By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,693)
Rio Rancho, New Mexico, at Rio Rancho Event Center
Streamed live November 3, 2025, on Netflix
[Hour One] Joe Tessitore opened the show by stating that this was the first time that Raw was being held in New Mexico (really?). A shot aired of the exterior of the building and then inside the arena…
A video package recapped CM Punk defeating Jey Uso to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship on Saturday Night’s Main Event…
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk was shown walking backstage, and then he made his entrance in non-wrestling attire. Punk slapped a lot of hands on his way to the ring. Wade Barrett checked in on commentary, and Alicia Taylor was the ring announcer.
The crowd chanted Punk’s name after his entrance theme stopped playing. “Is it great to be champ on a Monday night in the great state of New Mexico or what?” Punk asked. Punk said there were a lot of people he needed to thank. The crowd responded with a “you deserve it” chant.
Punk said he appreciated the sentiment, but they would discuss the difference between earned and deserved. Punk thanked his wife, AJ Lee, adding that he hoped she was watching at home with their dog Larry. Punk listed several positives about Lee, including that she has “an ass that won’t quit.” Punk thanked the fans and encouraged them to give themselves a round of applause.
Punk thanked Jey Uso. Punk thanked Jey for the match, and he said he hopes they can still be friends. Punk recalled saying that he wasn’t back to make friends, he was there to make money and win championships.
Punk said he doesn’t know how much time he has left, but his brief title reign (before Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank contract) taught him he needs to hold onto the title as hard as he can.
Punk asked the crowd to indulge him, and then he swung the belt over his head. “Seth, that was for you,” Punk told Rollins. He wished Rollins a speedy recovery said that if Rollins gets in his business when he returns, he’d send him back to the couch.
Punk spoke of having a target on him. He said there are a lot of people he’d like to punch in the face, and he mentioned Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman. He also mentioned AJ Styles, JD McDonagh, Finn Balor, Sheamus, and John Cena. Punk closed by saying, “The champ is here.”
Logan Paul made his entrance. Punk said he wants to be a fighting champion, “but anybody but you.” Paul climbed onto the apron. Punk told Paul to go to Smackdown where Ilja Dragunov is having an open challenge. Punk said that’s more Paul’s lane.
“He said anyone, the noble CM Punk, a man of his word, right?” Paul said once he was inside the ring. Paul mentioned several stars he wrestled and then boasted that he beat AJ Styles at WrestleMania.
Paul Heyman walked onto the stage with Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. Heyman introduced himself and said he and his guys were taking a walk to the ring. Heyman told Paul that the front of the line belongs to the man who pinned Roman Reigns. Heyman introduced Reed. Heyman said the front of the line belongs to the future of WrestleMania, Bron Breakker.
Heyman recalled when “we” were WWE Champion. He said Punk was two days into his title reign and 430 days shy of the record. Heyman said he wasn’t the one who lost the championship. Heyman told Paul he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and told him to leave, but Paul chirped back at him.
Breakker told Punk that he’s coming for “what belongs to me.” Breakker called Paul a dumbass YouTuber who thinks he’s tough. Breakker told them to get out of his ring. Punk told Paul that he could fight with him or get the hell out of his ring. Paul opted to leave. Once Paul was at ringside, Breakker and Reed stood in his way. Breakker shoved Paul to the ground.
Breakker and Reed attacked Punk. Paul stood up and seemed dismissive of the attack, but then he entered the ring and fought with Breakker and Reed. They got the better of him, and Reed hit him with a Tsunami splash. Punk returned with a chair, and the heels went to ringside…
Powell’s POV: Punk promo was well-received by the hot live crowd. I like that they wasted no time in establishing that Breaker, Reed, and Heyman are coming for the championship. Are we on the verge of a Logan Paul babyface run?!?
Tessitore narrated arrival shots of “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane, and World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee, while also plugging their previously advertised matches…
Stephanie Vaquer and Nikki Bella made separate entrances for the opening tag team match heading into the first commercial break… [C]
Tessitore hyped combo tickets for Smackdown and Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal, Quebec, at Bell Centre on January 23-24…
1. Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer and Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. The heel entrances were not televised. Rodriguez condescendingly patted Vaquer on the head once they both tagged into the match for the first time. The babyface duo hit simultaneous crossbody blocks off the ring apron onto the heels at ringside. [C]
Vaquer pulled Rodriguez fro the ropes with a dragon scerw leg whip. Vaquer followed up with a meteora, but Rodirugez stuffed an SVB attempt. Vaquer performed a top rope crossbody block for a two count. A “this is awesome” chant broke out as Perez tagged in and got the better of Vaquer for a moment.
Perez went to the ropes and was grabbed from behind by Vaquer, who suplexed her. Vaquer executed the Devil’s Kiss while the fans counted along. Nikki tagged in and hit Perez with the Rack Attack 2.0 and had the pin, but Rodriguez broke it up.
Vaquer went fo ra springboard crossbody block, but Rodriguez caught her. Vaquer used her legs to pull Rodriguez over the top rope. Rodriguez stuffed a Devil’s Kiss and dropped Vaquer face-first on the apron. Nikki stuffed Perez’s attempt to roll her up by sitting down on her and getting a two count. Rodriguez hit Nikki from the floor while the referee was focused on Perez, who then hit Pop Rox and scored the pin…
Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez defeated Stephanie Vaquer and Nikki Bella in 12:40.
Powell’s POV: A nice match that put some heat on the heels and gave the babyface pair something to bounce back from. I didn’t pick up on any drama between Vaquer and Nikki… yet.
A video aired on John Cena’s “The Last Time Is Now” 16-man tournament that will start on next week’s Raw in Boston. The show will feature an appearance by Cena…
Inside Adam Pearce’s office, a referee spun a tumbler containing the names of the tournament entrants. Pearce removed the first name and looked at it…
CM Punk was walking backstage when he was approached by Jey Uso, who said he knew he’d been all over the place, but something in his heart was telling him to help. Punk asked who he was talking to. Jey said he appreciated the fight on Saturday and referred to Punk as the best in the world. Jey said Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed would be coming after him had he won. He asked Punk to let him help. Punk said he would go get his gear on, and then they bumped fists…
Penta made his entrance for a match against El Grande Americano… [C] The end of Americano’s entrance with Rayo and Bravo was shown…
2. Penta vs. El Grande Americano (w/Rayo, Bravo). Tessitore gave Barrett a hard time for what he and Michael Cole said about the way he reacts to Penta’s strut. Tessitore said Barrett and Cole act like muskrats in breeding season whenever Jey Uso makes an entrance. Funny. Penta went for a Mexican Destroyer on the apron, but Americano backdropped him. Americano followed up with a baseball slide that sent Penta to the floor.
[Hour Two] [C] Penta hit Americano with a flip dive on the floor, which drew “holy shit” chants. As Penta stood on the apron while Americano was down in the ring, Bravo took a shot at Penta. The referee spotted it and ejected Bravo from ringside.
Rayo slipped Americano a piece of metal that was placed inside his mask. Penta avoided a headbutt and went to the ropes. Rayo climbed on the apron and was caught by the referee, who ejected him. Penta dove from the top rope onto Rayo on the floor.
When Penta returned to the ring, Americano went for a flying headbutt, but Penta kicked him. Penta jumped from the middle rope and hit a Mexican Destroyer on Americano before getting the three count.
Penta defeated El Grande Americano in 10:20.
After the match, Rayo and Bravo ran in and went after Penta, who got the better of them for a moment and then exited the ring…
Powell’s POV: Penta was over huge with the New Mexico crowd. The Americano flying headbutt spot was weird, as he wouldnt have come anywhere near Penta had he not been kicked. Even so, the match was entertaining.
The “Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane were featured in a video. Subtitles were used while they spoke in Japanese. Asuka said everyone has to accept that she’s the one true legend of the women’s division. Sane said Bayley should be thankful that Asuka showed mercy, but it wouldn’t last forever. Asuka spoke of winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles…
Tessitore hyped The Kabuki Warriors vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria match for later in the show… [C]
A graphic listed that Dominik Mysterio successfully defended the Intercontinental Title for the ninth time at Saturday Night’s Main Event…
Intercontinental Champion and AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio made his entrance to a babyface reaction. Dom spoke in Spanish briefly and boasted about his success. Dom said nobody can stop him.
Rey Mysterio made his entrance. A giddy Tessitore laughed and said, “Daddy’s home.” Once Rey was in the ring, the fans chanted, “Holy shit.” Rey said Dom looked surprised. Rey said he had to draw the line when Dom claimed to be king of the luchadores. A lot of fans sang Dirty Dom in European style, while others booed.
Rey said that Dom insults their family, their name, and their blood when he makes that claim. Rey asked about El Santo, Blue Demon, and Eddie Guerrero. The fans popped big for Eddie and chanted his name. Rey asked if Dom thinks he’s better than them.
“You keep my father’s name out of your mouth,” Dom told Rey. Funny. Dom said he is better than everyone Rey mentioned. Dom said he knows for a fact that he’s better than Rey, who said Dom could disrespect him, but he wouldn’t let him disrespect lucha libre. Rey removed his jacket.
Dom accused Rey of being jealous and said he’s even stealing his mustache. Dom said Rey was just there to cash in because he made the Mysterio name relevant. Dom said he’d already surpassed everything Rey had done in every way, shape, and form. Dom asked if he had to kick Rey’s ass again.
Dom told Rey to listen to the King of the Luchadores and get out of his ring. Rey said he would, but he said that as long as he’s around, Dom would never beat the greatest luchador, it wouldn’t be his ring, and Dom wouldn’t be the greatest Mysterio. Dom swung at Rey, who blocked it and hit him with a 619. Rey went up top, but Dom rolled out of the ring…
Powell’s POV: This was a gem of a segment, and they picked the perfect location for it. The New Mexico wrestlers were red hot for both men. The physicality made it clear, but the broadcast team did say that Rey is back from his long injury layoff. Shortly before the show, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 6,609, and the tickets distributed count of 6,462. The company has obviously played to bigger crowds at Raw, but this is a loud and enthusiastic bunch.
Pearce was shown drawing another name out of the tumbler inside his office. He showed the name to a referee and then they shook hands…
Lyra Valkyria spoke with a rattled Bayley, who was upset over the Kabuki Warriors. They agreed that they were good and then did their handshake. Bayley told Valkyria that she would see her in the ring…
The broadcast team was shown talking at their desk. Barrett said it seemed like progress was made last week, but Valkyria was already back to having trust issues with Bayley. A hooded person climbed onto the broadcast table.
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch removed her hood and delivered a promo while standing on the broadcast table. She said Adam Pearce sent her home to cool down. Lynch heeled on the crowd by talking about all the meth they do.
Lynch said Maxxine Dupri is empowered by the idiot fans who make her feel like she belongs when she does not. Lynch said she is a lifelong student of the game. She looked into the camera and told Dupri that this isn’t a test she can cram for. Lynch said one wrong move would be her last when they meet. “Welcome to the Big Time,” Lynch said before slamming the mic and heading toward the back.
“The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane made their entrance while Lynch was still walking toward the stage. The Kabuki Warriors removed their masks. Asuka and Lynch stared at one another before Lynch headed to the back, and the duo made their way to the ring for their match… [C]
3. “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. The babyface duo’s entrance was not televised. Tessitore confirmed that the show’s main event would be CM Punk and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. The heels were in offensive control going into an early break. [C]
Bayley performed a sunset flip that drove Sane into the corner. Valkyria tagged in and hit Sane with a top rope leg drop that led to a near fall. Another “this is awesome” chant broke out as Valkyria sat Sane on the top turnbuckle. Asuka distracted Valkyria, and then Sane hung Valkyria in a tree of woe before double-stomping her and covering her for a near fall.
The babyfaces came back with a version of Demolition’s old finisher. Sane was pinned, but Asuka broke it up. Valkyria tagged in, but Asuka pulled her off the apron, causing her face to hit the apron on the way down. Sane rolled Valkyria back in the ring, and then Asuka tagged in.
The Kabuki Warriors set up for their finisher on Valkyria, but Bayley broke it up. Asuka shoved Valkyria into Bayley, who was knocked off the apron. Asuka caught Valkyria in the Asuka Lock moments later for the submission win…
“The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane beat Bayley and Lyra Valkyria in 14:05.
After the match, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss ran out dressed in leather skirts. Asuka and Sane exited the ring and then motioned for the tag team title belts while standing at ringside…
Powell’s POV: A nice match with the right team going over. The win obviously sets up Asuka and Sane for a title shot, and I assume that Bayley will take issue with Valkyria knocking her off the apron, even though Asuka shoved Valkyria into her.
Footage aired of JD McDonagh beating Sheamus with help from Finn Balor on last week’s Raw…
Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez celebrated as they entered the Judgment Day clubhouse, where Finn Balor and JD McDonagh were standing, and a picture of Liv Morgan was hanging on the wall. Perez announced that Rodriguez would get a shot at the Women’s World Championship next week.
Dominik Mysterio entered the room and complained about his “deadbeat” father. “And where the hell were you guys?” Dom asked Balor and McDonagh. Balor said they could have helped had they been invited, but Dom wanted to do it all by himself. Balor handed Dom the shillelagh he took from Sheamus and told him to keep it safe while they went to get the World Tag Team Titles back.
Dom asked the ladies what was up with Balor and McDonagh. Rodriguez said Dom was the reason that Balor and McDonagh had to defend the titles in the match they lost. Perez told Dom she thought he should go help Balor and McDonagh. She said Balor and McDonagh would probably stop being mad if he went out there. Dom said she made a good point…
World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee made their entrance… [C] Tessitore hyped Natalya’s book “The Last Beating Hart” being available…
4. AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh for the World Tag Team Titles. Balor and McDonagh attacked the champions to start the match.
[Hour Three] Lee jumped over the top rope and performed a huracanrana that pulled McDonagh off the apron to the floor. Legal man Balor went right back on the offensive. Styles tagged in and got the better of Balor, who ended up ringside. Styles jumped over the top rope onto both opponents on the floor. [C]
Dominik Mysterio was at ringside coming out of the break. Dom distracted the referee, who missed Styles trying to pin McDonagh. Balor went for a Coup de Grace on Styles, who moved, causing McDonagh to take the move. Styles hit McDonagh with a Phenomenal Forearm and had him pinned, but Balor broke it up with a double stomp.
Balor gave Dom instructions. Dom went to the side of the ring and was going to hit Styles with a title belt, but he hesitated when the referee saw him. Sheamus came out and attacked Dom. In the ring, Lee broke up a pin to save Styles. Sheamus worked over Dom on the floor.
Lee sent Balor to ringside and hit him with a flip dive. Styles pulled McDonagh off the ropes and hit him with a Styles Clash that led to the pinfall.
AJ Styles and Dragon Lee defeated Finn Balor and JD McDonagh in 10:30 to retain the World Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: A good, but it was laid out in a way that would give it a chance to be as good as their previous outing.
Stephanie Vaquer was on her way out of the building when Nikki Bella stopped her and apologized for losing their match. Vaquer told her it was fine. Nikki said she’s come back and made bad decisions.
Vaquer said Nikki is amazing, and she paved the way. Nikki hugged her and thanked her. Nikki said she knew Vaquer had a title match next week. She said she would be there to cheer her on. They hugged and then went their separate ways…
Powell’s POV: I don’t know if Nikki will turn heel next week, but the creative forces clearly want viewers to at least ponder the possibility.
Paul Heyman entered Jey Uso’s locker room and told him that he was always his favorite member of The Bloodline. Heyman said he couldn’t understand why Jey would team with the man who stopped him from becoming World Heavyweight Champion two nights earlier.
Jey said he didn’t owe Heyman an explanation, but Punk faced him one-on-one with no tricks, and he respected that. Heyman started to say that’s not how Roman Reigns would do things, but Jey cut him off and said he didn’t care what the Tribal Chief, Jimmy Uso, or his family said about him.
Heyman told Jey he respects that. He told him that he asked Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed to hold off during the battle royal and during Jey’s match with Punk. Heyman said Jey has “a vision all of your own, and I like it”… [C]
Powell’s POV: Heyman planted an interesting seed heading into the main event.
Tessitore spoke about how hot the tickets would be for John Cena’s final match, and then left us wondering just how hot they really are when he hyped that tickets are still available for the December 13 show in Washington, D.C. at Capital One Arena…
Adam Pearce announced Rusev vs. Damian Priest, and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus as the first two matches in John Cena’s The Last Time Is Now Tournament. Pearce said that Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis would draw the names for the next two tournament matches during Friday’s Smackdown…
The following matches and events were announced for next week’s Raw in Boston: John Cena appears, Rusev vs. Damian Priest, and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus in The Last Time Is Now Tournament opening round matches, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s World Championship…
Jey Uso made his entrance through the crowd… [C] World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk made his entrance coming out of the break, and then the entrance of Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman followed…
5. World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed (w/Paul Heyman). Two minutes into the match, Jey dove over the top rope onto Breakker and Reed. [C]
Punk was isolated by the heels for a few minutes coming out of the break. Jey eventually took a hot tag and worked over Reed. Jey speared Reed and covered him, but Breakker broke up the pin at the last moment (he may have been late).
Moments later, all four wrestlers fought at ringside until the referee counted them out, which was booed by the live crowd.
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and Jey Uso fought Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed via double count-out in 10:15.
After the match, Punk cleared the broadcast table and placed Reed on top of it. Punk gave Jey instructions. Jey went to do whatever Punk asked, but Breakker speared him. Reed recovered and put Punk down. Breakker and Reed brought Jey inside the ring, where Reed held Jey while Breakker ran the ropes and speared him. Reed went up top and hit Jey with a Tsunami.
Punk returned with a chair, which sent Breakker and Reed scurrying to the floor. Breakker and Reed reached under the ring and pulled out two chairs of their own. The heels returned to the ring. Logan Paul entered the ring and stood by Punk while showing off that he was wearing brass knuckles. Paul nodded at Punk, and just as Punk was about to engage Breakker and Reed, Paul punched Punk with the brass knuckles.
Heyman stood in front of Breakker and Reed. “Your move,” Heyman told Paul, who removed the brass knuckles and handed them to Heyman. The fans chanted, “F— you, Logan,” and were eventually censored, and the executive producer credits were shown. Heyman smiled as he looked at the brass knuckles to end the show…
Powell’s POV: The main event finish was weak, but the angle with Logan Paul was nicely done. Paul may have a “he’s an asshole, but he’s our asshole” babyface run someday, but I like the idea of aligning him with The Vision right now. If Paul is first in line for a title shot, the reactions of Breakker and Reed will be interesting.
Overall, this was a good episode that played to a hot crowd. I will have a lot more to say about it 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.
I don’t know what the plan is with Logan Paul, but some people are just a natural heel who the crowd will never cheer for. A baby face run for him will fail miserably, so hopefully they have something better in mind.
I agree…. mostly.
IF Logan Paul is serious about wanting to do this a little more than part time, it would behoove him to learn how to work the other side of a match. It’s not like there is a developmental assignment for him at this point.
Likely? No.
Possible? Maybe.
Compelling? For now.
Vince tried to make Paul a face before when he ran things and it failed miserably.
Vince was completely out of touch by the end of his booking run. If memory serves, he tried to introduce Paul as a babyface, which was foolish. But most heels, no matter how hated during their heel run, go on to have good babyface runs. Think of all the times we’ve seen the “he’s an asshole, but he’s our asshole” routine.
I’m not saying Paul is turning babyface now. I just threw out the possibility after the opening angle. But the day will come if he’s around long enough, and I think it will work if it’s booked right. For instance, I never thought fans would cheer the evil Russian Nikita Koloff when he was a heel, but they took to him in a major way when he turned babyface after Magnum TA’s car wreck. That’s just one of many examples.
I absolutely get the logic in that, but imo there is a fundamental difference between Paul and other major heels that have gone on to have great babyface runs. Fans despised the ‘character’ those guys were playing, while a huge amount of the audience despise Paul as an actual person outside of wrestling.
Except most fans did not despise the Koloffs as characters, because most fans at the time didn’t even know they weren’t Russian. It was a different time when the personal lives of wrestlers was not mainstream information. No one had a clue who Nelson Simpson was, but they knew they hated and feared Nikita Koloff.
Exactly, JDonovan. But I also get your point, John. I just think the fans have shown they will accept someone being a d-bag out of the ring if they are entertained by what they do inside it. There are exceptions, and maybe Paul will be one, but fans have turned a blind eye to some heinous things over the years. They continued to cheer Vince McMahon and most probably would again if he returned to television. And it’s not just wrestling fans. Look at the way people rationalize voting for politicians who are terrible people. Or the way fans will cheer for a great athlete who is a shitty person as long as he is playing for their favorite team. I’ve been there. It’s not like Randy Moss was a saint when he played for the Vikings, but I never hesitated to cheer for him. Anyway, thanks for the interesting takes, guys. This is so much better than “WWE sucks” vs. “AEW sucks” bad faith flame wars.
JDONOVAN, sorry for not replying to you directly, option isn’t there for some reason.
The thing is even with the Koloff’s it was still within the sphere of wrestling which gives creative and performers to fully control the narrative being told. As you say, no one knew of these guys personal lives so as long as you could tell a good enough story you can get crowds on their side.
With Paul people’s minds in a lot of cases are fully made up on the fact they believe he is a pos as a human being. No amount of storytelling is going to change their opinion of him,at least that I what I believe. If they manage to do it I will happily hold my hands up and say I’m wrong, but I just can’t see it happening personally.
How good was the Mysterio segment it reignited their feud maybe Rey will put his career on the line. Side note that was a very hot crowd
Terrific. That was fun.
Just wanted to say great conversation guys, many great points and opinions were made, I wasn’t expecting it, but really enjoyed the discussion. I really liked the Nikita Koloff reference as well, you could probably throw Jerry Blackwell out there as well, which in my mind was the greatest heel to baby face turn of all time.
I thought they put together a pretty strong show tonight, and it looks like next week will be as well. The tournament to be John Cena’s last opponent doesn’t excite me much, because in reality why would any wrestler care to be involved in such a tournament? heck they might as well make a title belt for the winner-LOL.
It’s funny you mentioned Jerry Blackwell. I initially included him, but then I figured no one would be familiar with that turn, so I went with Nikita alone.
Getting back to where they are going with Logan Paul – given that the original War Games match was supposed to be Team Vision with Seth Rollins up front – they may now be subbing Seth for Logan. Next week will tell a story because Cena will be there and if he’s part of that match that set up has to be then.