WWE RAW RESULTS (8/24): Keller’s UPDATED report on Oba Femi and Bron Breakker contract signing, Vaquer vs. Perez, Penta vs. La Parka, Dragon Lee vs. Rey Fenix

By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor


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WWE RAW RESULTS
AUGUST 24, 2026
OTTAWA, ONTARIO AT CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE
STREAMED LIVE ON NETFLIX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor

Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 5,885 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 7,074. The arena has a capacity of 19,000 spectators when configured for basketball.


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PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Paul Weigle to review WWE Raw LIVE. 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 the arrivals of Stephanie Vaquer, Big Cass, and The Vision (Bron Breakker, Austin Theory, Maxxine Dupri, Logan Paul).

-A recap aired of Solo Sikoa striking Roman Reigns instead of LA Knight.

-Knight made his ring entrance. Graves said Knight had to feel great after how things went down last week. Knight took issue with Roman saying he hadn’t earned a title match, then creating a tournament that he didn’t qualify for. Fans chanted “You deserve it!”

Solo Sikoa made a “Yeah!” sound from the crowd. Knight looked around and found Solo who was truly delighted with himself imitating Knight. Solo then did, “Let me talk to ya’!” Knight smiled a bit.

Solo thanked Knight for helping him last week. He said who would have thought not that long ago that after all they’ve been through, they’d be teaming. When Solo was going to say Knight’s line “With everybody saying LA Knight!” Knight cut him off and said he let him get away with two, but not a third. He called it his warning shot. Then they made fun of Jey Uso’s “ping ping” gunshot sound and made mocking gun gestures.

Jimmy and Jey Uso walked out. Jimmy said Solo must think it’s funny he turned on The Tribal Chief. He said he will pay a price. Jey then threatened Solo with his “warning shot” gesture and Solo did a Matrix slo-mo avoid-a-bullet routine, which fans laughed at.

(Keller’s Analysis: I think the Sol0-Knight alliance has been handled well, with Knight staying true to himself as a straight-forward charismatic babyface with principles and Solo as someone coming out of his shell and showing himself to be a gregarious, likable, upbeat personality who is seeing the same thing Knight has seen in The Bloodline. Solo cribbing Knight’s lines and Knight being okay with it – to a point – was well done. Mocking the once-beloved Jey Uso was well done, too, although it’s less effective if WWE doesn’t strip away the communal fun of Jey’s entrance from his presentation.)

-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside who threw to a video package on the Lucha Tournament to earn a shot at Roman Reigns next month.

(Keller’s Analysis: I don’t think there’s widespread inherent interest in the Lucha Tournament amongst the WWE fanbase, as so many of the personalities feel like “extras” just filling time until we get to the Penta vs. Rey Fenix finals, but I give WWE credit for doing what they can without going overboard presenting this as an important international tournament. It also makes the World Title feel more “worldly” if it is defended around the world, and while WWE goes to Europe and the Middle East and Japan and Canada, it’s all under the WWE banner. While AAA is owned by TKO, WWE’s parent company, the culture of the presentation of AAA is different enough that feels like the World Title is more than just a “company corporate belt” in the pro wrestling realm as a result of this tournament.)

-They showed Rey Fenix and Dragon Lee warming up separately backstage.

-Stephanie Vaquer made her ring entrance. Cole noted it was her first match in months. [c]

(1) STEPHANIE VAQUER vs. ROXANNE PEREZ (w/Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez) 

As the wrestler exchanged match holds and counters, the announcers talked about Vaquer needing to get past Perez and then Raquel in order to get to Liv. They cut to a break after a Raquel distraction led to Perez taking control and whipping Vaquer into the ringside barricade. [c]

Vaquer hit Devil’s Kiss. Perez landed a facebuster and a Shining Wizard leading to a near fall. Vaquer then landed the SVB. When she climbed to the top rope, Liv knocked her down as Raquel distracted the ref.

Becky Lynch saw enough came out to her music. Perez landed a knee strike on Vaquer during the chaos, but Vaquer moved out of the path of a moonsault and hit a butterfly lungblower for the win.

WINNER: Vaquer in 13:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: The early minutes felt like a struggle to gain the advantage with matwork, and some of it looked discombobulated, but in a way that is what a real struggle on the mat for leverage would look like. The distractions from people at ringside is overdone. If you lean on pro wrestling tropes, you want to use them judiciously because it is getting to the point that all viewers should be thinking about is how badly the referees need a seminal off-camera to explain that a long conversation with someone standing on the ring apron who isn’t an immediate threat to the wrestlers in the ring is always a ploy and something dastardly is happening behind their backs, so turn around already!)

-After the match, Liv tried to sneak attack Vaquer, but Becky stopped her and then threw Liv around ringside. Lynch indicated to Vaquer she owes her.

-Backstage, Rey Mysterio wished Fenix luck. Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonaugh walked into the scene in the background during this, then approached Rey. He complained to Rey that he’s treating everyone like his son except him. When the heel duo threatened Rey, Je’Von Evans intervened and knocked them down. He then shook hands with Rey.

(Keller’s Analysis: Rey Mysterio & Je’Von vs. Dom & JD sounds good to me! The interaction with Dom and Rey continues to be fun.)

-Fenix made his ring entrance. [c]

(2) REY FENIX vs. DRAGON LEE – Semi-final to earn a World Title shot

They worked a dazzling series of spots, back and forth, in the opening segment. With Lee in early control, they cut to a break. [c]

A “This is awesome!” chant broke out after Fenix scored two near falls after big moves. They fought at ringside for a while. Then Lee landed a cannonball dive onto Fenix on the table.

They went into a sequence of big spots and near falls including a Styles Clash by Lee. Fenix caught him with a great looking cutter for a near fall. Fenix came back with a Mexican Destroyer for the win.

WINNER: Fenix in 14:00 to advance to the tournament final

(Keller’s Analysis: The crowd ate up the big spots and popped for near falls. They gave this match a respectable amount of time within the Raw format.)

[HOUR TWO]

[c] They showed Penta and La Parka warming up for their match later

-Adam Pearce hosted the contract signing for Bron Breakker vs. Oba Femi. Paul Heyman was in the ring already. Oba made his entrance and entered the ring and shook hands with both Pearce and Heyman.

Heyman said there is no vision for the future without the phrase “Fear the Spear.” Heyman then introduced Breakker. Breaker sat down and gave a speech about feeling cheated out of being considered the next big star because he was out injured and everything was then handed to Oba. He said what Oba had done, noting he beat Brock Lesnar and won King of the Ring, plus squashed a bunch of guys, but no titles.

Oba listened, then called Bron “an angry orange man.” Oba said Bron would have been the next big star if he debuted in 2002, a dig at John Cena. He said if he debuted in 2015, he would have been the top star instead of “whoever was the big dog” back then. He said unfortunately for him, he’s going be that guy.

Breakker pushed back, saying he’s going to be living his shadow and he’ll be known as the man who Oba could never beat. Breakker then signed the contract. He then stood and approached Oba and asked if he was going to sign it or was Heyman going to sign it for him. “Is your daddy going to do it for you?”

Heyman told Breakker not to act that way. Breakker got in Heyman’s face and angrily told him to sign the contact since he’s basically been acting like his representative. Breakker turned and hit Oba. Oba fought back and took control.

Austin Theory showed up and attacked Theory, but Oba brushed him off. Breakker took some shots at Oba. Oba knocked Breakker out of the ring and then slammed Theory through the table set up in the ring. Breakker teased re-entering, but then dropped to ringside. Oba said Breakker will run from him at Sunday Night’s Main Event also. Oba signed the contract.

(Keller’s Analysis: Bron Breakker represented himself well here on the mic. He’s not a dynamic talker, but he was more than passable in conveying his growing jealousy and discontent with Oba Femi taking his “starting position” as the future stud centerpiece of WWE, along with consternation with Paul Heyman seeming to be flirting with Oba as someone he’d like to make his “next Brock” instead of Breakker. I still hope this doesn’t end up being a “ruse” planned out by Breakker and Heyman. I don’t like when people who in the WWE world should be self-interested in success suddenly engage in audience manipulation for the sake of “entertainment” and “fun misdirection.” That said, if it ultimately started as a sincere issue Breaker had with Heyman, but at some point now it turns into a ruse and that ruse leads to a distinct and predictable advantage for them, then that could work. Oba continues to meet the moment every time.)

-The Usos confronted Jacob Fatu backstage. Fatu stood his ground and said he only does what The OTC explicitly tells him to do. Fatu again told Jey he doesn’t take orders from him. Jimmy showed off his Ula Fala. Fatu kicked a production crate in frustration.

-Je’Von Evan made his entrance. [c]

-Cole hyped SNME.

(3) BIG CASS vs. JE’VON EVANS

Cass made his entrance. Cole noted it was Cass’s first match in WWE in over eight years. Cass was in control when they cut to an early break. [c]

Evans got in a bunch of offense, but he clutched his hamstring after a big move. Cass then landed a big boot for the win. Cole was heavily critical of Big Cass, saying, “I hope he’s proud of himself!”

WINNER: Cass in 9;00.

-Dom and JD attacked Evans afterward. Dom landed a frog splash.

(Keller’s Analysis: Evans is young enough and good enough that he can survive losing to Big Cass at this stage of his career. They “protected” Evans by giving him a lot of the offense, and then a hamstring injury at the end led to his downfall. So Big Cass won clean and decisively, as he should if they envision him as an opponent for Oba Femi, but they didn’t treat Evans like Brock treated Kofi Kingston, so it’s fine for now. And they quickly pivoted Evans to a new feud where he will get the upper hand.)

-Jackie Redmond interviewed Sol Ruca about her match for the IC Title next week against Raquel. Lyra Valkyria then entered the scene and said she wanted a title match. When Ruca said she had to earn it, her demeanor changed and she said “Bayley used to talk to me like that.”

(Keller’s Analysis: Lyra’s unhinged turn continues to be entertaining. I’d like to see WWE probe more into why she has turned into someone completely different, although some of that is conveyed in the way they present her and the callbacks she makes to the Bayley situation and her own setbacks despite having the perfect attitude at the beginning of her WWE run.)

-Penta made his entrance. [c]

-They showed an aerial view of Ottawa as Cole threw to a preview video of a Netflix special on Mr. T being released on Sept. 8.

(4) PENTA vs. LA PARKA – Semi-final match for a World Title match

La Parka was in the ring after the break. The bell rang 16 minutes into the hour. Graves noted this is the third incarnation of La Parka and wildly popular with kids and families. “Truly an icon in the world of Lucha Libre.” The opened by each taking a turn rolling each other up for two counts, and in both cases, the wrestler making the cover looked like he voluntarily relinquished leverage rather than the wrestler being pinned using actual force or effort to avoid a three count. Penta landed a running flip dive over the top rope onto La Parka at ringside. Penta threw La Parka back into the ring right away and La Para showed no effects from the previous move as he then landed a running flip dive off the top rope himself. La Parka leaped off the top rope with no obvious intended move, but was in perfect position to be kicked in the chin by Penta for a two count. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]

La Parka leaped off the top rope and Penta leaped into the air to absorb and take the crossbody block bump. La Parka landed a powerslam for a two count. Parka stomped on Penta, and then stood and whipped him toward the opposite corner. Penta reversed him with the weakest looking shove you’ll ever see. Penta landed a couple moves and scored a two count after La Parka kindly rolled away from the corner into perfect position to be covered. Penta signaled for the Mexcian Destroyer which got a small response. La Parka ducked Penta and landed a loose sloppy satellite DDT for a two count. Graves called it “a beautiful” DDT. Penta gave La Parka a Penta Driver for a two count. Cole and Graves talked about Penta being more comfortable and familiar with wrestling in a WWE ring than La Parka.

La Parka countered with a top rope Spanish Fly for a two count. Penta countered a Bone Breaker and then delivered The Sacrifice and a Mexican Destroyer for the win. Cole said that “brothers will collide next week.”

WINNER: Penta in 9:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: It really stood out how cooperative and soft the exchanges were here most of the time compared to a typical WWE-style match. The soft whip into the corner is in particular a bad trait of Lucha Libre style where it’s clear everyone is cooperating and not being “forced” into anything. It just feels like a walk-through practice session of a fight exhibition instead of a fight. In fairness, there’s a that’s “obviously fake” about a WWE-style or AEW-style or New Japan-style match, too, for someone not acclimated to ignoring those traits, but in a WWE ring on a WWE show, it really stands out when the Lucha style is presented in this context in contrast to the better wrestlers in WWE.)

-Fenix walked onto the stage as Penta was leaving and they teased their tournament final match next week. Cole said “Brothers collide next week.”

-LA Knight and Solo interacted backstage in a friendly way. Solo thanked him for what he did for him last week. He assured him he has his back and he owes him. Knight said, “Look at this softy Solo Sikoa! Look ta you!” Knight said he doesn’t owe him anything, but he told him not to make him regret trusting him, though. “Let’s go handle this business,” he said.

-A vignette aired on Zilla Fatu, who wasn’t identified other than a quick stylized “Zilla” graphic on the screen. [c]

-Backstage, Chad Gable and Pearce chatted about what’s next for him to build his legacy. Ethan Page showed up and said he was offering title matches to inferior challengers to him. He said Gable beat Rey, but he did also. He said Gable appears intimidated by him and he chastised Gale for interrupting him. Gable told Ethan he had the same chance to win the tournament, but he tapped out to him in the Gauntlet match.

(Keller’s Analysis: Ethan challenging Gable seems like a good use of both. I would like to see Ethan get a credible win against Gable, but then never shut up about it as a way to build his credibility while making him insufferable. I like him as a long-term IC Champion in the Honkytonk Man mold.)

-Cole and Graves plugged next week’s Raw including Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sol Ruca for the IC Title, Penta vs. Rey Fenix in the tournament final, and an appearance by Roman Reigns to react to the results of the tournament final to earn a shot against him in Mexico City.

-The announcers recapped the Vaquer win earlier and then appearance by Lynch.

-Backstage, Redmond informed Vaquer that she will challenge Liv for the WWE Title in two weeks. Vaquer said she doesn’t need Becky’s help, but she’s appreciated it and respects her. She said “in two weeks she will take back her title and destroy The Judgment Day.”

-The Usos made their entrance, as usual through the crowd who “Yeeted” along to the (heel?) duo. The stood surrounded by kids and did their arm-dance. Jimmy slapped and Jey smiled and slapped hands with fans.

(Keller’s Analysis: WWE has conditioned their fanbase over time to completely disconnect a wrestler’s actions and attitude from how fans react to them, and it’s not a good thing. They do nothing to encourage fans to react negatively to wrestlers who are cast in traditional heel roles who do underhanded things and lack any sportsmanship and cheat. It’s strange to watch as it runs so counter to how pro wrestling structurally actually works. There’s no other entertainment genre as structurally broken right now in terms of a disconnect between the narrative story and the way the main characters are featured and portrayed that runs counter to the story being told. Is it all about not wanting to give up the “communal experience” of the “fun ring entrance,” such as Seth’s entrance song routine when he was a heel, or is it wrestlers with seniority and power “protecting their merch sales” by hedging on going all-in on being villains?)

(5) THE USOS vs. LA KNIGHT & SOLO SIKOA

Knight got the better of Jimmy after Jimmy charged at him. Solo tagged in and worked with Knight on a double-team move. Solo landed a quick running headbutt and scored a one count. I liked Jimmy’s quick kickout with body language that said “not even close.” Knight stomped away at him in the corner. Solo taunted Jey before landing a running hip attack for a two count.

Knight got a hot-tag after the break and rallied. Royce Keys appeared with a bandana over his face and speared Jey and Solo through the barricade at ringside into the timekeeper’s area. OTM (Bronco Nima and Lucien Price) entered with bandanas on their faces and attacked Knight.

After Jey tagged in, Jimmy kicked Solo from behind. Then they landed a stereo superkick at ringside. They cut to a break as Knight approached Solo at ringside to check on his condition. [c]

The Usos remained in control after the break. Jimmy, who wasn’t legally in the ring, gave Solo a Drive-By. Cole called it both “a cheap shot” and “classic tag team wrestling,” illustrative of how ineffective the announcing is at consistently framing wrestlers actions as either honorable or dishonorable. Jey knocked Knight off the ring apron, which Cole called “a cheap shot.” Jey got the crowd to Yeet, which let Solo recover. Solo clotheslined Jey, which got some cheers. Both were down and slow to get up. Knight clapped for Solo to tag him. He held the tag ropes as Solo and Jey both tagged out. Knight got the better of Jimmy including a leaping neckbreaker. Fans were into Knight’s offense. Knight fended off Jey on the ring apron. Jimmy rolled up Knight from behind for a two count.

Knight went for a quick BFT, but Jimmy blocked it and went for a Samoan Drop. Knight blocked it and landed an inverted DDT. Knight landed a springboard flying elbowdrop. Jey was needlessly late with a breakup of the cover. Solo went after Jey at ringside for interfering. Jey played to the crowd as he got the better of Solo. Royce Keys then speared both Jey and Solo into the barricade. OTM then beat up both Knight and Jimmy in the ring.  Royce lowered his bandana over his face and smiled. OTM (Bronco Nima and Lucien Price) did the same. Cole said they were laying waste to everyone. Cole said,  “The Bloodline drove keys to this!”

Keys held up the top of the stairs and used it as a weapon against Jey, Solo, and then Knight. Then they attacked Jimmy with a double crucifix through the announce desk. The show ended as fans booed Keys and OTM.

WINNERS: An apparent no contest in 10:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: Well, I didn’t predict that conclusion. First, WWE shouldn’t be flippant about big matches – and this was a big match as far Raw main events go – not having a finish. Just the announcers saying, “What a shame, with all that effort by the wrestlers, we’ll never know who would have won.” If the goal is for Keys to be a babyface – and Cole saying “The Bloodline” drove him to this indicates that’s the direction – this isn’t how he should have made his return. If WWE is going to present yet another ambiguous character acting in his own self-interest with no regard for others or respect for wrestling matches, then there will be more ambivalence from the crowd. Next week they have a lot of work to do to define this faction so fans have a strong emotional investment either in favor of or against their mission. I’m curious how Keys comes across as a leader of a faction. I also wonder if this is Jacob Fatu’s eventual landing place since he has a canon history with Keys.)


JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOW

PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Paul Weigle to review WWE Raw LIVE. 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.

VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE

https://streamyard.com/icyexvsveb

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).

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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