WWE Raw results (8/17): Powell’s live review of Jey Uso delivering Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns, Chad Gable vs. Rey Mysterio for the IC Title, two tournament matches

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Raw (Episode 1,734)
Buffalo, New York, at KeyBank Center
Streamed live on August 17, 2026, on Netflix

[Hour One] Raw opened with a recap of last week’s segments involving Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa… Michael Cole and Corey Graves were on commentary. Cole hyped Jey Uso delivering Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns. Cole narrated backstage and arrival shots of Chad Gable, Sol Ruca, and Oba Femi… Cole said there were over 11,000 fans in attendance…

Powell’s POV: Two hours before showtime, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 10,594, with 10,250 tickets distributed. The total number of seats on the map is 18,594. The last time WWE ran the venue, 9,046 tickets were distributed for the January 2, 2026, Smackdown episode.

Stephanie Vaquer made her entrance while ring announcer Alicia Taylor introduced her. Vaquer called out Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, who walked onto the stage with Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez.

Morgan said she had a lot on her mind. She mentioned comments that Becky Lynch made about her last week and said she doesn’t care. Morgan said she’s a champion for herself and doesn’t care about the women who came before her or those who will come after her.

Morgan laughed at the idea of being fearful of Vaquer. Morgan, Rodriguez, and Perez walked closer to the ring and stopped in the entrance aisle. Vaquer questioned why Morgan was so far away if she wasn’t afraid of her. Morgan and her crew walked to ringside and entered the ring.

Vaquer dropped Morgan with a punch, but Rodriguez and Perez double-teamed her. Vaquer battled back and cleared Rodriguez and Perez from the ring. Vaquer got the better of Morgan until Rodriguez and Perez returned and attacked Vaquer from behind.

Becky Lynch made her entrance and helped Vaquer clear Morgan, Rodriguez, and Vaquer from the ring. Vaquer spun Lynch around, and they exchanged words. Lynch went to leave, but Vaquer spun her around again. Morgan pulled Lynch to the floor and ran her into the ring post. Morgan hit a Codebreaker on Vaquer, and Perez followed up with her Pop Rox finisher. The Judgment Day trio stood over Vaquer…

Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso were clowning around in a hallway backstage. They called for Solo Sikoa, who entered the picture and walked with the Usos while they continued to ham it up. LA Knight was seated in a chair in the hallway. The Usos and Sikoa stopped. Knight and Solo looked at one another before the Usos escorted Solo into The Bloodline dressing room before a commercial break… [C]

Powell’s POV: Vaquer is coming off pigheaded for not being grateful for Lynch helping her, especially since her pride allowed the Judgment Day trio to get the better of them.

1. Je’Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh (w/Dominik Mysterio). The match was joined in progress. Cole said that during the break, McDonagh was out with Dominik Mysterio, who was complaining about not being included in the tournament for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship, and Evans called out Big Cass, which somehow led to this match.

Evans dove over the barricade and hit McDonagh, who was in the timekeeper’s area. Evans came up checking his left leg. Evans tossed McDonagh back inside the ring and then went to the apron. Evans went for a springboard move that McDonagh avoided. McDonagh tripped Evans and slammed his ankle into the ring post twice before a picture-in-picture break [C]

Evans battled back and performed a springboard clothesline that led to a near fall. Evans sold his leg and then played to the crowd before going for the OG Cutter, but McDonagh moved. McDonagh headbutted Evans and then put him down with a brainbuster for a near fall.

A short time later, McDonagh went for a moonsault that Evans avoided. Evans came right back with the OG Cutter and then covered McDonagh for the three count.

Je’Von Evans beat JD McDonagh in 9:15 of television time.

Afterward, Big Cass attacked Evans from behind and put the boots to him. Cass performed the East River Crossing. Cole noted that it was the third straight week that Cass “destroyed” Evans.

As Cass was walking to the back, Evans spoke over a microphone while lying in the ring. “Hey, Big Cass, is that all you got?” Evans asked. Cass returned to the ring and tried to climb over the top rope, but Evans hit and knocked him off the apron before hitting him with a suicide dive.

Dominik Mysterio ran Evans into the ring post and then ran away with JD McDonagh. Cass picked up Evans and tossed him into the barricade. Cass ran him into the barricade again before tossing him in the ring. Cass entered the ring and hit Evans with a big boot. Cass exited the ring…

Powell’s POV: Joining the match in progress was odd because television viewers didn’t see how it was set up, but the match was entertaining. Big Cass’s weekly attack on Evans was solid. They’ve established this enough that one can only hope that they will have an actual match soon.

Cole said next week’s Raw will start at 5CT/6ET (they are taping a Smackdown episode after the live Raw)… Cole and Graves recapped Penta and La Parka winning first-round matches in the tournament for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship on September 14 in Mexico City. Cole said Penta will face La Parka in a semifinal match on next week’s Raw…

A video package aired on the first of the two tournament matches on tonight’s show, and then Rey Fenix made his entrance for it… [C] Rey Mysterio was shown warming up backstage for his Intercontinental Title match…

2. Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal in a first-round tournament match for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. Fiscal’s entrance was not televised. Both wrestlers fought on the ropes a few minutes into the match. Fenix headbutted Fiscal, who fell onto the apron. Fenix ran across the ropes and kicked Fiscal, who fell to the floor. Fenix went up top again and hit a crossbody block on Fiscal. Fenix tossed Fiscal back inside the ring. [C]

Fiscal performed a discus clothesline and covered Fenix for a near fall. Fenix came back and hit a springboard moonsault on the standing Fiscal, which led to a near fall of his own. Fenix performed a somersault, but Fiscal caught him before he could perform whatever he was going for. Fiscal went for a spinning piledriver, but Fenix rolled him into a pin for a two count. Fenix hit the Mexican Muscle Buster and scored the pin.

Rey Fenix defeated El Fiscal in 9:05 to advance to the semifinals of the tournament for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.

The updated brackets were shown. Fenix will face the winner of tonight’s Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. match in the semifinals…

Powell’s POV: The match was entertaining despite there being zero mystery regarding the outcome. The tournament will get more interesting in the semifinals.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Stephanie Vaquer. Kelley said Vaquer would have her first match back next week when she faces Roxanne Perez. Vaquer spoke about Liv Morgan.

Becky Lynch showed up and said she’s Vaquer’s biggest problem as long as she’s going for the championship.

A Lyra Valkyria promo video aired. She said she could fly around like Sol Ruca, but she chooses not to because she knows that bad things happen when you fly around just to show off. Valkyria said she would get the Women’s Intercontinental Title back…

Sol Ruca made her entrance for her match against Valkyria… [C] Cole hyped a Zuffa Boxing event…

3. Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria. Valkyria’s entrance was not televised. Ruca was on the apron when she kicked Valkyria, who was on the floor. Ruca followed up with a moonsault. Back in the ring, Ruca went for a springboard move, but Valkyria kicked her legs out from under her. Valkyria was in offensive control before a commercial break.

[Hour Two] [C] Ruca went for a handspring toward the ropes, but Valkyria was on the apron and caught her with a neckbreaker over the top rope. Cool spot. A short time later, Valkyria went for her Night Wing finisher, but Ruca stuffed it. Ruca countered with a DDT. Ruca hit the Sol Snatcher moments later and got the three count…

Sol Ruca defeated Lyra Valkyria in 10:50.

Powell’s POV: That neckbreaker over the top rope was a really cool spot that is worth seeking out if you didn’t see the show live. Ruca has looked more confident in her last two Raw matches. Hopefully, she has put the rough start on the main roster behind her.

Jacob Fatu was standing backstage when Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso showed up. Fatu was cordial with Jimmy but annoyed by Jey, who boasted about delivering Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns. “Who’s the punk ass now, Jacob?” Jey asked before walking away… [C]

A few Buffalo Bills players were shown in the front row…

Cathy Kelley interviewed The Vision’s Austin Theory, Maxxine Dupri, Logan Paul, and Bron Breakker in a backstage area. Theory and Dupri were in PDA mode, so Logan spoke before they did. Dupri spoke positively about Theory attacking Otis and Akira Tozawa. Kelley asked Breakker if he had anything to say to Oba Femi. Bron said that anything he had to say to Oba, he would say to his face.

Breakker made his entrance while holding one of the World Tag Team Title belts. The fans barked as he paced in the ring. “Hello, big boy, I know you’re back there, Oba,” Breakker said. “You want to be the future of this place, come take it from me right now.”

Paul Heyman delivered the “ladies and gentlemen” line and then spoke as he walked to the ring and eventually entered it. Heyman played up the question of who is the future of WWE. Breakker asked Heyman who he thinks it is, but he didn’t have to answer the question because entrance music played.

Oba Femi made his entrance and joined Breakker and Heyman inside the ring. Oba said it was stupid for Breakker to question who the future is. Oba said everyone, including Brock Lesnar, knows that he is the future of WWE. Oba said that if Breakker has a problem with that, he could take it up with him any time.

“How about right here, right now?” Breakker asked. Oba was game. Heyman intervened and told Breakker that if he took one more step toward Oba, he would take a permanent step away from him. Breakker asked what Heyman was doing.

Heyman said WWE is a publicly traded company that answers to the shareholders. Heyman said the future is someone who understands box office, main events, and that you promote a match to be the biggest it can be. Heyman said he already set it up with Raw General Manager Adam Pearce.

Heyman announced Breakker vs. Oba for Sunday Night’s Main Event in Breakker’s hometown of Atlanta. Heyman said we would learn who is truly the future of WWE. Breakker was pleased. Heyman held the ropes open while a smiling Breakker exited the ring. Heyman shook Oba’s hand before leaving the ring. Breakker looked upset by the handshake. Heyman told him it was good business and headed to the back…

Powell’s POV: This was a strong segment with the announcement of the first Oba vs. Breakker match. And just when it seemed like Breakker and Heyman were aligned again, Breakker got paranoid about the Oba and Heyman handshake. I’m surprised that WWE is loading up the Sunday Night’s Main Event show, given that the last two Saturday Night’s Main Event shows felt half-assed.

A promo video set up the second tournament match with comments from Dragon Lee and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner. Dragon Lee made his entrance for the match… [C] A Triplemania ad featuring El Grande Americano aired… Chad Gable was shown warming up backstage…

4. Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. in a first-round tournament match for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. Wagner’s entrance was not televised. Cole said this was the first singles match between the two. Wagner used power moves to control the majority of the offense before a break. [C]

Lee caught Wagner in the ropes and hit him with a double stomp that led to a near fall. Wagner stuffed a move and performed a top rope splash for a near fall of his own. A short time later, both wrestlers ended up on the ropes. Wagner suplexed Lee and then stood right up for what Graves assumed was a Wagner Driver, but Lee countered with a reverse DDT and then hit Operation Dragon and got the pin…

Dragon Lee beat El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. in 11:05 to advance to the semifinals of the tournament for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.

The updated brackets showed that Dragon Lee will face Rey Fenix in a semifinal match…

Powell’s POV: A solid match. Most of the fans in the crowd probably weren’t familiar with Wagner, but they reacted to the big moves. Lee vs. Fenix should be a gem, and I’m still hoping for a brother vs. brother final with Fenix vs. Penta.

Cole hyped a second show being added to WWE’s stay in Hawaii in October…

Rey Mysterio made his entrance for the Intercontinental Title match… [C] Chad Gable’s entrance theme was playing while a graphic listed that he won his first singles title when he beat Penta at SummerSlam. The tail end of Gable’s entrance was shown…

5. Chad Gable vs. Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental Title. The wrestlers had a nice exchange to start that resulted in both wrestlers shaking hands. A “you still got it” chant broke out. Gable and Rey both threw simultaneous kicks to the gut while shaking hands. There was an ad for a frozen pizza company during the match.

Later, Rey used a crucifix to get a two count. Gable went for a move, but Rey sat on him and got another two count. Gable performed a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Gable had Rey on his shoulders, but Rey eventually fought his way out of it and hit an Asai moonsault. Another “you still got it” chant broke out.

Back inside the ring, Rey avoided a charging Gable, who crashed into the corner. Rey hit a tornado DDT for a near fall. Gable came back with a Cliffhanger DDT. Gable followed up with a top rope headbutt for a near fall. Rey got up and sold a right knee injury. The referee checked on Rey, who said he was good.

Moments later, Rey hit another tornado DDT for a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant followed. Gable put Rey down with an Angle Slam for a near fall. Gable sat on the top turnbuckle and wanted to go for a move, but Rey cut him off and joined him on the ropes. Gable won the fight for position and hit an Angle Slam from the top rope for another near fall. Gable lowered the straps on his gear and then applied the ankle lock.

[Hour Three] Rey rolled out of the ankle lock and sent Gable into the ropes. Rey went for a 619, but Gable caught his legs and reapplied the ankle lock. Rey used a huracanrana to send Gable into the turnbuckle. Rey hit a 619 and followed up with a second 619. Rey went for a top rope splash, but Gable put his knees up. Gable applied the ankle lock. Rey tried to roll out of it, but Gable didn’t release the hold. Rey kicked Gable, but Gable didn’t let go of his foot. Rey rolled onto Gable and had his feet on Gable’s shoulders while getting a two count, but Gable reversed the pin and got the three count.

Chad Gable defeated Rey Mysterio in 13:20 to retain the Intercontinental Title.

Afterward, Rey put the Intercontinental Title belt around Gable’s waist. Gable raised Rey’s arm before hugging him…

Powell’s POV: That was fun. The crowd rallied behind the idea of Rey winning, but they never turned on Gable. They really had the crowd rocking at the end, as it seemed like most fans in the building thought Rey was on the verge of winning. They also showed footage afterward of Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins getting fired up while thinking Rey was going to pull it out.

The following matches were announced for next week’s Raw in Ottawa with the 5CT/6ET start: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez, Penta vs. La Parka in a semifinal tournament match, Rey Fenix vs. Dragon Lee in a semifinal tournament match, the contract signing for Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker at Sunday Night’s Main Event…

Jacob Fatu was waiting in the indoor parking area when a black SUV arrived. Fatu opened the rear passenger door. Roman Reigns emerged from the SUV, and a crew member handed him the World Heavyweight Championship belt. Reigns and Fatu walked through the backstage area and then made their entrance to Roman’s theme. [C]

Roman’s entrance theme was still playing after the break. He held up his title belt, and then pyro shot off on the stage. The fans sang Roman’s name while he smiled and held up the microphone. Roman told Buffalo to acknowledge him. He told Fatu that they could let the fans go all night, but there was a receipt he needed to collect. “Bring me Solo,” Reigns said.

The entrance music of Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso played as they walked out with Solo Sikoa. The Usos played to the crowd while Solo, who wore shades, was stone-faced while entering the ring. Reigns stared at Solo. The fans wanted the Usos to run it back. Roman said he didn’t care what the fans were doing because the sight of Solo pissed him off.

Reigns recalled beating Solo in a Tribal Combat match. Reigns said they wondered if Solo had forgotten, so they put something together to remind him. A video recapped Reigns beating Solo in a Tribal Combat match and acknowledging him. The video also included recent footage of Solo blowing off the idea of rejoining The Bloodline.

Roman said the Buffalo fans might think it’s funny, but he wanted to know why Solo did it. Roman took off Solo’s shades and stomped on them. Reigns asked Solo why he was looking him eye-to-eye. Reigns asked Solo why he wasn’t down on his knees begging him. The Usos superkicked Solo, and then Fatu applied the Tongan Death Grip until Reigns yelled, “Enough.”

Roman looked to the crowd and said Solo wasn’t so funny. He said Solo would have to wait because he had something else to address. He spoke about the Usos running the plays and leveling up. He said that they are made men and if you disrespect them, you disrespect him.

A crew member handed black Ula Falas to Reigns, who put them around the necks of Jimmy and Jey. Fatu shook his head in disgust. “Now, let’s get back to Solo, Buffalo,” Reigns said. Reigns and the Usos surrounded Solo, who was still down on the mat and struggling to get up.

LA Knight made his entrance and climbed on the apron. The Usos went after Knight, who cleared them from the ring from the apron. Knight entered the ring and jawed at Reigns until Fatu hit Knight from behind. Fatu did his dance and was going to apply the Tongan Death Grip, but Reigns stopped him and scolded him.

Reigns hit Knight with a Superman Punch. Reigns was about to punch Knight, but he stopped. The Usos returned to the ring and held Knight while Roman grabbed Solo and told him he had to make some tough decisions now. Reigns said he shouldn’t have to take care of Knight. Roman said Solo brought Knight into this and should send him home. Reigns brought up Solo’s father watching and how his brothers were doing the right thing.

Solo wound up for a Samoan Spike on Knight, but he turned and hit Reigns with the move instead. The Usos asked Solo what he was doing. Solo reached inside his suit and then held up an air gun at Jey, who charged him, only to be cleared from the ring. Knight got up and hit Jimmy with a BFT. Solo went to the floor and hit Jey with another Samoan Spike.

In the ring, Knight asked Fatu what he was going to do. Reigns got to his feet and tried to surprise Knight with a Superman Punch, but Knight blocked it and put him down with a BFT. Fatu remained motionless in the corner. Solo returned to the ring. Knight looked back and forth at Fatu and Solo. Knight offered Solo a fist bump, which Solo accepted before saying, “Thank you.”

Solo and Knight left the ring while Knight’s entrance theme played. Fatu remained standing in a corner of the ring. Cole said it was a disaster for the Bloodline. Cole wondered if Knight pissed off Reigns enough to get a title shot. The executive producer credits were shown while Solo and Knight spoke on the floor to end the show…

Powell’s POV: A good show closing angle. I assumed that Knight was going to help Solo, but the surprise was seeing Fatu stand in the corner rather than help Reigns or the Usos. I assume he’ll claim that Reigns called him off earlier, so he was just following his orders. Will the Bloodline finally play full heels again and go all out for heat, or will they show up and act like babyfaces next week?

Overall, this was a good episode with the big angle at the end and clean finishes to all five matches. I will be back shortly with 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.