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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: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
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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[HOUR ONE]
-The show opened with a chaotic, multi-camera edit of a backstage attack by Royce Keys and 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 post-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. Fatu could still be worked up and cut the promo he did at ringside. The idea 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.)
(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. [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 Ehtan 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. (I called for this last week – for WWE to book referees as more savvy to the weekly cheating tactics of heels.) 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.
-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 him 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 rride 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. [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 ringisde. 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.
Advertised Matches & Appearances
- Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sol Ruca – Intercontinental Championship match
- Penta vs. Rey Fenix – World Heavyweight Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament Finals match
- Roman Reigns returns to Raw
- Chad Gable to speak
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