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WWE RAW REPORT
SEPTEMBER 29, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. AT LENOVO CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON NETFLIX (WORLDWIDE)
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 9,673 tickets had been distributed; arena set up for 10,242. The arena has a capacity of 21,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-After the new “Then, Now, Forever, Together” brand stamp, they showed an aerial view of Raleigh, N.C. Joe Tessitore touted the city’s sports and cutting-edge tech business spirit and said it reflected that of modern day WWE. Then they showed the arrivals of the Usos, The Judgment Day (who crossed paths with the El Grande Americanos; Dom smiled at them), and Rusev.
-They cut to the cheering fans in the arena and then Tessitore and Wade Barrett at ringside.
-A several minute long highlight package aired on the main event of last week’s Raw ending with Asuka spraying mist into the eyes of Rhea Ripley who was saving Iyo Sky.
-Rhea Ripley made her entrance. She said she always knew it would come to this with Asuka. She said she thought she was a warrior and they’d settle it in the ring. She said when she did to Iyo crossed the line. She said Asuka claimed they were family. She declared they should settle things in the ring. “So Kabuki Warriors, come and get me!” she growled. Instead, Iyo came out to her music. She was making a sad face.
Iyo said, “It breaks my heart to say this, but you were right about Asuka and Kairi.” She added, though, “But they are my family.” Fans booed a bit. “And I still love them,” she said. More boos. She began to cry. Asuka and Kairi showed up on the big screen, Asuka said she taught her everything she knows and it’s up to her what happens next. She said she mentored her and paved the way for her “and now you act like none of that matters.” She said Rhea is not her family. She said because she loves her, she’ll forgive her for becoming champion and trying to forget about her as long as she apologizes to her. She said she and Kairi can go back to being her students. Kairi whimpered, “Iyo, we can be family again.” Asuka said that for Rhea, it was too late.
Rhea replied, “Asuka, you can go to hell.” Rhea turned to Iyo and said there is no way she can go back to them after what they have done to her. Fans chanted, “Iyo! Iyo!” Iyo sobbed and apologized and said she needs time. She left the ring. Asuka and Kairi then jumped Rhea from behind, forcing Sky to make a decision right then and there. After a few seconds, she charged into the ring and pulled Asuka away from Rhea. Kairi then pleaded with Iyo to choose them. Iyo cried out. Asuka then blew mist in Iyo’s eyes. Rhea charged at and tackled Asuka. Asuka and Kairi took over against Ripley and threw her shoulder-first into the ringpost. Asuka put Rhea in a sleeper on her back and then held her in place for an Insane Elbow onto Ripley. Iyo was still blinded as officials came out to check on her.
(Keller’s Analysis: The idea of sticking by family even when they’re cruel, selfish, and awful is part of the human story. A lot of people will relate to Iyo’s struggles to completely break free, especially when you add the cultural commonality that bonds her with Kairi and Asuka. That said, they can’t make Ripley look like a sap for trusting Iyo too much during this saga. The acting in this is campy and melodramatic. I think they’re trying to make up for the language issue, but it’s ultimately more distracting than beneficial.) [c]
(1) DOMINIK MYSTERIO (w/J.D. McDonagh, Finn Balor) vs. RUSEV – Intercontinental Title match
Rusev’s ring entrance was in progress after they returned from the break. Tessitore noted Rusev’s last title reign in WWE was in 2019. Alicia Taylor did formal ring introductions. Rusev yelled at fans after fans starting singing “Dirty Dom.” The bell rang 22 minutes into the hour. Dom went on the attack early, but Rusev brushed it off and overpowered Dom. Dom ducked a charging Rusev 90 seconds in and then dropkicked him to the floor. Dom flung himself over the top rope at Rusev, but Rusev caught him and overhead tossed him into the announce table. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c/db]
Rusev was in control after the break. Tessitore said things weren’t going Dom’s way in his first-ever one-on-one match against Rusev. Dom avoided a charging Rusev. Dom set up a 619, but Rusev caught him with a forearm instead. Rusev stomped the mat and got an intense look. Dom rolled to ringside. When Rusev went after him, Dom shoved him into the ringside steps and then threw him into the ring where he landed a 619. He followed with a second 619 and then a top rope frog splash. Rusev, though, avoided it and then landed the Matchka Kick for a near fall. Fans popped for the kickout.
Rusev went for an Accolade, but Dom slipped out of it and rolled to ringside. He grabbed his two title belts. Rusev threw him back into the ring. Dom tossed Rusev the belt and pretended Rusev hit him. The ref didn’t buy it. Dom, though, managed to mule kick Rusev for a three count with a yank of his tights on a roll-up.
WINNER: Dominik Mysterio in 9:00 to retain the IC Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Fun match. Dom is a turnkey babyface whenever they want to go there officially, and the fans are already cheering his Eddie Guerrero-style cheating. Rusev was solid here. I’m still not sure if this match was at least as much about him as Dom or what. He got a win, but not a clean one. Dom kicking out of Rusev’s Matchka kick was a big moment.)
-Raw G.M. Adam Pearce told L.A. Knight that making him referee last week was a mistake. He said he made a bad situation worse. Knight said some people said he was the best referee ever. He said he wants a world title shot. The New Day walked in and demanded a tag team title match. Knight and New Day bickered. Kofi Kingston said he held the World Title once, so he should defer to him. Knight told Pearce to put him in the ring with Kingston later.
(Keller’s Analysis: Knight continues to show a thorough and unwavering dedication to who he is as a character week after week. He’s the suprise of the year for me. I didn’t think his persona and character was supple enough to last as more than a one-note upper-mid-card act. He is more than that, even though he isn’t really expanding his act. It just turns out, he fits well into the WWE scheme and fan support has buoyed him in the eyes of Paul Levesque and others in person.)
-They showed the Cody Rhodes “Nightmare” bus with an image of his dog on the side. [c]
-A clip aired of Cody Rhodes having Undertaker on his podcast.
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett who talked about the Crown Jewel main event of Cody vs. Seth Rollins. A video aired on “their shared history” with soundbites from both.
-Bayley crossed paths with Lyra Valkyria. She showed off that she was wearing a Lyra t-shirt. Lyra wasn’t buying it. Bayley said she has been going through a lot lately. She said she understands Lyra wanting to keep her distance from her, but she can’t move forward with out her. Lyra said she doesn’t know if Bayley’s being sincere, but she’s done giving her chances. She walked away and then Bayley looked disappointed,
(Keller’s Analysis: Lyra needed that moment early on here in standing up to Bayley in order to be seen as a serious person. That said, obviously Bayley will end up earning her tentative trust as this story continues.)
-Bayley made her ring entrance. [c]
-Tessitore announced Zuffa Boxing will launch next January. He said it will “make the great sport even better.”
(2) BAYLEY vs. RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ (w/Roxanne Perez)
The bell rang 50 minutes into the hour. After Raquel dominated most of the early action, Bayley made a comeback at 3:00 and dove through the ropes with a body press on Raquel. She followed up with a leap off the ring apron, but Raquel caught her and spun her into the barricade. They cut to a break. [c]
They were battling at ringside after the break. Bayley pounded her chest at ringside, then landed a top rope elbow in the ring. She followed with a Swanton for a near fall at 8:00. Raquel caught Bayley a minute later and landed a fallaway slam and then a flying senton for a near fall. Raquel went for a sling-shot suplex, but Bayley countered. It was sloppy and they regrouped. Bayley landed a faceplant, but Raquel countered with a clothesline. That botched sequence took fans out of the match, although they weren’t exactly rallying for Bayley otherwise.
Bayley made a comeback and applied a figure-four leglock mid-ring. Barrett said they were in Flair Country. Raquel rolled over, but Bayley rolled through. Roxanne raked Bayley’s eyes from ringside. Raquel followed with a big boot and a Tejana bomb for the win.
WINNER: Raquel in 10:00.
[HOUR TWO]
-After the match, Perez attacked Bayley. Iyo’s music played and she paused on the stage, then charged to the ring. She was soon overwhelmed by Perez and Raquel, though. Bayley sat up and saw what was happening. She landed a flying knee to Raquel and then suplexed Perez. She clotheslined Raquel over the top rope to the floor. Bayley then went over to Lyra who looked concerned. Bayley began to smile and cackle. “You got ’em!” she said. “Get up, you idiot! Good job!” Barrett and Tessitore weren’t sure what to make of it. Lyra didn’t seem sure, either.
(Keller’s Analysis: There we go; Bayley has already won over at least tentative trust in Lyra. This was well done. and Bayley was a hoot in playfully calling Lyra an “idiot.”)
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. They commented on what happened last week with Knight vs. Jey Uso.
-They went backstage to the Usos. Jimmy asked Jey why he walked away when he and Knight needed his help. Jey said helping Knight won’t get them anywhere. Jey asked Jimmy why he was helping. Jimmy said he helps Knight and him. Jey said he doesn’t want help. He said maybe if he focused on himself more, he’d be World Champion again. He told Jimmy that’s something he doesn’t get. Jey then calmed down a bit and said they are going to out and handle their business against Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed. He told Jimmy he loves him.
(Keller’s Analysis: Jimmy continues to be presented as a level-headed big brother who is trying to be diplomatic with the emotionally volatile Jey.)
-They went backstage to Iyo Sky whose face and upper body and arms were covered in blue mist. Kairi approached her and said they can still be a family. She told her to apologize to Asuka. Iyo said no way and told her to leave her alone. The camera lowered and showed she was holding a photo of herself with Asuka and Kairi.
-Knight made his ring entrance. [c]
(3) KOFI KINGSTON (w/Xavier Woods) vs. L.A. KNIGHT
The bell rang 12 minutes into the hour. A distraction at ringside by Xavier gave Kofi the opening he needed to take over. They cut to a break at 4:00 as Kofi pounded his chest in celebration. [c]
Knight made a comeback. Kofi shoved Knight into the ropes and then dropped down. He slid to the floor and seemed a little off for no apparent reason. Knight then landed a slingshot shoulder tackle. The ref checked on Kofi. Barrett said he thinks they might’ve hit heads. Knight set up Kofi for a leaping elbow, but Xavier distracted him from the ring apron. Knight dove at him. Kofi then rolled up Knight for a two count. He went for Trouble in Paradise, but Knight ducked and then hit the BFT for the win.
WINNER: Knight in 10:00.
-A clip aired from Smackdown of Randy Orton saving Cody Rhodes from an attack by The Vision.
-Backstage, Akira Tozawa told Maxinne Dupri she’s doing great. She said she is excited for what’s next. Becky Lynch walked up and said she hasn’t accomplished anything and is a failure. Maxinne said when she asked Pearce for a match last week, she hoped it’d be Becky, the greatest female wrestler of all time. Becky said everybody says it. Maxinne said, “Basically everyone except A.J. Lee.” When Tozawa laughed, Becky slapped him. Maxinne yelled at Becky to leave Tozawa out of it. She checked on him. Becky attacked her from behind. Becky walked up to Seth Rollins. He asked if she was feeling better. She said, “A little.” She asked if he wanted her to go to the ring with him. He said he had to do this on his own. [c]
-Seth made his ring entrance. Fans chanted “C.M. Punk!” as his music faded. Then they chanted, “OTC! OTC!” Seth let it play out. Seth said Cody has three wins against him and he has three losses against Cody. He said it doesn’t bother him because it doesn’t matter. He said those matches were in the past. “Those version of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins are in the past,” he said. He said those were versions of them trying to reach the top. He said at Crown Jewel, it’ll be two men already at the top. He said the winner of the match doesn’t just win the Crown Jewel Championship, but he might determine the next 10-20 years of the future of the industry.
He said what he kind of doesn’t understand is there are some people out there who want Cody to win. He said if they think Cody is the actual quarterback of WWE, have they lost their minds. “I am the one to lead this industry into the future,” he said. He said he did everything right including staying there when things got tough. He said he led WWE into its golden age. He said he has taken Breakker and Reed under his wing to help them secure their place at the top. He said he has tried to rid WWE of cancers like Roman Reigns and Punk, yet the still chant for Cody. Fans began to sing Cody’s name. Cody’s music then played.
Fans chanted “Cody!” when his music stopped. Then they sang, “Cody, Cody Rhodes!” Cody asked what Seth was talking about. He said Seth doesn’t have control over the future of the industry. Cody asked if he knows who actually has control. He hten pointed at the crowd.
Cody said he can teach, but not control, Breakker and Reed. He said he thinks Paul Heyman sent them to the ring. He asked who is in control of his own group. Seth said, “Let me say this plainly: every decision goes through me.” He said he sent them to Smackdown last Friday. Cody asked if everything runs through him, then that means he is the one who allowed Heyman to announce Brock Lesnar. Seth said, after a deep breath, “Every decision runs through me.” Fans chanted, “No, it doesn’t!” Seth lost his composure and said he’s the reason they’re all there.
Cody said they’re all there to have fun. He said they should strip it down to what it’s supposed to be about. He said at Crown Jewel, it’s the World Champion vs. the WWE Champion. He said it could be that simple. He asked where they each will be in 20 years. He said maybe they’ll be backstage mentoring the next generation and reminiscing about their matches. He said he felt at WrestleMania 40 they Seth was his friend. Seth told him to shut up. “I was never your friend,” he said. “We were never friends. That was a means to an end.” Seth said he was just the lesser of two evils. He said he’ll never shake his hand or call him his equal. He said he’ll cleanse their timeline because everything that’s happened between them is dead. He said he will write the vision of the future, and that’s him, not Cody. Fans booed. Seth turned and left.
(Keller’s Analysis: One thing I like about this Crown Jewel main event is that it reasserts that Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins are the top stars in WWE, and reverts John Cena to a special attraction role. Cody and Seth, at 40 and 39 year old respectively, need to be treated this era’s top stars or else WWE will pay a price that today’s era feels secondary or inferior to past eras. You don’t have to buy Seth as a true top-top act of this era to understand the value in presenting him as such since he is a reigning world champion and certainly is close enough to being that top-top act to not feel fraudulent when his character frames himself that way. Cody was good here, especially when he got under Seth’s skin about whether he is really as in charge as he says when it comes to the Paul Heyman-Brock Lesnar situation. WWE is being very coy about cluing in viewers on whether Seth is okay with Lesanr being there. This segment showed that, at the very least, Seth isn’t going to sell the idea that he’s not okay with it since that would expose that he’s not as in charge as his ego needs everyone to believe. Another shout-out to Cody for not selling or playing into fans singing his name once his music stops. It’s the new “What?!” chant and by standing still and not feeding into it, it’ll fade quicker. He’s not sending signals to fans that he’s into it or appreciates it, but he also can’t risking coming across as an unappreciative jerk by pushing back against it.)
-Backstage, Ripley checked on Sky who was still covered in blue mist and was checking her eyes. Sky told Ripley that the two of them are taking on the Kabuki Warriors at Crown Jewel. Ripley asked if she’s up for it. She said she saw her talking with Kairi earlier, so can she trust her. Iyo said she can trust her. They hugged. Sky kept rubbing her eyes in pain. (Maybe get in the shower and have her eyes rinsed out?!?)
-A.J. Styles made his entrance. [c]
-Dragon Lee then made his entrance. He addressed Style and said it’s an honor to share the ring with him. He said together they are unstoppable. Hes aid last week he became the no. 1 contender for the AAA Mega Championship. He said that means he’s coming for Dominik Mysterio. Styles said he hopes he kicks in Dominik’s teeth. (The crowd, who kind of adore Dom at this point, didn’t really react to that.) Styles said he’s excited to beat up John Cena. (Fans cheered that!) He said tonight they get to kick Los Grande Americano’s asses.x
(Keller’s Analysis: Cena vs. Styles is a cool run-back match, but Cena sure isn’t being utilized to help elevate anyone new or give someone a huge career boost who isn’t already “made” such as Cody and Logan Paul or near retirement.)
(4) A.J. STYLES & DRAGON LEE vs. LOS AMERICANOS (Bravo & Rayo w/El Grande Americano)
Barrett said Americano is “breeding via asexual reproduction.” He asked Tessitore if he remembers health class. The bell rang 57 minutes into the. hour. They cut to a very early break. [c]
Bravo and Rayo were in control of Lee after the break. Lee set up a double-stomp off the top rope, but it didn’t go smoothly. He did connect with the side of Bravo’s head. He then tagged in Styles who went to work on Rayo who also tagged in.
[HOUR THREE]
A minute later, Styles flung himself over the top rope onto El Grande Americano at ringside. Back in the ring, Styles landed a Pele Kick and then a Phenomenal Forearm and then finished Bravo with a Styles Clash.
WINNERS: Styles & Lee in 7:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m still not sure what the point of the Americanos ultimately is other than filling time with until Chad Gable returns to take it to the next chapter)
-They went to Tessitore and Barrett at ringside. Tessitore said Styles faces John Cena at Crown Jewel. He noted that Raw starts at 8 ET next week emanating from Dallas, Tex. So it appears East Co aast shows are starting at 7 ET and Central Time Zone events are starting at 8 ET / 7 CT. They plugged Becky vs. Maxinne and Lyra vs. Perez next week on Raw.
-A video package aired hyping Crown Jewel’s top matches including Cody vs. Seth, Vaquer vs. Stratton, and Cena vs. Styles.
-Jackie Redmond asked Stephanie Vaquer where her confidence level is at given she is now officially scheduled to face Tiffany Stratton. She said Tiffany will learn that no one can stop her. Tiffany joined the scene and said she has been proving herself over the last year and has remained champion for 268 days. She said she won’t let someone who has been champion for only two weeks change her story. Vaquer said her time is coming to an end. Tiffany told her to get used to coming in second place.
(Keller’s Analysis: Tiffany flew to Raleigh just for that? I mean, I get it, but man.)
-The Usos were in the concourse with cheering fans behind them. They made their entrance. [c]
-Heyman was standing in Gorilla with Reed and Breakker. Seth entered the picture. Heyman examined Seth who had a distant look in his face. Seth said, “I have to beat. him.” Heyman jumped in and said, “Well, of course you’re going to beat him. You’re going to win the Crown Jewel Title and…” Seth put his hand over the mic and cut off Heyman mid-sentence. Seth then said, “No Paul, I have to beat him, I have to.” Heyman looked at Seth with concern and then followed Reed and Breakker to the ring.
(5) BRONSON REED & BRON BREAKKER (w/Paul Heyman) vs. JIMMY & JEY USO
Breakker and Reed made their entrance. The Usos leaped onto them at ringside. The bell rang 17 minutes into the hour. Tessitore explained the rules. “All legal, all the time, just go it,” he said. The Usos beat up Breakker, the turned to Reed and punched away at him as fans chanted, “Yeet! Yeet!” They had them down in opposite corners and then hit running hip attacks in sync. They clotheslined Breakker over the top rope and then went for stereo dives. Reed, though, tripped up Jimmy and pulled him to ringside. Breakker then attacked a distracted Jey. Fans (annoyingly) chanted, “We want tables!”
Breakker was about to leap off the apron, but he struck a pose first. Jey kicked him from behind. (Jey made Breakker wait way too long there before hitting him.) Reed hit a flying Jey with a forearm out of mid-air and then threw him into the ringside steps. Reed cleared the announce desk and put Jimmy on it. He then set up a JaggedEdge, but Jimmy elbowed out of it and superkicked Reed to the floor. Breakker then leaped off the ringside barricade on the other side of the desk with a flying forearm. The table collapsed as Tessitore went bonkers. They cut to a break at 5:00. [c]
With Jimmy out at ringside on the collapsed table, Reed and Breakker got in extended offense against Jey Uso after the break. Barrett said Jey has to realize it’s a lost cause. Breakker ran the ropes and took Jey down with a running clothesline.
As the beatdown continued at 9:00, Jimmy returned from being driven through the announce table. He landed a pop-up Samoan Drop on Breakker. Reed, though, gave Jimmy a top rope Jagged Edge. Breakker then speared Jey. Both Usos were down. “This has gotten really ugly, really quickly,” Tessitore said.
Reed and Breakker stacked the Usos. Roman Reigns’s music then played. Breakker and Reed waited for him. He walked out with a chair in hand. He backdropped a charging Breakker and then faced off with Reed. Fans chanted, “OTC!” He jabbed Reed in the gut with a chair and then smashed him across his back. He bashed him across his back several more times at ringside. Breakker went after Reigns at ringside. Reigns fought back and threw Breakker into the ring. Fans sang, “Roman, Roman Reigns!” Jimmy superkicked Breakker. Jey speared him. Jimmy and Jey then climbed opposite corners and landed a double Usos Splash on Breakker for the win.
WINNERS: The Usos in 13:00.
-As the Usos celebrated, Reigns entered the ring and jabbed Breakker in the chest with a chair several times. Breakker tumbled to the floor as the Usos music played. Reigns shook hands with Jey and had some words of encouragement for him as Jimmy shook his head in the background like he wasn’t sure he was on board with whatever was going on with those two. The show closed with Jimmy with his hands on his hips looking away.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was a pretty heavy-handed post-match attack by Reigns with the chair. The crowds continue to eat up anything with Reigns. I’m intrigued with what’s going on with Roman and Jey here, and then how Jimmy feels about it. I think this could go a lot of different directions, but I think you can watch with confidence they know where it’s going. It’s cool to see segments with The Bloodline cast rewarding you for all of the moving parts in every part of the picture in segment after segment again.)
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
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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). 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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