By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,698)
Kansas City, Missouri, at T-Mobile Arena
Streamed live December 8, 2025, on Netflix
[Hour One] Raw opened with a video package that focused on Gunther beating LA Knight to earn the right to be John Cena’s final opponent… Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett were on commentary, and the ring announcer was Alicia Taylor…
Gunther made his entrance dressed in non-wrestling attire. A “We want Cena” chant broke out. Gunther told the fans not to get their hopes up because Cena wouldn’t be coming. Gunther said it was his time. He said he submitted LA Knight and earned one of the biggest honors of his career.
Gunther said John Cena is the greatest sports entertainer of all time. Gunther said that on Saturday, Cena will face the best professional wrestler of all time. Gunther had a countdown clock appear on the big screen that counted down the time until Cena’s final match.
Gunther said that beating Cena won’t be enough for him. Gunther said he’s going to break Cena’s spirit. He said he would push him around, bully him, drop him on his head, and then lock his arms around his neck and squeeze until the last bit of hustle, loyalty, and respect leaves Cena’s body.
Gunther said he would force Cena to do the one thing he would never do. “I’m going ot force you to give up,” Gunther said before leaving the ring. Gunther stopped on the stage and looked at the countdown clock on the big screen, looked at his own watch, and headed to the back…
Powell’s POV: Gunther’s promo was brief, but it accomplished what it needed to by establishing that Gunther intends to force Cena to submit.
Tessitore narrated backstage/arrival shots of Rey Mysterio, Lyra Valkyria and Bayley, World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee, Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer, and Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky…
A video package recapped Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky fighting Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss to a no-contest when “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane interfered, and the post-match brawl that involved the teams of Lyra Valkyria and Bayley, Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez, and Liv Morgan…
Iyo Sky made her entrance with Rhea Ripley for Sky’s match against Kairi Sane… [C] Tessitore hype the Peacock schedule for Saturday, which includes a two-hour countdown show and a post-show…
NXT Champion Oba Femi was shown in the crowd. He held up the title belt and jawed into the camera. Barrett hyped Oba’s match against WWE Champion Cody Rhodes for Saturday Night’s Main Event…
1. Iyo Sky (w/Rhea Ripley) vs. Kairi Sane (w/Asuka). Sane’s entrance was not televised. Sky had Sane down on the floor and was going to run the ropes, but Asuka caused a distraction. Sky ran toward Asuka, who held the ropes open, causing Sky to tumble to the floor. Ripley approached Asuka. Sane hit Sky with a move from the apron. Ripley checked on Sky. [C]
Sky performed a German suplex on the apron, which sent Sane to the floor. Sky performed an Asai moosault and then threw Sane back inside the ring. Sky dropped Sane with a kick and then went up top, but Asuka tripped her into a tree of woe while the referee was focused on Sane. Ripley kicked Asuka before tossing her into the timekeeper’s area. Sane went up top and stood over Sky, who flung Sane to the mat. Sky followed up with Over The Moonsault and got the three count…
Iyo Sky beat Kairi Sane in 11:30.
Powell’s POV: A solid opening match. There wasn’t much mystery regarding the outcome, but Asuka’s interference kept things interesting.
Paul Heyman stood in The Vision’s dressing room while Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed were seated in front of him. Logan Paul entered the room and asked if they had seen Rey Mysterio smack him in the face last week. Logan said something had to be done about it. Breakker and Reed stood up. Breakker said that they’d handle it if that’s what Logan wanted. Logan said yes.
Logan asked Heyman if he could speak to him. Logan said the Rey situation would be handled tonight. Heyman said the best thing about it is that Logan has backup for the first time in his life. Logan said he wanted Breakker and Reed to know that if there was trouble, he would be their backup, too. Heyman said he didn’t think he could respect Logan more than he did. Heyman pulled out the brass knuckles and gave them to Logan “just in case.” After Logan left, Heyman told Breakker and Reed that he really likes Logan…
Rey Mysterio was shown walking backstage while Tessitore hyped his match with Finn Balor. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce was arguing with Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Grayson Waller as Mysterio walked by… [C]
Tessitore plugged the WWE podcast schedule… A War Raiders video package aired to build up Erik and Ivar for their World Tag Team Title match…
Rey Mysterio made his entrance and was slapping hands with fans along the barricade when Logan Paul ran out and attacked him from behind. Logan rolled Rey inside the ring and kicked and punched him. Logan put on the brass knuckles and went to punch Rey, who caught him with a kick. Rey tripped Logan into position for a 619.
The hooded man in black from Survivor Series entered the ring and superkicked Rey. The masked man followed up with a Stomp. The masked man left the ring and hopped the barricade when security guards ran toward him. In the ring, Logan hit Rey with the brass knuckles.
LA Knight’s entrance music played. Knight came to the ring, causing Logan to duck to the floor. Knight told Logan not to go anywhere. Knight said that if the masked man was Seth Rollins, he would stomp his head in. Knight said Rey is a legend, and he was pissed about the way Logan treated him. Knight said it was time for Logan to pay. Knight said he didn’t want to wait; he wanted Logan to pay tonight. Knight said “yeah” while Logan responded “no” several times… [C]
Powell’s POV: I liked the backstage segment with The Vision. Heyman declined to say on the Survivor Series post-show whether Logan was with the faction full-time. Logan seemed like he was trying to fit in during the backstage segment, but it came off like Breakker and Reed are just tolerating him for now.
Tessitore congratulated Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on being nominated for a Golden Globe award for best male actor for his performance in The Smashing Machine…
The broadcast team said the Logan Paul vs. LA Knight match was official for later in the show… The War Raiders were in the ring, and then AJ Styles and Dragon Lee made their entrance…
NXT star Je’Von Evans was shown in the crowd. Barrett announced AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater for Saturday Night’s Main Event. There was no mention of the World Tag Team Titles being on the line…
Powell’s POV: That’s a really fun match on paper. If the plan his for the champions to retain, I’d like to see them add a little juice to it by making it a title match. Styles and Lee could look like fighting champions by volunteering to put their titles on the line, even though Evans and Slater haven’t earned a title shot.
2. AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar for the World Tag Team Titles. Alicia Taylor delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Grayson Waller walked out. Kingston and Woods sat in chairs next to the broadcast table while Waller stood behind them. Erik and Ivar got off to a fast start with Ivar hitting his running crossbody block on Styles, who was seated against the ring apron. [C]
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