SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE RAW REPORT
SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
PARIS, FRANCE AT PARIS LA DEFENSE ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON NETFLIX (WORLDWIDE)
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
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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.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Michael Cole introduced the show as they showed an aerial view of Paris and fans gathering outside the arena. Then they cut to cheering fans in the arena as Cole touted the size of the arena.
-A five minute recap aired of Clash in Paris.
-G.M. Adam Pearce approached C.M. Punk backstage. He said he knows what he’s doing there. He told him to wait inside. Punk said he’s fine standing in the parking garage because there’s only one way for Seth Rollins to arrive.
-They showed the arrivals of A.J. Styles, The Kabuki Warriors, and Penta.
-Jey Uso’s ring entrance then aired. It started seven minutes into the show and he began talking in the ring nearly five minutes later. He said he wasn’t going to “run back” the entrance theme. He said he wanted to be standing there with the World Title belt, but instead he’s wrapped in medical tape. He wondered where he’d be if he had listened to Roman Reigns’s advice instead of trying to help him. He said one thing about him everyone knows is he puts family first so don’t ever put your hands on his family. He said Roman is “laid up in the hospital.” He called The Vision to the ring, stumbling over the names Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker (been there).
L.A. Knight came out instead to his theme. Knight said he believed in himself and that he would be World Champion. He said instead “I stand here a loser.” He said they both lost the match and Seth Rollins is still the World Champion. He said while some say Jey lives in his cousin’s shadow, Seth damn sure lives in the shadow of his wife.
Knight said Jey spoiled the chance to pin Seth multiple times. “You don’t understand,” he said. He said he is sick and tired of being left lying and not being World Champion. He said if he’s having a tough time understanding, he can get him up to speed real quick. He stepped into Jey’s space. Jey asked him, “What’s up?” At that point, Bronson Reed’s music played and he walked out with Bron Breakker.
Knight asked if they can rub enough brain cells together to put a coherent sentence together. Breakker said he’s already beaten him twice, so he has enough brain cells to beat him. He said what everyone should be focused on his Paul Heyman’s well-being. He said Roman put him there. Fans sang “Roman Reigns.” Breakker said Roman is in the hospital because they put him there. Breakker said they’re dogs off a leash because Heyman isn’t there to tell them what not to do. He said they can put Knight and Jey in the hospital next to them.
Reed said, “Before I get to you two goons, Paris, France, acknowledge your Tribal Thief.” Fans chanted something at him in French that got bleeped. He bragged that they took out Roman because Seth’s vision doesn’t include him. He told Jey and Knight that they are next.
Breakker said Jey and Knight are clearly at 100 percent tonight, so he suggested a tag match. Reed said if they’re too banged up or don’t have the balls, then they might pass. Knight said he and Jey can deal with their issues another time, since he’s up for taking on the Greasy Warhog and the Cross-eyed Halfwit. Jey said he’s on board for that. Knight led the crowd in shouting “Yeah!” and Jey led the crowd in shouting “Yeet!”
(Keller’s Analysis: It was novel to see Breakker carry a talking segment without Seth or Heyman present. He did alright. I still contend Paul Levesque is booking too many situations where babyfaces are bickering.)
-They went to Cole and Wade Barrett at ringside. Barrett questioned Knight and Jey agreeing to that tag match. Cole said there were over 23,000 in attendance for Raw. Barrett said, “Let’s end the tour in style.” They threw to the French announce team. Cole then said they had breaking news for those who live in France. He said starting in January, Raw will air live on Netflix.
Cole commented on clips of Rhea Ripley pinning Roxanne Perez last week on Raw followed by Iyo Sky running out to stop a post-match double-team with Perez and Raquel. Then they showed backstage drama afterward with Asuka upset at Kairi.
-Backstage, Iyo Sky approached the Kabuki Warriors. She apologized to them about last week. Asuka said it’s okay and they’re family. They had a brief group hug. Asuka said they’ll take care of Judgment Day for her. Asuka said, “Unlike Rhea, we don’t need help.” Sky said she wanted to say something about Ripley, but Asuka cut her off and said, “No one is ready for Kabuki Warriors.” Asuka left. Kairi assured Sky everything would be okay. Asuka called for her. Cole called that “the strangest thing.”
-Perez and Rodriguez made their entrance. [c]
(1) THE KABUKI WARRIORS (Asuka & Kairi Sane) vs. ROXANNE PEREZ & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ
Cole hyped WrestlePalooza on ESPN two weeks from Saturday. The bell rang 30 minutes into the hour. Perez and Rodriguez took control against Kairi at 4:00 as they cut to a break. [c]
Kairi tagged in Asuka at 8:30. She rallied with her rapid-fire strikes. Barrett called them “unblockable from unfeasible angles.” Asuka applied an armbar on Perez, but Rodriguez broke it up with an elbowdrop. The heel duo took over. Kairi blocked a Tejana Bomb attempt and they tumbled to ringside. Meanwhile, Asuka put Perez in an Asuka Lock. Perez leveraged Asuka’s shoulders down, so she released the hold. Kairi landed an Insane Elbow on Rodriquez at ringside. Asuka countered a Pop Rocks in the ring and went for a spinning wheel kick. That was clunky. She shifted into another Asuka Lock and Perez tapped out.
WINNERS: Kabuki Warriors in 12:00.
-Pearce said two roster members are owed title matches – the woman who won the battle royal at Revolution, Stephanie Vaquer, and the woman who was already scheduled for a rematch, Iyo Sky. He said it’ll take place at WrestlePalooza.
-Cole said Iyo and Vaquer will sign a contract in the ring next week on Raw.
-Finn Balor and J.D. McDonagh made their ring entrance. [c]
(2) FINN BALOR (w/J.D. McDonagh) vs. DRAGON LEE
The bell rang 50 minutes into the hour. Cole noted it’s the second time these two have wrestled. Lee landed a running flip dive over the top rope onto Balor at ringside as they cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Balor had Lee grounded after the break. Lee made a comeback. He scored a sitout powerbomb for a dramatic near fall at 7:00. A minute later Lee withstood a Balor comeback and landed a top rope bodypress for another two count. Balor avoided a Lee dive and landed a running dropkick. He then climbed to the top rope. J.D. McDonagh distracted him, so he leaped and head scissored him off the ring apron to the floor and then landed on his feet. Lee then hung Balor upside down in the corner. As climbing to the top rope and playing to the crowd, Balor recovered enough to counter him. He landed a Coup de Gras for the win.
WINNER: Balor in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Nice athletic match. It made Lee look ridiculous that he played to the crowd long after the McDonagh distraction already delayed his attack, which led to Balor’s countering his move and winning seconds later.)
-Iyo Sky and Nikki Bella chatted backstage. Nikki told Sky she’s looking forward to the match, but said “Stephanie is my girl.” She said she’s a big fan of Sky, too. Sky said she hopes she gets another title shot against Becky Lynch. Asuka and Kairi interrupted. Asuka yelled at Sky that Nikki is not her friend. She said she will help Sky beat Vaquer. Sky said she doesn’t need her help to win. Asuka said she didn’t win at Summerslam on her own. Kairi tried to place pacemaker after Asuka left, but Asuka yelled for her.
-The New Day and Grayson Waller made their entrance. [c]
-Cole plugged upcoming events.
-Balor and McDonagh approached Dominik Mysterio. McDonagh ask where Dom he was during their match. Dom said he was planning, but he was there in spirit. Pearce said he saw what happened with Balor vs. Lee, so Balor and McDonagh are banned from ringside for Dom’s match. Dom protested because he didn’t do anything wrong. Balor smiled and said they’d be there in spirit, too.
(3) THE NEW DAY (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) & GRAYSON WALLER vs. PENTA & THE WAR RAIDERS
As the Raiders made their entrance with Penta, Cole noted that they’ve faced New Day many times over the years. The bell rang 12 minutes into the hour. New Day and Waller regrouped at ringside early. Ivar, Erik, and Penta each took turns diving onto them at ringside. They cut to a very early break as War Raiders did Penta’s strut in the ring. [c]
The War Raiders landed a double-team move on Woods and then Penta leaped off of Ivar’s back and landed a Mexican Destroyer for the three count. Barrett said the move should be illegal.
WINNERS: Raiders & Penta in 8:00.
-Cathy Kelley asked Ripley backstage for her reaction to the announcement that Sky vs. Vaquer will face off for the vacant Women’s Title. Ripley said she respects both of them, but she never takes her eye off the prize. Kelley asked about escalating tension with Sky and the Kabuki Warriors. Asuka and Kairi barged in. Asuka asked if she thinks she deserves a title match before Iyo even wins. Ripley said she doesn’t know what her issue is with her, but her desire for a title has nothing do with her friendship with Iyo. Asuka said she’s not a friend. Ripley told Asuka not to push her. Asuka said she will push anyone. “No one is ready for Asuka; not even you!” she said. Kairi hung around after Asuka left. Asuka yelled for her to join her. Kairi flinched and obliged.
-A.J. Styles made his entrance. Barrett said Styles is haunting Dom as he won’t let up his pursuit of the IC Title. Cole said Styles admitted he got outplayed at Summerslam and it won’t happen again. The crowd sang for Styles and Styles ate it up. They cut to a break. [c]
-The crowd was still singing for Styles after the break. Cole said they’ve been doing that throughout the entire break. Cole said Paris has the greatest WWE crowd in the world. He plugged the January 2026 Europe tour.
-Perez and Rodriguez approached Pearce. Perez complained about Sky and Vaquer getting a title shot. She said she should be added to the match. Pearce said she just lost a tag match. Lyra Valkyria showed up. Pearce said that was his scheduled appointment. Lyra and Perez bickered. Pearce yelled for them to stop. He told Perez to leave if she ever wanted a title match again. Perez and Rodriguez left. Pearce then told Lyra that he talked to Bayley and she sounded great, but said some weird things. He said she’d be back soon. Lyra said, “That’s all you got?” Pearce said it is. She asked for a match against Perez or Rodriguez. Pearce said he can make that happen for her next week.
(4) DOMINIK MYSTEIRO vs. A.J. STYLES – Intercontinental Title
After formal ring introductions, Styles soaked up more serenading by the fans. Dom jumped him from behind. Cole called it “a great move by Dominik to take Styles out of the moment.” Barrett said he was sickened by hearing the French crowd. The ref checked on Styles, who nodded he was good to go. The bell rang 35 minutes into the hour. Dom went on the attack. Styles made a quick comeback with a leapfrog and a dropkick. They cut to a very early break. [c]
Cole said this is only the second time the IC Title has been defended in France, and the last time was in 1993 with Shawn Michaels vs. Bob Backlund. Dom was in control. Barrett said it’s a master class by Dom. Dom head-scissored Styles off the ring apron after avoiding a forearm. Barrett touted Dom. He said he’s “going to be the GOAT.” Cole said he “could be well on his way.” Styles caught Dom leaping off the ring apron and powerbombed him onto the French announce table. Both were down and slow to get up as they cut to another break. [c]
Dom countered a Styles Clash and landed his Mulet-o-Matic for a near fall. Barrett said it’s a great move with a great name. Styles snap-suplexed Dom into the corner turnbuckles. Dom came back with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Dom landed a top rope frog splash a minute later for a near fall at 14:00. Styles avoided a 619 and turned it into a quick Styles Clash and scored a two count. Dom put his boot on the middle rope to stop the count.
Styles landed a nasty brainbuster suplex and then signaled for the Phenomenal Forearm. El Grande Americano grabbed Styles’s leg and then headbutted him as Dom was distracting the ref. Dom then climbed to the top rope and landed his frog splash for the win.
WINNER: Dom in 16:00 to retain the IC Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: In a nice touch at the end, Dom really sold the impact of the Styles Clash, brainbuster, and Phenomenal Forearm as he struggled to climb to the top rope before hitting his splash. So many wrestlers just blow off selling that sequence of moves and seem powered up to 100 percent out of nowhere. Really good match. Glad these two are crossing paths at this point in their respective careers and didn’t miss each other. The Styles matches with Dom are helping to solidify Dom as a rising respected in-ring wrestler.)
-They went to Cole and Barrett at ringside. They threw to a video recap of the Vision’s attack on Roman at the Clash.
-Cole said Heyman suffered a larynx contusion. He said Reigns suffered multiple fractured ribs and is out indefinitely.
-Redmond interviewed Knight backstage. She asked if he can really get along with Jey tonight. Knight said he’s not sure, but he doesn’t know how to stop. He said he’s not sure if he can trust Jey, but they can either survive together or die apart. Jey walked in. He said Breakker and Reed got his cousin, so he’s got to get them. He asked if Knight understands. Knight said he does.
-Cole plugged the NXT eight-man tag match tomorrow night.
-Punk and Ripley were chatting backstage. Ripley told Punk she is sorry about what happened with him at the Clash. Punk said she’s had a rough run of luck too. Pearce told Punk that Seth is in the arena and he’s not sure how he got in. Punk said he’d go take care of it. Pearce asked what that means, but Punk walked off. [c]
[HOUR THREE]
-Rusev talked about his match against Sheamus at the Clash. He said they are former friends and who took each other to their limits. he said he is an example for kids all over the world. He said the world tells you to be kind, but he’s telling everyone to be “one of a kind.” He said Sheamus said he brought his Irish body, but his French spirit showed up. He said maybe they can be friends again “now that you know your place is beneath my feet.” He said he was scary when he was held back, but he devastating now that he is free.
(Keller’s Analysis: I like an engaged Rusev. I’m curious what’s next for him and if he ever regularly appears in front of live crowds again.)
-Punk made his ring entrance 9 minutes into the third hour. He said he is hijacking the show until Seth shows up so they can deal with each other man-to-man. He said he’d let fans sing to him as long as it takes. Instead, Seth’s music instantly played and Becky Lynch came out instead.
Punk said this has nothing to do with her unless she can get on her phone and get Seth to the ring. Becky said, “How dare you?” She said it has everything to do with her. She said his actions affect her family. Punk said he sees where this is going and he doesn’t want any part of it. She insisted Punk stay around and listen to what she has to say. She said she has had to listen to him to tell lies about her husband and berate the father of her child. She said Seth is the greatest man she’s ever known. Punk said, “You’re husband is a coward.”
Becky said Seth has sacrificed more than he will ever know. She said he is hot and jacked. Punk said she’s delusional. Punk said he doesn’t want to listen to her anymore; he said he wanted to punch Seth’s teeth down his throat. Becky said it was Punk’s name that they were chanting during her matches ten year ago which indicated they didn’t care about the hard work she was putting in. A loud “C.M. Punk!” rang out. She said he is the poster child for apathy.
She raged against the fans and then went into Seth’s catch phrases. The crowd said it along with her. She then said she’s the greatest woman wrestler and cited Sports Illustrated. She said he should leave the ring. She wished him the best in his future endeavors. “You don’t fit the vision,” she said.
Punk said that sounded good, but the vision is blurry. He asked if she is really holding a beef over ten years because they chanted his name during her matches. He said people chant his name whether he is champion or not. He said there are also 30,000 maniacs in Paris saying it. He said he has been on the Europe tour and he hasn’t seen her or her husband “with your plastic belts.” He said Seth hides behind his title and Paul Heyman, Breakker, and Reed. “And now he hides behind his wife,” he said. Punk said she is more than just someone’s wife. He said she has talent, but she lacks taste and married a bum. He said Seth is a paper champion and their issues will never be resolved.
Seth walked out onto the stage. Fans sang his song. He told Punk to say what he has to say to his face on the stage. Punk made a move, but Becky blocked him. Seth then turned and left. Becky slapped Punk over and over. Punk absorbed it and walked toward her as she dared him to do something about it. She called him pathetic. He said he’ll make Seth regret ever cashing in on him and she’ll regret ever putting her hands on him. “I already do,” she said. She complained about getting his sweat all over her hand. She said she already had to throw out her hoodie because it has his “gross ball sweat on it.” She asked the fans if they have a song for this. She sang “Na na na na!” Fans booed her as Punk marched to the back. She said, “You’ll never be champion.” She told him to keep walking and never come back.
-Cole hyped that John Cena would appear on Smackdown this Friday in his final Chicago appearance.
-Jey Uso made his entrance. [c]
-They showed Punk backstage. Pearce said Seth left in a car, but he can find him next Monday. Punk asked where Smackdown was on Friday. Pearce said Chicago, “home sweet home.” Punk patted Pearce on the shoulder and said, “Tremendous.” Pearce asked what the meant.
-Cole plugged stuff.
(5) JEY USO & L.A. KNIGHT vs. BRON BREAKKER & BRONSON REED
The bell rang 27 minutes into the hour. Barrett noted that Breakker and Reed weren’t getting much going in the opening minutes without Heyman advising them at ringside. Reed hit Jey from behind from the ring apron. Knight yelled at the ref about it. [c]
Knight leaped off the top rope with an elbowdrop on Reed. Breakker distracted him, giving Reed an opening. Breakker then threw Knight shoulder-first into the ringside steps. Fans chanted ‘F— you, Bronson” as he beat up Knight 11 minutes into the match.
Jey hot-tagged in and attacked Breakker. Fans yelled “Yeet!” after each strike. Breakker brushed off the attack and tried to lift Jey. Jey speared Breakker as a counter to Breakker’s comeback. Jey fended off an interfering Reed and worked hard to clothesline him over the top rope. Knight and Jey worked together and clotheslined him successfully over the top rope. Jey leaped over the top rope onto Reed at ringside. In the ring, Knight gave a BFT to Breakker. Jey then landed a top rope Uso splash for a near fall, with Reed yanking Jey off of the cover. Knight leaped through the ropes feet-first and swing-kicked Reed.
Reed fought back and rammed Knight into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Reed huffed and puffed and charged. Jey moved out of the path in the corner and landed three superkicks and a spear. Jey then landed an Uso splash. Breakker speared Jey right after and scored a three count.
WINNER: Breakker & Reed in 16:00.
-Reed and Breakker attacked Knight and Jey afterward. Jimmy made the save before Reed could land his Tsunami.
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 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/8ifwj63nef
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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