By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,691)
Sacramento, California, at Golden 1 Center
Streamed live October 20, 2025, on Netflix
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore opened the show on commentary while shots aired of the exterior and interior of the host venue… A video package recapped Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman turning on Seth Rollins…
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce stood in the ring and was introduced by ring announcer Lilian Garcia. Pearce welcomed viewers to Raw. He was about to give an update on Seth Rollins, but he was distracted by a shot on the big screen of a truck arriving backstage.
Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman exited the truck. Breakker had the World Heavyweight Championship belt over his shoulder as the trio walked through the backstage area and then made their entrance and joined Pearce inside the ring.
Pearce said he knew Seth Rollins was injured coming out of his match with Cody Rhodes. Pearce said Rollins underwent major surgery and would be on the shelf for a while because of what Breakker and Reed did to him. Pearce announced that Rollins was stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship.
Pearce said a new World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Pearce said CM Punk earned No. 1 contender status last week and would be in the match. Pearce said there will also be a battle royal on tonight’s show to determine who will face Punk for the title.
Pearce told Breakker the title belt no longer belongs to Rollins, “and it sure as hell doesn’t belong to you.” Pearce told Breakker that he needed him to hand over the championship. “And what if I don’t?” Breakker asked. Heyman asked Pearce for a minute and then had a brief conversation with Breakker, who told Pearce to show him some respect.
“Bron, respectfully, I’m going to need you to hand over the championship,” Pearce said. Breakker stepped forward and got in Pearce’s face and then showed frustration with a CM Punk fan chant. “Say please,” Breakker told Pearce, who repeated his line and added “please” at the end. Breakker laughed.
Breakker said that wasn’t so hard. Breakker teased that he would hand the belt to Pearce, but he handed it to Heyman instead. Heyman looked at the title belt and then gave it to Pearce, who took the belt and made his exit.
Heyman asked why the fans are so mad at them. He said he watched WWE Unreal and gets that they are the bad guys and the villains. Heyman said The Vision had nothing to do with Rollins. Heyman said he made the move at WrestleMania because Breakker is the future. Heyman said he made the move because he always knew that Reed was better than Roman Reigns.
“It was Vision over Bloodline,” Heyman said. He said Rollins couldn’t shoulder the responsibility of leading the Vision into the future. Heyman called Rollins “a bum shoulder bitch.” Heyman said winners write history. Heyman said Rollins was going to main event WrestleMania, but that spot was taken from him by Breakker. Heyman said Breakker and Reed conspired to take that away from Rollins, and they have the vision and intensity to become WrestleMania main eventers. Heyman closed by welcoming viewers to Monday Night Raw…
Powell’s POV: I enjoyed the segment more than the way the new World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it’s a singles match, given that they had CM Punk become No. 1 contender on last week’s show when they already knew that Rollins was injured. I would have preferred they go with a tournament to crown the new champion. But perhaps there’s a storyline reason they are rushing to crown the new champion. On a side note, WrestleTix listed two hours ago that the host venue was set up to hold 10,595, and that 9,971 tickets had been distributed.
Tessitore and Wade Barrett spoke from their broadcast table at ringside. A shot aired of Maxxine Dupri walking with Otis and Akira Tozawa. Tessitore noted that she’s from the Sacramento area and would challenge Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Title later in the show. Tessitore also narrated backstage shots of Stephanie Vaquer and Rusev…
Barrett recapped Dominik Mysterio beating Penta to retain the Intercontinental Championship on last week’s show. Footage also aired of Adam Pearce and AJ Styles messing with Dom and telling him to inform Finn Balor and JD McDonagh that they must defend the World Tag Team Titles on tonight’s show against Styles and Dragon Lee…
Dominik Mysterio showed up at the Judgment Day clubhouse, where Roxanne Perez, Raquel Rodriguez, Finn Balor, and JD McDonagh were speaking. Balor and McDonagh weren’t happy with Dom, who told them that he defends his title nearly every week and has already beaten both of their challengers. Dom was upset after Balor and McDonagh left, and then Perez talked him down…
AJ Styles and Dragon Lee made their entrance for the World Tag Team Title match heading into the first commercial break… [C]
1. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh vs. AJ Styles and Dragon Lee for the World Tag Team Titles. Tessitore noted that it was only the second time that Balor and McDonagh were defending the titles since they won them 110 days earlier. Styles put Balor down in the ring and then tried to run the ropes, but he tumbled to the floor when McDonagh held the ropes open. [C]
Lee had McDonagh hanging from the ropes when he hit him with a double stomp from the top rope. Balor pulled McDonagh to the floor. Lee hit a flip dive onto both men. Lee brought McDonagh back inside the ring and went for a powerbomb, but McDonagh avoided it and performed a powerbomb of his own.
Balor and Styles tagged in. Styles hit Balor with a Phenomenal Forearm and had him pinned, but McDonagh broke it up at the last moment. McDonagh headbutted Styles, who hit him with a Pele Kick. McDonagh executed a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall.
McDonagh tagged out and hit Styles with a moonsault. Balor followed up with a Coup de Grace. Balor covered Styles and McDonagh tried to block Lee, who dove over him to break the pin. Balor set up Styles for a Styles Clash, but Styles avoided it and hit the move on Balor before pinning him…
AJ Styles and Dragon Lee defeated Finn Balor and JD McDonagh in 13:20 to win the World Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: A hot match with that left me even more baffled by Balor and McDonagh not being booked to defend the titles more often. I would have preferred to see Styles and Lee chase Balor and McDonagh before beating them, but the live crowd popped big and this came off really well.
Barrett narrated footage of the recent drama involving Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso…
Jimmy Uso was in his dressing room taping his fingers when Jey Uso entered the room. Jimmy asked if he was supposed to acknowledge Jey now. Jey conceded that what he told Jimmy last week wasn’t right. Jey said he was mad at himself for making the same mistake he did in Paris. Jey mentioned something about Big Uce, and then Jimmy cut him off and said Roman Reigns wouldn’t be in the battle royal later in the show, but they will.
Jimmy said Jey didn’t lose his title because he stuck his neck out to help people; he lost it because “Jey stopped believing in Jey.” Jey said Jimmy was right, then added that Roman might be right too. Jimmy told him he’d better figure it out before the battle royal. Jimmy said he’s going after everybody, including his brother. Jey asked if they were good, which Jimmy was receptive to…
A graphic listed the battle royal entrants as Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, LA Knight, Penta, AJ Styles, Dragon Lee, Sheamus, Rusev, Ivar, Grayson Waller, Kofi Kingston, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, JD McDonagh, Akira Tozawa, Otis, and El Grande Americano…
Dominik Mysterio made his entrance wearing the Intercontinental Title and AAA Mega Championship belts… [C]
Powell’s POV: If my math is correct (and it usually is not), there’s one open spot in the battle royal, assuming they are going with 20 entrants.
Tessitore hyped Survivor Series, and then Rusev made his entrance. Once Rusev arrived at ringside, Dom dove on him. Dom ran Rusev into the ring steps and then rolled him inside the ring…
2. Dominik Mysterio vs. Rusev for the Intercontinental Title. The referee checked on Rusev before calling for the opening bell. Rusev took offensive control and hit a fallaway slam on Dom, who was sent out of the ring while Rusev sat on the mat and played to the booing crowd. [C]
Dom put Rusev down with a tornado DDT. Dom went for a top rope splash, but Rusev put his knees up. Rusev fired up and yelled, “Game over.” Rusev went for the Accolade, but Dom exited the ring. Dom grabbed both of his title belts and was going to enter the timekeeper’s area, but Penta stood in his way. Rusev shoved Dom into Penta.
Rusev tossed Dom back inside the ring. Penta approached Rusev, who dropped him with a punch. Rusev returned to the ring and was tripped near the ropes. Dom went for a 619, but Rusev blocked it. Rusev found the timekeeper’s hammer on Dom and took it from him. Rusev wound up with the hammer, but the referee stopped him and took it away. Dom kicked Rusev’s ass (it was meant to be a low blow). Dom followed up with a 619 and a frog splash for the win…
Dominik Mysterio defeated Rusev in 9:30 to retain the Intercontinental Title.
[Hour Two] After the match, Penta entered the ring and hit Rusev with a springboard DDT. Penta pointed at Dom, who was watching from the stage…
Powell’s POV: The live crowds are getting behind Dom in a big way. I assume that Dom will have a Triple Threat match with Rusev and Penta at some point.
Maxxine Dupri warmed up while Otis and Akira Tozawa fired her up… [C] Tessitore plugged Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling cartoon being available on the WWE Vault YouTube page… UFC fighter Max Griffin and former UFC fighter Nate Diaz were shown seated separately in the crowd…
Maxxine Dupri came out with Otis and Akira Tozawa. They stayed on the stage while she headed to the ring. Becky Lynch made her entrance wearing shades and an over-the-top black fur piece that covered her head. Barrett spoke about Lynch being upset over her husband’s injury…
3. Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri for the Women’s Intercontinental Title. Lilian Garcia delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Lynch dumped Dupri to ringside heading into a break one minute into the match. [C] Tessitore said Dupri’s parents were in the crowd and added that her mother threw her a beautiful bridal shower over the weekend.
Dupri had Lunch down on all fours when she hit her with a leg drop that led to a near fall. Dupri suplexed Lynch and then kipped up. Dupri lowered the straps on her gear and then drilled Lynch with a knee strike before covering her for another two count.
Dupri stuffed a Manhandle Slam attempt and then ducked one kick from Dupri, who hit her with a second kick. Dupri applied an ankle lock. Lynch escaped the hold and put Dupri in an armbar. Dupri rolled out of it and reapplied the ankle lock. Lynch rolled out of the ankle lock and then ran into an elbow.
Dupri went up top, but Lynch cut her off and joined her on the ropes. Dupri blocked a superkplex and then dropped Lynch face-first on the mat. Dupri hit a crossbody block for a near fall. Lynch rolled out of the ring and grabbed her title belt, and started to leave. Dupri went to ringside and got Lynch back in the ring, and Lynch still had the title belt. Dupri went for a sunset flip, and Lynch held the referee briefly, and Dupri got a two count. Lynch hit Dupri with the title belt for the DQ finish.
Maxxine Dupri beat Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch by DQ in 9:45.
After the match, Lynch hit Dupri with a Manhandle Slam before leaving the ring…
Powell’s POV: This match had its moments, and Dupri’s hometown fans got behind her, but I preferred their previous match. Dupri has improved, but some moments showed she is still a work in progress.
A video package recapped the WWE tour of Australia and Japan… The broadcast team spoke at ringside, and a clip was shown of Rhea Ripley with the broken nose she suffered in Japan…
A video package aired with “The Kabuki Warriors,” Asuka and Kairi Sane. Asuka said Ripley got what she deserved last week. Sane said Ripley tore their family apart and must pay. Asuka yelled. Sane cowered, but Asuka went back to smiling as she boasted that they took care of Ripley and Iyo Sky. Asuka said they need a new challenge and need gold around their waists…
Tessitore listed the attendance as 10,844…
Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer made her entrance… [C]
An impatient Paul Heyman stood outside Adam Pearce’s office. Pearce opened the door and told Heyman that he was going to have the production team change the graphic. Pearce explained that Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed had to be removed from the graphic because they are both out of the battle royal.
Pearce assumed that Heyman wanted him to put Breakker and Reed back in the battle royal. Heyman said he would. Pearce told him to say please, and Heyman obliged. Pearce said that wasn’t so hard, but then he told Heyman no and slammed the office door in his face.
Heyman said this day just keeps getting better and better. Heyman turned around, and Becky Lynch was staring at him. Heyman spoke about surviving the day. He said there was still a Vision that includes her. Heyman said Lynch could have a hot husband at home and an adorable Oracle on the road. Heyman told her to think about it.
Lynch grabbed Heyman by the tie and told him that his snake oil salesman crap doesn’t work on her. Lynch said she doesn’t trust Heyman and never has. She said she never trusted Heyman, nor did Seth Rollins. Lynch said Rollins used Heyman and knew that he would turn on him.
Lynch said Rollins was actually a little surprised that it took him so long. Lynch told Heyman he would be nothing without Rollins. Lynch said that all the people Heyman surrounds himself with now and in the future would be killed by Rollins. Lynch said Rollins wouldn’t kill Heyman, but he’d end up wishing that he did…
Powell’s POV: A strong exchange that needed to happen given the big turn on Rollins.
Tessitore hyped the battle royal while the new graphic was shown without Breakker and Reed… [C]
A graphic stated that with 25 wins, Stephanie Vaquer is the winningest WWE wrestler in 2025…
4. Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez (w/Raquel Rodriguez) in a non-title match. Perez’s entrance was not televised. Vaquer got an early two count and then Perez slapped her across the face. Vaquer set up for the Devil’s Kiss, but Perez rolled under the ropes to avoid it. Vaquer pulled Perez out of the corner, but Perez pulled the ring skirting with her. When the referee did stupid referee things by putting the skirting back, Rodriguez hit Vaquer with a cheap shot. [C]
Perez hit the Devil’s Kiss for a big pop and then covered Perez for a near fall. A “one more time” chant broke out. Vaquer went for an SVP, but Perez avoided it and targeted Vaquer’s left arm. Perez performed a cartwheel and dropped her knees on Vaquer before covering her for a two count. Perez went for a crossface, but she gave up when Vaquer rolled onto her and got a two count.
Vaquer hit Perez with a 619. While Vaquer was distracted by Rodriguez, Perez wrenched Vaquer’s arm over the ropes. Perez set up for a move on the ropes, but Vaquer shoved her at Rodriguez, who caught her. Vaquer went up top and dove onto both heels. Vaquer got Perez back inside the ring and hit Angel Wings for the win…
Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer defeated Roxanne Perez in a non-title match.
Rodriguez attacked Vaquer after the match. Nikki Bella ran out to make the save. Nikki put Perez down, but Rodriguez caught her with a big boot. Vaquer went for a springboard move and slipped on the ropes. Vaquer came up holding her knee. Vaquer and Bella cleared the heels from the ring…
Powell’s POV: Hopefully, Vaquer just landed on her knee, and it wasn’t a case of the knee giving out when she was on the ropes.
Backstage, Lyra Valkyria was talking with Adam Pearce when Bayley showed up. Bayley said she hadn’t slept since they won their match the week before. Bayley said she knew Valkyria’s birthday was coming up. A concerned Valkyria wanted to know what Bayley had in mind. Bayley told her it wouldn’t be a surprise, but she’d find out next week… [C]
Paul Heyman entered the dressing room, where Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed were upset. Breakker said they arrived with the World Heavyweight Championship, and now they don’t even have spots in the battle royal. Heyman told them the story of Brock Lesnar, saying Lesnar listened to him and beat The Rock to win the title.
Heyman said Lesnar got 434 days out of the title reign because he listened to him. Heyman also said Roman Reigns listened to him, and everyone remembers Roman’s title reign. Heymans said it’s not just about who you can slaughter, it’s about the backstage maneuvering and politics.
After Heyman left the room, Breakker told Reed that he had a lot to learn. Reed said he did too. Breakker said he had a lot of people to hurt, too. Reed said he did too…
Tessitore hyped the battle royal for after the break… [C]
Backstage, Stephanie Vaquer was appreciative of Nikki Bella having her back. Nikki said she’s proud of Vaquer and said she has taken the division by storm. Nikki said Vaquer has a target on her back, and everything changes once you are champion. Nikki said anyone can take you out. Vaquer said she owes Nikki one. Nikki said she just made two enemies. Vaquer said she has Nikki’s back and Nikki has her back, and then they hugged…
Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso made their entrance through the crowd for the battle royal. Still shots aired of the Usos, Bayley, and CM Punk at last night’s San Francisco 49ers game.
[Hour Three] Sheamus made his entrance for the battle royal. [C] Additional entrances for the battle royal took place during the break. El Grande Americano, Penta, and LA Knight received televised entrances. CM Punk made his entrance dressed in non-wrestling attire…
5. A Battle Royal for a spot in the match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. Punk sat in on commentary for the match. Rusev eliminated Akira Tozawa. JD McDonagh caught Dragon Lee going for a springboard move and shoved him to the ropes. Dominik Mysterio eliminated Rusev and Penta by shoving them off the apron. [C]
Punk said he wants to face the best. Sheamus fought with Ivar and eventually eliminated him by hitting White Noise on the apron. El Grande Americano loaded his mask. Just tried to punch him, but he headbutted Jey’s hand. Jimmy Uso eliminated Americano moments later. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
McDonagh and Finn Balor tried to eliminate AJ Styles, but Sheamus saved Styles and eliminated both men. Balor and McDonagh went after Sheamus, and Kofi Kingston helped eliminate Sheamus. Styles eliminated Dom, but the referees didn’t see it, so Dom snuck back inside the ring. [C]
LA Knight, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Dominik Mysterio, and AJ Styles were in the ring coming out of the break. Knight had a woozy Jey on the apron, but Jimmy superkicked Knight to save his brother. Styles went for a springboard move, but the Usos caught him with a double superkick and eliminated him.
Knight and Jimmy ended up on the ropes, and then Jey came over and shoved them out to eliminate them. Jimmy was furious. Dom attacked Jey from behind, but Jey eliminated him moments later.
Jey Uso won a battle royal in roughly 18:30 to earn a spot in the match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Jimmy was still hot after the match while Jey celebrated his win. Barrett said Jey essentially stabbed Jimmy in the back. Punk defended Jey, saying he didn’t stab Jimmy in the back. He said only one man could win. Tessitore and Barrett narrated highlights from the match.
CM Punk entered the ring and went face-to-face with Jey while a graphic listed their match for the World Heavyweight Championship for the November 1 Saturday Night’s Main Event. The executive producer credits were shown moments before the show concluded…
Powell’s POV: First off, my apologies to anyone who followed along live tonight for the gap between my updates. I had a lot of buffering issues, which is strange because I didn’t have any issues with AEW WrestleDream on HBO Max on Saturday, or when I watched Netflix over the weekend.
Anyway, they told a nice story by having Jimmy save Jey multiple times, only for Jey to eliminate Jimmy and show no remorse after doing so. I’m not expecting a mat classic from Punk and Jey, but hopefully the storytelling will be strong. And a big thumbs up for Adam Pearce not putting Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed in the battle royal. Sure, they would have made the match more interesting, but it would have made no storyline sense to reward them for taking out Seth Rollins.
Overall, this was a strong show with three title matches, the big update on Seth Rollins and the World Heavyweight Championship, and the battle royal. I will have a lot more to say bout it later tonight during my weekly same-night audio review of Raw for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
WIll Bron AND Bronson be in the battle royale? That could be very interesting
Technically they shouldn’t be allowed due to what they did to Rollins right?
Why would Pearce put them in there?
I understand why they booked the Battle Royale like they did, and the stories they will slingshot from this…
…but Pearce missed a chance to really screw Heyman over.
“I’m feeling charitable, Paul. I’ll open up the Battle Royale… but just one slot. You choose who gets in.”
That would have been a huge tease to carry through the show — and Paul with no choice but to lie to them about there being a chance. Something that might blow up later.
Anyway…
I’ll be honest – I was hoping like mad that they would go with AJ Styles for the Battle Royal. Bias on my part because I wanted to see Punk v Styles 1 on 1 especially for a title because they would have blown the roof off the joint in Salt Lake City. But having said that I guess they have to reset War Games and if you’re wondering, Jason, I think that’s why the speed of crowning a new champion. With that in mind Punk v Jey makes more sense.
So…is Jimmy going to turn heel and feud with Jey?? Imagine that! Or alternatively, just re-watch what happened 18 months ago.
Did they even mention poor Mo?
Buffering issues? I bet you were re-watching the Vikings Eagles game. Fly Eagles Fly