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WWE RAW RESULTS
AUGUST 31, 2026
CLEVELAND, OHIO AT ROCKET ARENA
STREAMED ON NETFLIX (Taped 8/28)
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reports that 10,550 tickets were distributed. The arena has a capacity of 19,432 spectators when configured for basketball.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Javier Machado 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.
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[HOUR ONE]
-The show opened with a chaotic, multi-camera edit of a backstage attack by Royce Keys, Bronco Nima, and Lucien Price getting out of a black SUV and attacking the Usos who arrived in a car so old and cheap that you knew it was going to be destroyed. Indeed, it was. They yanked the Usos out of the car, bashed in the windshield, and then slammed Jimmy through the back window. Jacob Fatu showed up with a pipe, so they sped off. They digitized Jey’s face as if he was instantly bloodied by the attack.
-They cut to Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett at ringside reacting to what happened as if it was live (even though it OBVIOUSLY was post-produced with digitizing and multiple camera angles). They returned to “live” footage of the aftermath with GM Adam Pearce and others checking on the Usos.
-Ring introductions took place for the opening IC Title match, but as the match was about to begin, Jacob Fatu stormed to ringside and vowed to dog walk Keys, Nima, and Price for what they did to his cousins.
(Keller’s Analysis: The idea that they presented an obviously heavily-produced multi-camera video with digitized blood as “live” is not insulting to the audience as much as it is a failure of a basic IQ test for the entire creative and production team that decided to present that backstage incident that way. They so easily could have thrown to a video and presented it as happening 30 minutes before they went on the air, and ideally with a security cam or a handheld phone footage rather than a multi-camera shoot. Fatu could still be worked up and cut the promo he did at ringside. Also, that they were too cheap to have the Usos arrive in a vehicle that they’d believably be driving in just to save money on destroying a “junker” instead was just adding insult to the whole scene. You knew when the car drove up that it was going be smashed up because it wasn’t at the standards of usual Bloodline vehicles.)
(1) RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ vs. SOL RUCA – Intercontinental Title match
The bell rang 7 minutes into the hour. Raquel went on the early attack including rotating back elbows in the corner. Ruca landed a handspring backflip onto Raquel at ringside. Ruca tied up Raquel in a modified tarantula at 3:00. She then went for a backflip at ringside, but Raquel ducked and then took Ruca down with a crossbody. They cut to a break. [c]
Ruca landed a sunset bomb at ringside at 8:00. Roxanne Perez and Liv Morgan ran out. Ruca fended them off and landed a corkscrew dive off the ring apron onto them. When she went for the Sol Snatcher, Lyra Valkyria blocked her and shoved her. Raquel then hit a Tejana Bomb for the win. They showed Lyra snickering at ringside in a crazed manner as Raquel celebrated with Liv and Perez.
WINNER: Raquel in 10:00.
-Tessitore got in some plugs including the Rey Fenix vs. Penta main event match, the final of the Lucha Tournament to determine who will challenge Roman Reigns for his World Title on the Sept. 14 episode of Raw in Mexico City, Mexico.
-A video package aired on the paths of both wrestlers to the tournament final.
-They showed Penta and then Rey backstage rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
-They went back to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. They commented on the aftermath of the backstage attack.
-They showed Chad Gable walking backstage. [c]
-They showed exterior scenes of Cleveland as Tessitore plugged the Mr. T special on Netflix premiering next Tuesday. A preview aired.
-Gable made his entrance as Tessitore recapped his journey. He pumped his fists as he came out to his theme. He thanked the fans for their energy. Fans chanted “Gable! Gable!” He seemed touched. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” he said. He said he would not be Intercontinental Champion if it were not for the Mexican people. There were some cheers, but hardly enthusiastic. He said Raw is returning to Mexico for the first time in 15 years and he is proud to say he’d be defending his IC Title in Mexico City in two weeks. He said a lot of wrestlers deserve this opportunity. He called Dragon Lee to the ring.
Gable told Dragon Lee he’s one of his favorite “talents on the entire roster.” (You know, it’s okay in the actual TV show to refer to themselves as wrestlers, not “talents” like they’re on some Hollywood set.) Gable said Dragon inspired him. Ethan Page walked out and interrupted. He took issue with not being offered a title shot. Gable said he’s on the list of those getting a title shot “right after Honkytonk Man.” Ethan touted HTM as “one of the longest-running Intercontinental Champions of all time.” Dragon tried to interrupt. Ethan said, “Okay, little guy, the men are speaking.” He didn’t look him in the eye when saying that, adding another layer of disrespect. Dragon said he has a big, big mouth and talks too much. He asked if he thinks he’s better than him. He said the fans don’t believe it and he doesn’t believe it, so he should show him in the ring tonight.
(Keller’s Analysis: Gable seemed so touched by fans actually chanting his name, like he was relieved a crowd actually showed some enthusiasm for him after his entrance that seeks a big crowd reaction. He still lacks something as a babyface, and I think ultimately sooner than later he should go back to a heel role. This still feels like a struggle overall, and he’s just kind of bland as a babyface personality. Maybe they agree and we’ll see that on Sept. 14.) [c]
(2) ETHAN PAGE vs. DRAGON LEE
The bell rang 30 minutes into the commercial-free version of this show. (Since it was pre-taped, there aren’t commercial breaks, at least for those with the commercial-free plan.) Ethan took over at 2:00 and pounded away at Dragon’s face after a kick to the head. Dragon landed a running flip dive onto Ethan at ringside as they cut to a break. [c]
Dragon leaped off the top rope right after the break, but Ethan side-stepped him. Dragon tossed Ethan to the floor, but Ethan swept his legs. Ethan went on sustained attack. Fans chanted “Dragon Lee!” at 10:00 (adding in commercial break time). Ethan blocked a head scissors takedown attempt on the ring apron. Dragon Lee landed a running high knee, though. He followed with a leaping head scissors that sent Ethan into the announce desk. He followed with a running dive, but Ethan knocked him out of mid-air. “Well scouted by Ethan Page!” exclaimed Tessitore.
Ethan threw Dragon into Gable who was watching in a chair at ringside. Ethan turned and yelled at Gable. Gable stood so Ethan ran back into the ring. With the ref distracted by Gable, Ethan removed the turnbuckle pad and the threw a charging Dragon Lee into it. The ref noticed the exposed turnbuckle and refused to count. As an angry Ethan stood and yelled at Gable, Dragon hit Operation Dragon for the win.
WINNER: Dragon Lee in 12:00 to earn a shot at Gable for the IC Title on Raw in two weeks.
(Keller’s Analysis: Last week I called for WWE to book referees as more savvy to the weekly cheating tactics of heels. Ideally, though, the ref would have caught the cheating out of the corner of his eye rather than assuming – admittedly, rather safely and accurately – that Ethan was the perpetrator just to establish he wasn’t making assumptions, as that has gotten referees in Eddie Guerrero matches in trouble in the past.)
-Tessitore plugged upcoming events.
-Tessitore and Barrett commented on the incident two weeks ago with Fatu attacking LA Knight as he faced off with Roman Reigns, but then Solo Sikoa turning on Reigns to cheers from the crowd.
-They cut backstage to a modern Jeep arriving. Roman stepped out of it and had an intense, stern expression. He eyed Fatu who was waiting for him. Fans chanted, “OTC! OTC!” Fatu told him what “Royce and his crew” did earlier. Fatu said Royce is a problem. Roman said: “Jacob, Royce is your problem. Handle it. Everything else is my problem.”
-Roman made his entrance as fans stood in anticipation and then cheered when he walked out. [c]
-Back from the break, Reigns raised his title belt and then pryo blasted. He paced as some fans chanted “OTC!” Then fans sang “Roman, Roman Reigns! Roman, Roman Reigns!” Roman said, “Cleveland, Ohio, acknowledge me!” Fans cheered and then chanted “OTC!” He said being “the one true champ, the only champion that matters” and “being The Tribal Chief is a burden.” He said everyone wants what he has. He said he should be celebrating the tournament and showing respect to Fenix and Penta “because that’s what they’re doing, they’re earning it.” He said everyone else is bitching and moaning about title shots or showing disrespect. “Which brings me to Solo,” he said. Scattered boos, no cheers. (More fan whiplash regarding who is deserving of their cheers and support.)
Roman said he gave Solo a chance to serve the family and their legacy, but he blew it for LA Knight. He made his sour lemon crunchy face as he said “LA Knight.” He said he knows Knight reminds him of The Rock, “but he’s not our family.” Knight’s music interrupted and he walked out. “The mega-star is here,” said Tessitore. An “LA Knight!” chant started, but didn’t gain a momentum and faded.
Knight then said, “Let me talk to ya’!” Fans cheered briefly. He stood on the entrance stage and said he has a lot to talk about. He said after last week, he should be talking about Royce Keys, but instead he’s talking to Roman about recycled material from three years ago saying he reminds him of The Rock. He said Roman is doing things the wrong way because he’s called him out for months and he’s put his family and tournaments he can’t enter between them. He said he didn’t realize “OTC” stood for “One True Coward.” Fans cheered.
Knight said Roman wasn’t around last week, probably pondering his life decisions. He entered the ring and said his ride starts now. The big screen showed Solo Sikoa down backstage, with blood on his face and arm digitized. Knight returned to the back and saw Fatu and yelled at him. Pearce stood between them. Roman showed up and knocked Knight down from behind. Roman told Fatu to handle Royce.
(Keller’s Analysis: Roman got cheered, but less than in past months due to fans siding with Solo Sikoa and LA Knight. Roman made a decent case for feeling the burden of being the Tribal Chief and dealing with those who characterized as entitled whiners, as long as you don’t think too hard about it. He was sympathetic in the sense that his Bloodline cohorts were attacked earlier, so Royce Keys & Co. seemed to be the heels in that context. When Knight came out, fans were behind more and he had a few good lines, including what OTC really stands for. Overall, this segment showed the fans’ feeling a bit of emotional whiplash not just from one segment to another, but from one sentence to another, as they want to like Reigns, but his demeanor and his actions are heelish, except when they’re not or he’s opposite a more villainous faction. It’s a muddled mess and it’s affecting crowd reactions to everyone involved.) [c]
-A vignette aired on Lola Vice.
(3) DOMINIK MYSTERIO (w/JD McDonagh) vs. JE’VON EVANS
As Dom and JD made their way to the ring, they cut to a clip of last week’s angle after Je’Von lost to Big Cass. Back to the ring as Evans finished his entrance, Dom jumped him before the bell. He battered Evans at ringside. The ref backed Dom away and checked on Evans. Evans signaled he was ready. The ref called for the bell 58 minutes into the commercial-free telecast. Evans immediately rallied and took over. Evans threw Dom to ringside and then landed a running dive over the top rope. As he let out a roar, they cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Dom bailed out to ringside. Evans took a shot at JD. Barrett said JD might’ve earned that one. Evans skipped around ringside, but JD intercepted him. The ref called for the DQ.
WINNER: Evans via DQ in 8:00.
-Joe Hendry ran out and attacked Dom and JD. He tossed them out of the ring. Pearce said he’s tired of this crap. He said he was restarting the match as a tag match. “Ring the damn bell!” he said.
(4) JD MCDONAGH & DOMINIK MYSTERIO vs. JOE HENDRY & JE’VON EVANS
They battled at ringside early. A few minutes in, JD threw Je’Von into the ringpost. JD headbutted Hendry. Dom then landed a top rope frog splash for a three count.
WINNERS: Dom & JD in 6:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: I still don’t sense mainstream WWE fans are fully acquainted with what Joe Hendry’s all about. Obviously a lot of fans have followed his journey, but they seem a little tired of him. So he’s a cold act that is only half-developed as a character in WWE-proper. Dom and JD are great at being pesky, annoying mid-card heels, but I hope WWE has their eye on protecting Dom enough that he can transition into an upper-card wrestler soon who has the in-ring credibility to be a top level star.)
-Tessitore got in some plugs for TripleMania and TKO’s boxing league. Then they recapped the latest with Becky Lynch and Stephanie Vaquer.
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Becky Lynch. She asked her why she helped Vaquer. Vaquer interrupted right away. Becky asked where she came from and asked if she was eaves dropping. Becky said she (Becky) is a very nice person and she saw someone fighting three people and decided to help. She said she’d rather take the title off of her instead of Liv. Vaquer said she doesn’t need her help. Becky said Vaquer owes her. Vaquer pushed back. Becky said she does, or at least some respect as the greatest female wrestler of all time. Vaquer said she started to trust her, but then she showed her who she really is. She said she doesn’t deserve the title. When she left, Becky looked frustrated.
-They showed Rey Mysterio giving encouragement to Fenix backstage. [c]
-A video recap aired of the Oba Femi-Bron Breakker contract signing last week.
-Kelley approached Paul Heyman backstage and noted she advocated for generational talent and is quite good when it comes to predictions and spoilers. She asked for a prediction or a spoiler. “Neither,” he said. He said both men must win and neither man can afford to lose. He said it’s billed as being for the future of WWE. He said for the winner, it’s a continuance of momentum, but what happens to the public perception of the loser. He said the fall season leads to the Royal Rumble which leads to WrestleMania, so it’s the worst time lose a match like that. He said he respects Oba Femi, and it might be unpopular in the circles he runs, “but how could I not.” He said he loves and respects Bron Breakker. He said Breakker outworks everyone in the gym and he’s going to bring a fight to Oba no one has seen before. He said he knows what’s at stake and what’s on the line. “Your guess is as good as mine,” he said. “We’re all going to find out this Sunday.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Really nicely done. For a match not for a title, they are getting more than they usually get out of a title match in this one. Heyman continues to seem like a blend of a self-interested party observing a match between two wrestlers primed to define an era and a friend of Breakker who wishes him the best but isn’t sure he is the best wagon to hitch himself to.)
-Tessitore and Barrett hyped the Sunday Night’s Main Event line-up including a live performance from Quavo.
-Backstage, Liv, Raquel, and Roxanne were gloating about what happened earlier. In walked, JD and Dom to add to the celebration. Perez said she’d have her back when Becky faces her. Liv thanked her, but said she doesn’t need anyone’s help to beat her. She said she’s going to beat Vaquer first. She said it was time to go have fun.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside again. They recapped the angle at the start of the show. Tessitore told Barrett that in all their years together, they’ve never seen a more shocking event. Barrett called it “a street-style attack.” He said it was “an assault to an unnecessary degree.” Tessitore said it was unprecedented violence. Tessitore said the Usos and Solo were being evaluated at a local medical facility for injuries.
(Keller’s Analysis: Is “assault to an unnecessary degree” a technical legal term? Like, assault is fine, but only to a certain degree. I sure hope WWE portrays the actions by Keys & Co. as criminal and worthy of substantial suspension if not termination, and then build a story around the victims of their attacks lobbying Pearce to let them get at them in the ring, i.e. War Games.)
-Penta’s ring entrance took place. [c]
-Tessitore got in more plugs.
(5) PENTA vs. REY FENIX – World Title Tournament Shot Final
Fenix’s entrance aired. The bell rang 77 minutes into the commercial-free stream. They took turns landing moves against each other. They both ended up down and slow to get up at 4:00. Fenix crawled over to make a cover and scored a two count. Penta took over. They cut to a break at 6:00 after Penta scored a two count after a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, then pounded the mat in frustration. [c]
Penta landed a springboard moonsault splash onto Penta who was bent forward awkwardly while bumping the opposite direction. It felt like a screw-up. The ref checked on Penta afterward, but he seemed fine. Fenix landed some kicks. Penta countered a charging Fenix with a pop-up powerbomb into a jackknife cover for a near fall at 12:00 (accounting for the commercial break).
Fenix knocked Penta off the top rope with a running uppercut. Penta set up a sunset bomb, but Fenix landed on his feet. Penta got wide-eyed and backed away. Barrett said Penta looked like he saw a ghost. Penta hit a Penta Driver seconds later after escaping a Mexican Musclebuster and scored a near fall. Fans popped. Barrett called it “absolutely astonishing.” Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
They battled to ringside and onto the announce desk. Penta landed a Penta Driver onto the desk, which collapsed. Both were down and slow to get up. Tessitore said it was as good as it gets and “far beyond anything you could dream.” Penta rolled Fenix into the ring and made the cover. Fenix kicked out. (It was nice to not have the announcers say the match was surely over and just let the moment speak for itself.) Penta set up the Sacrifice arm-snap and then delivered. Fenix clutched his arm in pain. Penta stared at him as Fenix yelled, “Come on, hit me!” Penta charged, but Fenix rolled him up for a near fall. Penta then hit a Mexican Destroyer for the win. Tessitore gushed about the match.
Penta checked on his brother and embraced him from behind afterward. He then stood and raised Fenix’s arm.
WINNER: Penta in 16:00 to advance to face Roman Reigns in two weeks for the World Title.
-As Penta celebrated, Roman’s entrance took over and he stepped out onto the stage. Penta turned and eyed him. Roman entered the ring and held up his belt. Penta did his catch phrase as the show ended.
(Keller’s Analysis: They presented a really good example of what they can do against each other within the 16 minute window. I’m not sure the action was “far beyond anything you can dream,” as Tessitore gushed, but it was a lot of fun to watch and the fans ate it up. They did a good job overall with this tournament and the Sept. 14 match, while a predicable outcome of the tournament, makes that match feel earned by Penta and a bigger deal overall than if they booked it through other means.)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOW
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Javier Machado 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
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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).
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