. He asked Nile what she wanted. She said she wanted to be in the battle royal at Evolution. He said he already booked her for it. They left, and then Asuka and Kairi walked in and demanded a tag match at Evolution. Pearce said they could be in the four-way tag. They celebrated with a goofy dance. Pearce joined in.
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside who threw to a vignette with Nikki Bella. Nikki spoke about Liv Morgan. She said wants one more moment to prove herself at Evolution, so she was entered in the battle royal so she can earn a title opportunity at the Clash in Paris. She said the first Evolution was history-making, so she’d like make history again.
-Cole hyped the Evolution battle royal. Graves hyped “Tombstone Town” from Lanie Gardner and Dorothy as an official theme of Evolution.
-Sami danced out to his entrance theme. Kross attacked him in the aisle. Scarlett handed Kross a pipe. Kross bashed Sami in the mid-section with it. Pearce and other officials ran out and pulled Kross away. Cole said Kross is bitter after losing to Sami. [c]
(2) SAMI ZAYN vs. BRON BREAKKER (w/Paul Heyman)
Back from the break, Sami was in the ring and he insisted he was good to go. He was clutching his ribs and bent over. Cole said Sami has to have broken ribs from that attack. Breakker then made his entrance. The bell rang 55 minutes into the hour.
Breakker laughed at the condition of Sami. Cole said Breakker hasn’t lost a singles match since last September. Breakker dominated and then yelled to the fans that Sami is “pathetic” and “a bum.” Breakker charged for a spear at 3:00, but Sami clotheslined him. Graves said he had no idea how Sami was able to battle through the pain. Breakker speared Sami. Sami rolled to the floor. Cole asked for the match to be called off since Sami couldn’t stand or breathe. He wanted doctors or trainers to check on him. Breakker charged at Sami with spear of sorts, although he mostly grazed him with his arm at a weird angle. Cole went even more bonkers as fans obnoxiously chanted, “One more time!” Back in the ring, Breakker speared Sami and scored a three count.
WINNER: Breakker in 5:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Cole was a little over the top at the end there. The story is that Kross is costing Sami any fighting chance he has, and that Breakker is relentless and intense.)
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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[HOUR TWO]
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside. Graves said Sami is one of his most annoying rivals over the years, but his well-being is being jeopardized. They shifted to commenting on the Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria double-pin draw last week.
-Backstage, Pearce assured The War Raiders they are still on his radar and he’d keep them in the loop. Pearce turned to New Day who were grieving their loss. They were dressed in all black. The Raiders pointed out New Day said former champs don’t get automatic rematches. Becky Lynch walked in and sneered at Pearce. She told New Day that Big E was a scumbag and it’s good they got rid of him. [c]
-Becky made her ring entrance. She took issue with the fact that now she is having to face two challengers instead of one, despite both of them having just lost to each other. She said she is statistically at a disadvantage. “Can somebody explain to me how that works?” she said. She said people say she is the best female wrestler ever. She listed her resume and said she gets that Pearce needs her to be on Evolution. She said she gets it, but she deserves to pick her own opponent because Iyo Sky and Tiffany Stratton got to pick their own opponents. She pointed at someone in the crowd.
She said Bayley and Valkyria were in cahoots. She said it’s statistically rare to have a double pin. (Good point, actually.) Valkyria and Bayley came out. Valkyria barged past Bayley and told Lynch she has completed her transition to a raving lunatic. Bayley entered and asked Valkyria if she’s kidding. Valkyria said she’s amazed Bayley is even talking to her. Bayley told her to get over the fact that she didn’t get back to her after WrestleMania. She said she doesn’t need more partners or more friends. Becky said after 13 years of “failed friendships and grimy hugs, another one bites the dust.”
Valkyria said everybody thinks she called Lynch to return at WrestleMania, but Lynch called her. Lynch said there wasn’t much hesitation, though. Lynch said she predicted Bayley wasn’t her friend. Valkyria said she won’t let Lynch get in her head anymore. Valkyria told Bayley that she is just like Lynch, so now she has to wrestle the championship away from “two massive disappointments.”
Bayley said she sat front row and watched Valkyria work her way to the top, but then she watched her lose her Intercontinental Title “and then you raised her hand like a little bitch.” Valkyria swung at Bayley, but hit Lynch. Bayley and Valkyria brawled. Valkyria got the better of Bayley. Lynch went for a Manhandle Slam, but Valkyria avoided it and landed Knight Wing. Valkyria slammed Bayley next to Lynch. She raised Lynch’s arm and said that’s the last time her arm will be raised as IC Champion.
(Keller’s Analysis: Lynch made good points in her promo. The rest was fine at establishing no one is getting along, but I’m not sure if anyone was rallying anyone effectively to their side.)
-A recap aired of the Sheamus vs. Rusev match last week on Raw.
-Backstage, Seth told Breakker his match couldn’t have gone better. Breakker asked what they were going to do about Kross. He said Kross “set the table” for him, but people are going to think he couldn’t do it on his own. Seth said the results are what mattered. Heyman walked in and asked if they heard the news. Heyman’s look of concern switched to glee as he revealed that Sami is out of action “indefinitely.” Rollins told Reed that it just occurred to him that Jey Uso is in 100 percent health. Reed said he won’t be when he’s done with him.
-They went to the concourse where Jey Uso was surrounded by fans. He made his ring entrance through the crowd. [c]
(3) JEY USO vs. BRONSON REED (w/”The Oracle” Paul Heyman)
The bell rang 26 minutes into the hour. Reed took it to Jey early. Cole said Reed has never been part of a match with Jey which he has won. A minute in Jey avoided a senton and went on the attack. Jey dove through the ropes and knocked Reed into the announce desk. Jey fired up at ringside, then cleared the announce desk. Reed, meanwhile, recovered and went after Jey. Jey, though, kicked Reed into a rolling desk chair at ringside and then superkicked him. When Jey went for a dive through the ropes, Reed threw a chair into him. The ref DQ’d Reed.
WINNER: Jey in 3:00 via DQ.
-Reed gave Jey a Tsunami. Cole said the match was never about winning. He landed a second Tsunami. Pearce and other officials ran out to scold Reed. Reed left the ring. [c]
-A video package aired on the L.A. Knight vs. Rollins match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
-They went to Cole and Graves who plugged the three WWE events this weekend.
-A video package aired on the history of Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky including Sky beating Ripley in NXT in 2020 and subsequent losses.
-The new El Grande Americano made his entrance. Cole chuckled. [c]
(4) EL GRANDE AMERICANO (a/k/a Ludwig Kaiser) vs. DRAGON LEE
Cole called this version of Americano an imposter who is a foot taller than Gable. Graves said he was full of conspiracy theories. Graves said Cole probably thinks that Giant Machine was Andre the Giant and that The Midnight Rider was Dusty Rhodes. Cole made a crack about Konnan liking Graves. The bell rang 44 minutes into the hour.
Cole chuckled that the Americano’s mask is two sizes two small for the new version. Dragon Lee knocked Americano into the announce desk. Cole said Americano’s blue eyes looked familiar. When Americano trash-talked Lee, Cole said he didn’t sound Mexican. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Lee made a comeback after the break and went on a flurry of offense. Americano eventually ducked a leaping Lee and then landed a flying headbutt for the win. Cole speculated the mask was loaded just like the Gable version. Graves continued to insist this is the one and only Americano.
WINNER: El Grande Americano in 10:00.
-Heyman spoke to Penta backstage in Spanish. Penta responded. Breakker walked in and said he didn’t know what he said, but he has to watch his tone. [c]
-Cole got in some plugs.
-A vignette aired on Stephanie Vaquer.
-Graves and Cole plugged Evolution.
[HOUR THREE]
-Gunther made his entrance for a scheduled segment with Goldberg. Gunther said Goldberg is apparently afraid of him. Goldberg arrived in a sports car that he sped into the parking lot. He entered the ring. Fans chanted, “Holy shit!” Goldberg knocked the mic out of Gunther’s hand. Goldberg offered his chin to Gunther. Goldberg blocked his swing, then punched Gunther. He set up a spear, but Gunther rolled out of the ring. Fans chanted “Goldberg!”
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside who spoke excitedly about Goldberg challenging Gunther on Saturday. Graves talked about watching a video of Goldberg’s famous Georgia Dome match against Hulk Hogan on Nitro. Cole said, “Can you imagine what happens if Goldberg wins the title?” They plugged SNME and Evolution.
(5) PENTA vs. SETH ROLLINS (w/”The Oracle” Paul Heyman)
The bell rang 17 minutes into the hour. Penta went on the attack at the bell and took it to Seth at ringside. He played to the crowd by standing on the announce desk. Seth then ducked his attempt to punch him against the ringpost, so he hurt his hand. Penta came back with a leaping leg scissors seconds later and threw Seth back into the ring. He banged on the announce desk to play to the crowd. When he rolled into the ring, Seth had recovered enough to stomp on him and take over. (That’s two spots in a row that made Penta look like an undisciplined fool by playing to the crowd instead of staying on offense.)
Penta took over again briefly, but Seth snapped his neck over the top rope. Seth went for a Pedigree, but Penta avoided it and clotheslined Seth over the top rope. He then landed a leaping flip dive over the top rope into Seth’s arms at ringside. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Back from the break, Seth had Penta grounded. After a back stabber for a two count by Penta, both were down and slow to get up. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” When Seth went for a stomp at 10:00, Penta moved. Penta caught Seth with a Penta Driver for a dramatic near fall a minute later. Both were down and slow to get up. Heyman was in distress at ringside. Fans chanted, “Let’s Go, Penta!” (That’s better than “This is awesome!”) Seth gave Penta a bucklebomb. Penta came back with a Mexican Destroyer for a two count as Seth grabbed the bottom rope. A “This is awesome!” chant broke out. Seth gave Penta a headbutt to the crotch as he was setting up a Penta Driver. Seth then gave Penta a Stomp for the win.
WINNER: Rollins in 13:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Fun athletic match. The crowd was into Penta the whole way.)
-After the match, Heyman said “Now!” into his phone. Breakker and Reed walked out. L.A. Knight attacked Seth from behind with a BFT. Breakker and Reed chased Knight into the crowd. Knight trash-talked from the crowd as Breakker and Heyman and Reed checked on Seth.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch.com contributor Chris Adams 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.
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