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WWE RAW REPORT
AUGUST 18, 2025
PHILADELPHIA, PA. AT XFINITY MOBILE ARENA
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 11,890 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 12,208. The arena has a capacity of 21,000 spectators when configured for basketball.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch contributor Brandon LeClair to review WWE Raw LIVE tonight right after the show ends. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Michael Cole introduced the show as they showed views of Philadelphia and the arena. Then he threw to a three minute video package on last week’s Raw happenings with L.A. Knight, Jey Uso, C.M. Punk, and The Vision (the Paul Heyman & Seth Rollins faction).
-They showed Jey Uso backstage. Then they showed Naomi and Cole said she’d address the state of the title after not being cleared last week.
-Seth Rollins’s music played and he made his way out to the ring with the rest of The Vision. Cole plugged the Fatal Four-way at Clash in Paris on Aug. 31 with Seth vs. Knight vs. Punk vs. Jey. Heyman said in Philadelphia, he’s not in God Mode, but rather “I am God.” He said he is the GOAT after everything he has done for Philadelphia on camera and behind the scenes. He said there should be a statue of him. He said the ring is filled with GOATs. He said Bron Breakker is the future of WrestleMania and the Big Dog who taught Roman Reigns to fear the spear. He then discussed Bronson Reed with shoe puns. He said he put Roman Reigns down to the point he didn’t get back up. An “OTC!” chant started. Heyman said they’re not chanting “OTC!” but rather “Paul E.” Some fans did chant “Paul E!” then.
Heyman then turned to Seth and said he is the visionary who put this group together and “deserves more credit than I do.” He said he has defeated Roman twice in the main event of WrestleMania. As Seth was about to speak, Jey Uso’s music played. He walked through the crowd. When his song finished, he held the mic for some kids to say “Yeet!” He said he’s tired of hearing everyone in the ring talk. He said he’s tired of hearing them threaten his family. He said he’s next. He said he tapped out Gunther to become World Champion. He said Breakker is pretending he can’t hear him, but he’s messing with the Main Event tonight on Raw.
Seth asked Breakker if he just heard what Jey said about him. Seth said Jey think she’s better than him and can beat him tonight and is the better athlete who is faster and stronger and can bench press more than him. He said he thinks his family is more important than his family. He said he thinks Bron’s family is a bunch of fat asses. Seth manipulated Breakker into getting all worked up. Breakker yelled up at Jey, “Screw you!”
Heyman asked if he’s trying to pull that on them in Philadelphia. He said a long time ago in a bingo hall not far away, men would settle their grievances inside the ring. Fans chanted “ECW!” He said they’d settle differences in a no DQ, no countout match where you could only win by submission or pinfall. He cited Sandman, Rob Van Dam, Sabu, the Dudleys, and Tommy Dreamer. He called Dreamer “the late great” and then admitted he isn’t dead, but said he should be. Breakker sounded shocked he was still alive. Jey interrupted.
Jey said the only rules he’s needs tonight are Extreme Rules. Jey’s music played.
(Keller’s Analysis: No surprise Heyman would bring up his history with ECW in Philadelphia. The segment helped build anticipation for the Raw main event with Seth manipulating Breakker into being worked up about Jey. The Extreme Rules stip means Paul Levesque can book a finish without it having to be clean, as it’s a near certainty that there will be a ton of interference in the match leading to the finish. I remain disappointed that Seth hasn’t adjusted his presentation at all in this new context with Heyman and that his music is still the theme for the group. Bronson’s gimmick with the sneakers is fun, though.)
-They went to Cole and Corey Graves at ringside. Cole said it was a bold move by Jey. Graves called it a game-changer for the main event.
-A clip aired of Asuka offering to be in Iyo Sky’s corner last week, but Sky telling her no thanks, but then Asuka and Kairi Sane came out anyway leading to a distraction that opened up Roxanne Perez to roll up Sky and get a win. Then they showed Sky distraught afterward, yelling at Asuka, and Asuka shoving her and storming off.
-Backstage, Sky was warming up when in walked in Asuka and Kairi. Asuka apologized for last week. Asuka said she’ll always have her back. Sky said she appreciates that, but she needs to do it on her own. They smiled and high-fived.
-Sky made her ring entrance. [c]
-Cole hyped WrestleMania ticket sales.
(1) IYO SKY vs. RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ (w/Roxanne Perez)
The end of Raquel’s ring entrance aired. The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. Cole said this is their first match against each other in WWE, but four years ago, at NXT Takeover, Raquel scored one of the biggest wins of her career against Sky. Graves said Raquel is bigger and better than she was back then. They cut to a break at 2:00 with Raquel in control. [c]
Iyo fought back after the break. She landed a leaping tornado DDT off the second rope. Raquel rolled to the floor. She turned and dove through the ropes onto Perez at ringside as Perez seemed to be positioning herself to trip her. When Sky leaped through the ropes on the other side of the ring, Raquel rolled through and lifted Sky and then threw her into the ringpost. Raquel then set up a Tejana Bomb, but Sky head-scissored out of it and then landed running double knees in the corner. She followed with an Over the Moonsault for a three count. Cole said Iyo wanted and needed that win.
WINNER: Sky in 11:00.
-Perez attacked Sky afterward. Raquel joined in. Graves said Sky likely wishes the Kabuki Warriors were out there now. Instead, Rhea Ripley’s music played and she came out. Ripley charged out to the ring and went after the heel duo. Sky recovered and landed a top rope dropkick to Raquel and then Ripley kicked her over the top rope to ringside. Sky was all smiles standing next to Ripley. Ripley’s music played to end the segment.
-Jackie Redmond interviewed Knight backstage. She said Seth always has a Plan B. As Knight began talking, C.M. Punk walked in. Knight asked what he wanted. Punk asked Redmond for a moment. Knight said she could stay and do her job. Punk said they don’t like each other. Knight said it’s not about liking him, it’s business, and he’s meddled in his two title matches. Punk said they need cohesion with Jey to get to the Clash. Punk said he and Jey won’t make it to the Clash if they don’t get on the same page until them. Knight said he’s going to be standing tall with the WWE Title in his hands at the end of the match.
-Graves hyped Jey vs. Breakker later.
-The New Day and Grayson Waller made their entrance. [c]
-Highlights aired from AAA TripleMania over the weekend. A graphic touted 4.3 million viewers globally in the first 24 hours.
-Backstage, Ripley apologized to Iyo for intervening. Sky thanked her. Asuka and Kairi walked in. Asuka asked why Iyo is okay with Ripley intervening but not them. Ripley and Asuka argued. Sky yelled for them to stop yelling and stormed off, frustrated. Asuka told Ripley, “Stay out of our business!” Asuka and Kairi walked away.
(Keller’s Analysis: Nobody came out of that segment with their dignity.)
(2) PENTA vs. XAVIER WOODS (w/Kofi Kingston, Grayson Waller)
Penta made his entrance next. After a recap of what set up this match, the bell rang 51 minutes into the hour. Xavier suplexed Penta onto the ring apron and then yelled into the camera that he wants his $18,000 for the hat Penta destroyed. Cole had expressed skepticism that the hat was worth more than $50. They cut to a break at 1:00. [c]
After the break Penta leaped off the top rope onto Waller and Woods at ringside. The camera showed them from behind standing there waiting to get landed on as Penta, of course, stalled to play to the crowd before leaping. Penta yelled in celebration at ringside. Penta threw Woods back into the ring and continued to attack. Penta countered Xavier’s comeback attempt and landed a Penta Driver. Kofi put Woods’s boot on the bottom rope to stop the ref’s count after Penta made the cover.
[HOUR TWO]
Penta leaped off of Xaxier’s back and flipped onto Waller and Kofi at ringside. Woods rolled up Penta for a quick two count. Penta kicked Xavier and then landed the Mexican Destroyer for the win.
WINNER: Penta in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Fun match with New Day really playing up their heel acts well opposite of the spirited, enthusiastic Penta who is happy to overcome their cheating and counter their obnoxiousness.)
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside. Cole touted the commentary Graves did at TripleMania. Then they plugged Worlds Collide taking place Sept. 12 in Las Vegas, Nev. Tickets go on sale this Friday.
-A clip aired of Dominik Mysterio complaining that A.J. Styles cost him the AAA Mega Championship. He said he’d see Vikingo at Worlds Collide for his rematch. Rey Mysterio walked in and taunted Dom. Graves said Dom will get a match for the AAA Mega Championship at Worlds Collide.
-The Judgment Day made their entrance. [c]
(3) MR. IGUIANA & DRAGON LEE vs. FINN BALOR & J.D. MCDONAUGH (w/Dominik Mysterio)
They showed some Philadelphia Eagles in the front row. Graves said they witnessed peak Dragon Lee at TripleMania. The bell rang 10 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early break. [c]
Cole said he couldn’t get over JBL comparing Dominik to Nelson Mandela at TripleMania. For the finish, Dom held Lee’s legs, opening him up to a dropkick to the back by Balor. Balor followed up with a Coup de Grace for the win.
WINNERS: Balor & McDonaugh in 9:00.
-Afterward, Dom joined in a three-on-two beatdown. Dom cleared the announce desk and set up a move on Lee. Vikingo showed up on the ringside barricade and dropkicked Dom and then gave Balor a huracanrana. Back in the ring, he delivered a running basement dropkick to McDonaugh. He stomped the mat and then charged with double-knees at McDonaugh. Dom then hit him from behind with his belt. Dom leaped off the top rope with a frog splash on Vikingo as McDonaugh held down Vikingo’s legs. The Judgment Day stood in the ring holding up belts including Vikingo’s Mega Championship.
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside who discussed last week’s Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri match and then Becky kicking Natalya afterward.
-Redmond interviewed Becky backstage. She congratulated her on her win, but asked why she attacked Natalya. Becky said she didn’t attack Natalya, but rather Natalya attacked her. She said Natalya verbally assaulted her, yet she still gave Maxxine, her protege, a shot at her title. She said she understands why Natalya is so bitter. She said she doesn’t belong in her division, which is why she’s been wrestling elsewhere around the world. She said tonight she will prove Natalya doesn’t belong in the ring with her. “Natalya, welcome back to the big time,” she said.
-They showed Natalya with Maxxine and Akira Tozawa backstage. [c]
-Another vignette aired with Bayley, who said she isn’t sure if anything she is saying makes sense. Then we heard a distorted version of her voice in her head doubting her. Bayley said, “I don’t know what I need.” The distorted version of her voice said, “How about a hug?”
(Keller’s Analysis: So we’re to believe we can actually hear voice in her head, or Bayley is participating in creating these by pre-taping her voice? This breaks everything about the narrative structure of pro wrestling. I know we went through the cinematic era in COVID, but that was out of finding a new way to cope with not having fans in attendance. This is the type of stupid that resembles Ultimate Warrior appearing in the mirror to scare Hulk Hogan or Papa Shanga doing voodoo on wrestlers in the ring.)
(4) BECKY LYNCH vs. NATALYA (w/Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa) – Intercontinental Title match
Natalya made her entrance. Cole noted Becky holds a slight edge in matches against Natalya in the past. Then Becky made her entrance. The bell rang 35 minutes into the hour. Cole noted Natalya hasn’t won a singles title in eight years. They cut to an early break. [c]
Cole said Natalya apparently suffered a shoulder injury when she went into the ringpost earlier. She struggled to suplex Becky who then went after her arm. Becky then went for her armbar. Natalya resisted and then leveraged Becky’s shoulders down. A few minutes later, Becky finally got Natalya to tapout after continuing to work over Natalya’s arm and then applying her Disarm Her.
WINNER: Lynch in 8:00.
-Afterward, Becky didn’t release the her hold at first. Maxxine entered and helped separate them. Becky then left as Maxxine comforted Natalya. Becky then returned attacked Maxxine and put her in the Disarm Her. Nikki Bella ran out for the save and gave Becky a Rack Attack 2.0.
-Redmond interviewed Sheamus who talked about his feud with Rusev. Rusev then showed up behind him and charged. They fought and were quickly separated by officials and a red-faced yelling Adam Pearce. He said they can get it all out of their system at Clash in Paris in a Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook.
(Keller’s Analysis: Who decided Pearce yelling at the top of his lungs simply because two wrestlers are brawling backstage is entertaining or a good chapter in his character. He’s become an unhinged, grating caricature of what was once the best G.M. presentation in a long time.)
-Cole threw to a clip of Stephanie McMahon interviewing Naomi and Jimmy Uso. She referred to Naomi as Trinity. Stephanie asked if they have a message. Naomi said Jimmy does. They cut there. [c]
-Punk approached Jey Uso backstage. He said he tried to get Knight on board, but he wasn’t receptive. He told Jey he has his back tonight. Jey said he didn’t ask for his help and he didn’t want it in this match. Punk said he’s just trying to get him to Paris. Jey said he doesn’t want to owe anyone any favors. Punk held his head in his hands in frustration and then smiled and said he just wants him to know he’s there for him. When Jey left, Punk shook his head as if to say he tried to do the right thing.
-Pearce introduced Naomi. Naomi made her entrance. Pearce said, “Champ, the floor is yours.” She said, “This is hard to say, guys. Just take a look at the tron for me, please.” They went back to Stephanie interviewing Naomi and Jimmy. Jimmy said there is a baby on the way. Naomi smiled and said she is pregnant and having a baby. (It’s good to know it’s a baby she’s having. What other options were there if she’s pregnant?) Back live, Pearce said they are so happy for her and congratulations. She sneered at Pearce and said this isn’t her first time relinquishing a title. “This time I ain’t handing you shit!” she said. She said her hormones are “jumping like a disco.” She advised him to get out of her face. Pearce left. She sang the good bye song and then cackled.
Naomi said she was “about to walk y’all like a dog” all year long, but Jimmy “likes to Netflix and chill, if ya’ know what I mean.” She laughed. Fans chanted, “You deserve it!” Naomi said, “On the bright side, the Bloodline continues!” She cackled with glee. She said WWE can do whatever they want for nine months and do whatever they want to with her title, but then she’s coming back, perhaps with baby in her arms, and whoever has the title then “best proceed with caution.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Congratulations. Her eventually return will be a big moment. They crossed back and forth between real life and storyline, but it all kinda worked, especially with the “hormones jumping like a disco” line.)
[HOUR THREE]
-Cole noted Raw airs next Monday live at 3 p.m. ET from Birmingham, U.K. Graves plugged that John Cena will be on Smackdown on Friday from Ireland.
-They showed Breakker and Heyman backstage. [c]
-The Judgment Day without Dom were shown walking backstage wondering where Dom was, but then he was 12 feet in front of them chatting with El Grande Americano. They asked him what was going on. Dom said he was making sure The Judgment Day always stays on top.
(5) BRON BREAKKER (w/Paul Heyman) vs. JEY USO – Extreme Rules match
Jey’s entrance took place. Then Breakker came out with Heyman. The bell rang nine minutes into the hour. Breakker said, “I’m about to bury you!” Breakker took early control. Jey clotheslined him over the top rope onto a shopping cart full of apparatus. (In a sign of progress, Cole referred to the contents of the cart as “weapons” rather than “toys.”) Breakker held his knee afterward. The ref checked on him as Jey pulled a table out from under the ring on the other side of the ring. Jey then dove over the top rope onto Breakker at ringside. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Breakker was jabbing a chair into Jey in the ring after the break. They showed that during the break, Breakker held up a chair as Jey dove through the ropes at him, which is what put him in control. Breakker stood on the ring apron and waited for Jey to turn around and then leaped off and smashed him with trash can, knocking him over the table to the floor. They cut to another break at 10:00. [c]
Jey made a comeback with a spear, chairshots to the body, another spear, and then an Uso Splash. When he made the cover, Bronson Reed yanked the ref out of the ring at the count of two and then hit the ref with a shoe. Reed then attacked Jey. Knight’s music played and he ran to the ring. He knocked Reedy out of the ring and then bashed his head into the announce desk and then threw him into the ringside steps. Seth attacked Knight. Punk then came out and went after Seth as Knight stood guard. Seth threw Punk into Knight, knocking Knight off the ring apron and crashing through a table. Punk went after Seth at ringside and pursued him into the crowd. Graves said the match is still going on.
Breakker slid a table into the ring. He was bleeding from the back of his neck and perhaps his ear. He set up a table in the corner. Jey superkicked him twice and Breakker fell up and onto the table. Reed knocked Jey off the top rope. Fans chanted “OTC!” Roman’s music played and Breakker froze in place and then saw Reigns. He charged and Reigns speared him. Reigns then gave Reed a Superman Punch. Jey superkicked Breakker again, and once again Breakker landed on the table. Jey landed a top rope Uso Splash for the win.
WINNER: Jey in 20:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Yes, Reigns speared Breakker at ringside seconds earlier, but it was still a good win for Jey to get here. The match delivered on expectations for this format. Reigns appearing unadvertised is good for his brand, although what was doing there if not for the need to help Jey?)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch contributor Brandon LeClair 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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