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WWE RAW REPORT
AUGUST 25, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND AT BP PULSE LIVE
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 11,887 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 11,963. The arena has a capacity of 15,685 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch contributor Kurt Cadet 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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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a video package of what happened last week with Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker in the main event ending with L.A. Knight, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns getting involved.
-Michael Cole introduced the show as they showed aerial views of Birmingham, England. Then they showed Knight arriving as Cole noted he’s one of the no. 1 contenders to the WWE Title. He said he will face Breakker later. Then they showed Rhea Ripley arriving and Cole plugged her match against Roxanne Perez. Then they showed Nikki Bella arriving with plans to call out Becky Lynch.
-They cut to the arena as Cole said it was a packed sold out crowd.
-Roman Reigns’s music played and he made his entrance. Fans sang Roman’s name and chanted “OTC.” This went on a while. “I imagine we could do this all night, but let’s get to it,” he said, ten minutes into the show. He asked Birmingham to acknowledge him. An “OTC!” chant broke out. He said it feels like old times. He said he has big plans tonight and big plans for next year. He said if he’s going to be real, he has to be honest with himself, also. “You acknowledge me, but there’s something I just need to acknowledge myself if I’m going to move forward.” He said it’s not old times anymore and he’s not the same guy as he used to be. Fans chanted, “Yes, you are!” Reigns added, “Maybe I can be.” He said Cody Rhodes predicted it a year and a half ago. Fans booed the mention of Cody’s name. Reigns paused and said, “Interesting.”
Reigns then brought up The Vision. He said they followed through on the things Cody said and took everything from him. Fans sloppily chanted a couple things including “F— you, Seth Rollins!” He said he’s felt that way for a long time. He said he doesn’t have the Bloodline anymore.
He said he’s extremely proud of Jey Uso, though. He said anyone questioning him being in the Fatal Four-way match in Paris is “just wrong.” He said Jey won their match and scored the pinfall and he has the rematch clause, so he’s the one who should be fighting for the championship. He said his time will come. He said they took The Bloodline, The Wiseman, and the titles. He said they had to find something to take from him, “which brings me to Bronson Reed.” Fans booed. “I feel the same,” said Reigns. Paul Heyman then interrupted.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Heyman said as he walked out with Reed who had two pairs of sneakers hanging over his shoulders. Heyman said it was five years ago this week that Brock Lesnar’s “advocate” became Roman’s “wise man.” He said they changed the entire industry together and owned everything there was to own. “And now look at you, standing all alone in the ring by yourself.” Fans chanted “OTC!” again.
Heyman said, “I miss you, my Tribal Chief. I loved you five years ago and I love you now, which is why I came out here tonight to disrespect you, my Tribal Chief.” Fans sang Roman’s name again to irritate Heyman. Heyman said the fans aren’t tough enough to live in Manchester nor rich enough to live in London. He said he needs the tough love of what an oracle can give to his Tribal Chief. He said he’s not tough enough to beat that into him, but Reed is.
Reigns said, “Hey dumass, on Sunday in Paris, you’re going to kiss my ass because I’m going to whoop his ass.” Fans chanted “OTC!” again. Reed said at the Clash, it’s not about receipts, it’s about disrespect. He said he knows Reigns is an educated man with a college degree, but it’s time he gets a history lesson. He said his tribe from Samoa is civilized, but his tribe isn’t. He said they were exiled and sent to Australia. Reed said, “I’m the Samoan that your dad and uncle warned you about, and at the Clash in Paris, you’re going to find out why.”
Reigns asked, “Hold up, this guy’s Samoan? That means your ass belongs to me. So maybe we should start this thing over.” He asked him to bring his “big ol’ ass down here and return my shoes, apologize to my people for wasting our time, acknowledge me, and don’t ever send disrespect my way again. Come on down here and fix this problem.” Fans chanted “Give his shoes back!” Reed put the shoes around Heyman’s neck and then told Reigns he doesn’t want him to come down there, because if he does, he’s going to force him to acknowledge his Tribal Thief. Reigns said he won’t have to come to him because he’s going to get him.
Reigns leaped out of the ring and met Reed in the aisle. Reed threw Reigns into the ringpost, headbutted him, and threw him into the ring. They exchanged wild swings and then security entered the ring. Reed punched several security guys and then splashed Reigns and other security guys in the corner. Cole said “Aus-zilla is unleashed!” Reed landed a senton on Reigns. He climbed to the top rope, but WWE officials and security ran out. Reed knocked one security guy off the ring apron. Reigns recovered and knocked Reed off the top rope with a Superman Punch. Fans chanted “OTC!” Cole said that’s just a preview of what’s coming their way on Sunday. Reigns leaped onto a crowd including Reed at ringside. They went back to exchanging wild swings. Cole wondered, “Who the hell is going to stop these two?”
(Keller’s Analysis: Some might think the crowd singing and chanting dragged a bit and entered the self-indulgent territory, but it’s also is indicative of something no one should take for granted, which is a mega-popular babyface. Reigns experienced how tough it is to get to this spot. The boos for Cody are concerning, and Reigns didn’t exactly come to his defense. Reed has really grown as a heel and comes across in this context as a main event faction act. Heyman was strong here and in control of the audience during his time. The brawl was a good teaser for Sunday’s match.) [c]
-They showed more scenes of Birmingham. Cole said Reigns and Reed were finally separated.
-They went backstage to Finn Balor and J.D. McDonaugh walking. Then they noticed Dominik Mysterio chatting with El Grande Americano backstage. Balor asked what he was doing. Dom told them not to worry about and he said he’d catch up with them.
(1) DRAGON LEE vs. J.D. MCDONAGH (w/Finn Balor)
The bell rang 33 minutes into the hour. Cole and Graves talked up Dragon Lee as someone Rey Mysterio had chosen as his heir. They acknowledged he has stumbled a bit, but he was also outnumbered. Balor stood on the ring apron, the ref booted him to the back. He complained. McDonagh joined him at ringside, expressing frustration. Lee then landed a running flip dive onto McDonagh at ringside. When Lee leaped off the top rope with a crossbody, McDonagh dropkicked him out of mid-air. They cut to a very early break. [c]
They went into a sequence of rapid-fire moves. Lee lifted McDonagh and it appeared McDonagh had something else in mind and almost landed on his head on a powerbomb bump. The announcers gasped. Lee landed a double-stomp on McDonagh leading to a two count. McDonagh put his boot on the bottom rope. When Mysterio came out to ringside, A.J. Styles arrived and attacked him. He threw Dom into the crowd. Lee, meanwhile, played to the crowd and then charged at McDonagh with a running elbow and then Operation Dragon for the win.
WINNER: Lee in 8:00.
-Jackie Redmond interviewed Knight backstage. She suggested that C.M. Punk “accidentally” put him through a table. He said that’s quite the assumption. He said there was a chance for Punk to slow his momentum, but he didn’t. He said even if it was an accident, he just shrugged his shoulders and walked away without offering to help him up. He said Punk is a hungry man, but it’s feast or famine on Sunday “and the rations are limited.” He said everyone but him is going to bed hungry. He said Heyman and Seth see him as the only one tonight who needs a match with Bron Breakker. He said he’s going to smack Breakker back to factory settings as he learns “whose game this is.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Strong to-the-point, on-character promo with good content and delivery.)
-Penta made his ring entrance. [c]
-A vignette aired with Rusev saying he was trained by monsters. He said when he came back, he said he would no longer listen to people telling him who to hurt, but rather he’d hurt whomever he wanted to. He said Sheamus gets a match of his choice in an arena “packed with people like you – cowards.” He said Sheamus picked his poison. He said he has learned it’s impossible to be good when you’re destined to be great.
(Keller’s Analysis: These are good, but he’s been on a treadmill of vignettes for years now and there’s just something missing when he isn’t standing mid-ring on occasion also delivering his message.)
-Raquel Rodriguez tried to calm the bickering with Dom and Balor. She said it’s not what Liv Morgan would want. Dom said Balor should handle Styles tonight. Balor said he would go talk to G.M. Adam Pearce and handle it himself. Raquel turned and told Roxanne Perez to get ready.
(2) PENTA vs. KOFI KINGSTON (w/Xavier Woods, Grayson Waller)
The bell rang 51 minutes into the hour. They cut to Graves signing a petition presented by Grayson Waller to ban to the Mexican Destroyer at ringside. Graves said Waller believes it has no place in WWE and he agrees. Graves said when New Day lost the WWE Tag Team Titles, it was essentially the death of the tag division. He said it’s not clear how long is enough time to grieve. Kofi ran up the aisle after a flurry by Penta. They cut to an early break. [c]
Kofi was in control after the break. They showed a clip of Kofi backdropping Penta over the ringside barricade and onto a desk at ringside during the break. Cole asked Graves if he has considered the whole grieving thing by New Day might be a farce. Graves said not for a second. Penta scored a two count. He played to the crowd. Graves said he needs to keep his foot on the gas pedal. Kofi recovered and backdropped Penta as he went for a Mexican Destroyer. Kofi landed a Fameasser for a two count.
[HOUR TWO]
Penta landed a Penta Driver a minute later for a two count. Kofi rolled to the ring apron and then to the floor. Penta looked around, then flung himself over the top rope. Kofi moved. Penta kicked Waller in the head instead. Penta then landed a running flip dive onto Kofi and Xavier on the other side of the ring. Back in the ring, he stood on the second rope. Waller distracted Penta, and Kofi landed Trouble in Paradise for the win.
WINNER: Kingston in 10:00.
-They cut to Cole and Graves at ringside. Cole said Clash in Paris starts at 1 ET on Sunday. Cole plugged “WWE Unreal” and showed a clip of Cody in the series observing Cena t-shirts on fans walking on a sidewalk. He waved at them. “I’m even nice to Cena fans,” he said. He talked about fans hijacking shows, but sometimes it’s the “boys and girls” (wrestlers) allowing it. Back at ringside, Graves said he’s learning a lot about people he’s traveled with and gotten to know otherwise for years.
-Cole and Graves commented on clips from last week of Iyo Sky pinning Raquel leading to Perez attacking Sky, then Ripley making the save. Then they showed Asuka, Ripley, and Sky yelling at each other and Kairi Sane plugging her ears.
-They cut backstage to Ripley stretching when Iyo Sky walked up to her and tapped her on her shoulder. She thanked Ripley for having her back last week, but said they need to keep their distance for a while. Ripley said she respects her request. Iyo thanked her for understanding and they hugged. In the background, Asuka was seen observing and then throwing a fit next to Kairi.
-Graves plugged Ripley vs. Perez. [c]
-Cole plugged Wrestlepalooza.
-A video package aired on Naomi’s pregnancy announcement last week.
-Backstage, Pearce told Stephanie Vaquer she is the no. 1 contender to the title that Naomi vacated. He said she will have her championship match, but he needs a week to finalize the situation, so she can’t get her shot at the Clash in Paris. Vaquer said she wishes it was at the Clash, but she understands. Pearce said he appreciated it.
-Becky Lynch made her ring entrance. She said fans can boo her, but she wanted them to know “that this place was a big part of my journey.” She said it was 13 years ago she had her WWE tryout in Birmingham. “And it was a dump then and it’s a dump now,” she said. “Speaking of dumps, Nikki Bella thinks she can call me out to my ring.” She said she’s not some loser. She made some local references to get a rise out of the crowd. She said Nikki thinks she can call her out and she’ll come running like a trained dog.
Nikki stepped out to her music and said, “If you’re not a dog, then why are you acting like a little bitch.” She said she shouldn’t have a problem giving her a title shot. Becky said she doesn’t just give away title shots. Becky said she transcended the business and brought in a whole new audience. She said she has since replaced her and done a pretty good job. Nikki said she wanted to replace her because she’s afraid to face her. She said Becky used to be the “scared little girl in the corner” and Charlotte’s sidekick. An irked Becky said she is the greatest women wrestler of all-time. She again cited Sports Illustrated saying it.
Nikki said she doesn’t care about SI, she cares what the fans think. She said the fans made Becky relevant. She said Becky reeks of desperation. She asked Birmingham if she was right. They cheered. Becky asked the crowd if 800 years of oppressing the Irish wasn’t enough for them. Nikki asked if she has balls. Becky said she does. Nikki said she might be a champion, but she’s another C-word also. Becky gasped. Nikki said she’s a coward. Becky said that’s way worse than the other C-word she thought she was going to say.
Becky said she’ll face her in Paris, not Birmingham. She said Ozzy Osbourne had the good sense to move to L.A. and said if she lives in Birmingham, she’d die too. Nikki said Becky’s name will never big as big as Bella. She yanked away the IC Title belt and held it up. Becky kicked her, but Nikki grabbed her foot and knocked her down. She went after Becky, then Becky tried to counter with a Manhandle Slam. Nikki tried to set up a Rack Attack 2.0, but Becky retreated to ringside. She then tossed Becky her belt as her music played.
-Redmond interviewed C.M. Punk backstage. She asked for a response to what Knight said. Punk said he’s not trying to be anyone’s friend and obviously it’s every man for himself at the Clash. He said neither Knight nor Jey wanted to work together to be sure they got to Paris. Punk said he didn’t maliciously put Knight through a table. “Do I care that you fell through a table because you’re a clumsy idiot? No.” He said he’s going to get back to doing what he does best, which is being champion. He said he will paint his masterpiece with their blood in Paris. He then imitated Knight and said, “With everybody saying C.M. Punk!”
-Cole plugged Breakker vs. Knight coming up as the main event later.
-Ripley made her entrance. [c]
-Cole plugged Stephanie McMahon’s interview with Reigns.
-A vignette aired with Sheamus saying that when he heard Rusev was returning, he cringed. He said it was the return nobody asked for. He said Rusev lost his love of the game and was passionless. He said no one is buying him speaking from a darkened room and beating up smaller guys. He said something has changed and the real Rusev has awoken. He said just days away from their potential show-stealer, he wants him to know he re-earned his respect, but also know he pulled it out of him. “I made you relevant again!” he yelled. He said it’ll be a banger.
-Graves plugged their match on Sunday.
(3) RHEA RIPLEY vs. ROXANNE PEREZ (w/Raquel Rodriguez)
Cole noted this is the third time they’ve wrestled. He said Perez has never defeated Ripley. The bell rang 30 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Back from the break, Cole said Ripley was trying to beat “a very game Roxanne Perez.” (I don’t believe anyone has ever won a WWE match when they were referred to as being “very game” by Cole.) Ripley countered Perez’s attempt at a side Russian legsweep and landed Rip Tide for the win.
WINNER: Ripley in 11:00.
-Afterward, Perez attacked Ripley. Iyo Sky’s music played and she charged out for the save. Graves said Iyo couldn’t let that go on despite agreeing with Ripley to go their own separate paths earlier. She cleared the ring and then celebrated. Ripley smiled and approached Sky. She was limping and favoring her left leg to sell the attack.
-Backstage, Reed was getting psyched up next to Heyman and Seth Rollins. Seth told Heyman, “You were right about this one.” Heyman told Seth that he was right. Seth agreed with Heyman’s clarification. Seth told Reed that Paris is his time because he’ll destroy Reigns and he can’t wait to see it. He turned to Breakker and patted his chest and said he’ll make sure Knight doesn’t make it to Paris. He said, “This is The Vision, boys, and it is everything we dreamed of. It is on the verge of becoming so much more.” He walked off with his belt.
-Styles made his entrance. [c]
-They showed George Farmer from the Netflix series “Wednesday” at ringside. Graves said he watches that with his daughter.
-Iyo told Ripley backstage that she owed her from last week. Ripley said she didn’t owe her anything, but thanked her and then walked away. Asuka and Kairi walked up to Sky. Asuka was raging at Iyo for helping Ripley. She told her to stop talking with her, “and that’s an order.” Asuka stormed off. Sky told Kairi to please trust her. Kairi weeped and said she was sorry, then walked away. Iyo looked crestfallen.
(4) A.J. STYLES vs. FINN BALOR
The bell rang 51 minutes into the hour. Balor threw Styles to ringside seconds into the match. Fans chanted, “A.J. Styles!” They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Styles avoided a Coup de Grace and then landed a Styles Clash for a clean win. Cole said he’d be interested in what Dom will have to say about Balor losing like that.
WINNER: Styles in 8:00.
[HOUR THREE]
-Jey Uso backstage said he has to stay focused and he doesn’t know who to trust. The camera panned over to Reigns. Reigns said he can trust him. He said the last thing he should ever do is trust Punk. He asked Jey why he was so nervous. He said he’s the one who has helped so many others, so go smash it all and take it to your household. “It’s not about being one of the boys or making friends, it’s about capturing these moments and locking in our legacy,” Reigns said.
-Cole hyped the main event. [c]
-Cole plugged Raw airing live next week at 2 ET from Paris.
-A vignette aired on Bayley with a soundtrack of her past promos as a hugger from NXT with her upbeat theme. Her younger voice said she has to remember what it feels like. “We are successful because we believe in ourselves,” she said. Bayley said to the voice, “You’re right.” We then heard the negative voice in her head calling her stupid.
(Keller’s Analysis: The character of her past attitudes and outlooks battling in her head is a compelling way to move her character to the next phase of her career, but the method of delivery is so stupid and distracting because it’s so fake compared to anything else being presented in the narrative of WWE’s presentation.)
-Lyra Valkyria asked Pearce if he has any update on Bayley because someone should check in on her. She said it’s genuinely concerning. Pearce said he has called her, but hasn’t gotten a response. He assured her he would update her once he heard anything, Dom, Balor, and McDonagh walked up to Pearce. Dom was complaining about Styles stalking him for months and costing him his the AAA Mega-Title. “This needs to end,” Dom said. Pearce said he can’t believe he’s saying it, but he’s right. He said he’d make it right, so next week on Raw in Paris, Dom vs. Styles one-on-one with the IC Title on the line. “Does that work for you?” Pearce asked. Dom rubbed his face and said it doesn’t work for him.
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside to plug the Clash in Paris line-up.
-They showed Breakker, Reed, and Heyman backstage. Reigns attacked Reed and Breakker. Graves said Reigns was fighting fire with fire and was ready for war. Officials intervened. Pearce told Heyman and Breakker to get to the ring for the scheduled match. Knight attacked Breakker and dragged him into the entrance area. Breakker fought back briefly until Knight whipped him into the big screen. [c]
(5) L.A. KNIGHT vs. BRON BREAKKER (w/Paul Heyman)
The bell rang during the break roughly 13 minutes into the hour. They joined the fight in progress in the ring. Breakker was still in his t-shirt. He took control against Knight. Breakker accelerated and ran the ropes in turbo mode and knocked Knight down. Knight made a comeback and landed some jabs. Knight clotheslined Breakker over the top rope. Cole said there’s “a different fire in the eyes of Knight tonight.” Breakker surprised Knight by sending him into the announce desk. Then he rammed Knight into the ring apron and the ringside steps. They cut to a break. [c]
Back live, Breakker had Knight grounded in the ring. Knight went for a leaping neckbreaker, but Breaker held onto the top rope so Knight crashed to the mat. Breakker gave Knight a Frankensteiner for a two count. He pressed him a minute later, but Knight slipped free and landed a DDT. Both were down and slow to get up at 12:00.
Knight set up a move, but Breakker countered by lifting Knight onto his shoulders. Knight slipped and almost crashed onto the mat awkwardly. Knight recovered and delivered an inverted DDT. Fans chanted “This is awesome!” Breakker blocked a BFT and then clotheslined Knight. He lowered his straps and eyed the hard camera. Knight caught a charging Breakker with a boot to the face. Graves said if there’s a weakness in Breakker’s game, it’s that he can get a little overexcited. Fans chanted “This is awesome!” again.
Knight leaped to the top rope and superplexed Breakker, then leaped off the top rope with a flying elbow. Seth’s music played. “Of course, should we have expected anything different?” said Cole, a reference to The Vision that could also apply to the booking of WWE finishes. Knight chased Seth away. Breakker then speared Knight at ringside. He threw Knight into the ring as fans chanted “C.M. Punk!” Back in the ring, Breakker ran the ropes and speared Knight for the win.
WINNER: Breakker in 19:00.
-Seth attacked Knight afterward. Jey Uso made the save. He was soon outnumbered. Seth gave him a Pedigree. Another chant for Punk broke out. Eventually Punk’s music played and he came out. Breakker met him in the aisle. Fans sang Punk’s song. Punk threw Breakker into the ringpost. Punk leaped onto the ring apron and eyed Seth. Then he jumped into the ring and punched away at Seth. Seth slid out of the ring. Breakker pulled him to safety.
Punk stood over Knight and Jey. He helped Jey up. Knight spun Punk around and had words for him. Punk shoved him. Jey played peacemaker. Knight shoved Jey. Seth told Breakker at ringside, “Look, they’re doing it for us!” Knight shoved Punk and went for a BFT. Punk shoved Knight who knocked over Jey. Punk then set up a GTS. Knight slipped out. Jey superkicked Knight. Fans yelled “Yeet!” Jey then surprised Punk with a superkick, taking Reigns’s advice. Jey’s music played to end the segment. Cole noted that Jey took his cousin Roman’s advice. Graves said it is every man for himself because he’ll be on his own in Paris. Seth yelled at ringside, “I’m the king! I’m the king!” Cole said they’d find out Sunday at the Clash in Paris.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch contributor Kurt Cadet 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.
VIP MEMBER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
https://streamyard.com/4gwhyn6vg8
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine). This is a private link, so don’t share. It’s just for VIP members at this time.
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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