By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,735)
Ottawa, Ontario, at Canadian Tire Centre
Streamed live on August 24, 2026, on Netflix
[Hour One] Michael Cole opened the show and noted that the host venue is the home of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. Cole narrated backstage/arrival shots of Stephanie Vaquer, Big Cass, The Vision’s Bron Breakker, Austin Theory, Maxxine Dupri, and Logan Paul… Cole set up a video package that recapped last week’s segments involving The Bloodline and Solo Sikoa…
LA Knight made his entrance while ring announcer Alicia Taylor introduced him. Corey Graves checked in on commentary with Cole. Graves said that for a man who wasn’t born with enough middle fingers, Knight had to feel on top of the world after the way everything went down with The Bloodline last week.
Knight accused World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns of sending every family member he could after him to keep him away. Knight recalled Reigns saying he hadn’t earned a title shot and telling him to win a tournament. A “you deserve it” chant broke out. Knight said he doesn’t qualify for the current tournament.
Knight introduced Solo Sikoa, who said “yeah” a couple of times before he was shown walking through the crowd on the main floor with a microphone in hand. Solo did Knight’s “let me talk to ya'” line, which got a smile from Knight.
Solo thanked Knight for helping him last week. He said that after everything they’ve been through, Knight could have said no, but instead he said, “Yeah.” Solo was going to deliver the “with everybody saying” line, but Knight stopped him and said he let him get away with two. Knight said this was Solo’s warning shot, and they both mocked Jey Uso’s line.
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso made their entrance while Solo entered the ring. Jimmy said it looked like they had a funny guy in the ring. Jimmy said Solo probably thought it was funny last week when he went against his own brothers and spiked The Tribal Chief. Jimmy said Solo had consequences coming.
Jey did the “warning shot” line. Solo went into Matrix slow-motion mode in the ring in response to the shot. Funny. Solo called for a tag team match for later in the night. The Usos agreed. Knight closed the segment with his catchphrase, and then his entrance theme played…
The broadcast team checked in from their ringside desk. Cole set up a video package that recapped the tournament for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship on September 14 in Mexico City…
Dragon Lee was shown wrapping his hands and wrists, and his opponent Rey Fenix was shown warming up in another backstage area…
Stephanie Vaquer made her entrance for a match against Roxanne Perez heading into the first commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A nice opening segment that set up a match that I’m surprised wasn’t announced ahead of time. The fans are really taking to the Knight and Solo pairing. Earlier today, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 9,243 with 8,629 tickets distributed. The total number of seats on the map is 16,281. The last time WWE ran the venue, 8,026 tickets were distributed for July 8, 2024, Raw.
The end of Roxanne Perez’s entrance was televised while Graves hyped the NXT and AAA doubleheader for Sunday…
1. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez (w/Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez). The wrestlers performed some early chain wrestling and traded pin attempts. Vaquer went up top, but then she and the referee were distracted by Rodriguez on the apron. Rodriguez took advantage of it by cutting off Vaquer and pushing her to the floor. Perez followed and ran Vaquer into the barricade twice. [C]
Vaquer performed the Devil’s Kiss. Perez came back and performed a nice facebuster and a shining wizard that led to her getting a two count. Vaquer came back and hit the SVB. Vaquer went up top, but Morgan clotheslined her off the top rope while Rodriguez distracted the referee.
Becky Lynch made her entrance and approached Morgan, who backed away. Rodriguez tried to sneak up on Lynch, but Vaquer kicked Rodriguez and then ran her into the ring steps. Perez hit Vaquer with a knee strike when she returned to the ring. Vaquer avoided a moonsault and then hit a butterfly lungblower and got the three-count.
Stephanie Vaquer beat Roxanne Perez in 13:10.
After the match, Vaquer smiled and nodded at Lynch. The referee raised Vaquer’s arm. Morgan tried to sneak inside the ring, but Lynch stopped her and dumped her into the timekeeper’s area. Lynch entered the ring and held up two fingers while talking to Vaquer. Graves said Lynch was reminding Vaquer that she owes her two…
Powell’s POV: A nice match that was given more time than I anticipated. Vaquer seemed a little friendlier toward Lynch, who was still all business.
Backstage, Rey Mysterio wished Rey Fenix good luck in his tournament match. Fenix left the picture, and then AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh showed up and tried to intimidate Rey. Je’Von Evans showed up and roughed up Dom and McDonagh before shaking hands with Rey…
Rey Fenix made his entrance for the first tournament semifinal match… [C] Dragon Lee made his entrance coming out of the break…
2. Rey Fenix vs. Dragon Lee in a semifinal tournament match for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. Cole noted that Fenix will defend the AAA Cruiserweight Championship against EK Prosper on Tuesday’s NXT show. Graves noted that Fenix will team with Lee and Penta in a match on the AAA Ola de Calor show on Sunday.
After some fast-paced, back-and-forth action, Lee performed a top con hilo. Lee climbed onto the barricade and played to the fans. [C] Lee put Fenix down with a sit-out powerbomb and covered him for a near fall. Fenix performed a top rope moonsault onto Fenix for another two count. He followed up with another powerbomb for a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Lee had Fenix hanging from the top rope when he hit him with a top rope double stomp for another near fall. Lee caught Fenix with a kick that sent him to the floor. Lee followed, but Fenix slammed his head on the broadcast table. Lee went for a kick on the desk, but Lee tripped him. Lee returned to the ring and performed a cannonball dive through the middle rope onto Fenix on the table.
Lee rolled Fenix back inside the ring while another “this is awesome” chant broke out. Lee performed a tornado DDT for another near fall. Lee went for Operation Dragon, but Fenix countered with a brainbuster. Fenix hit double knees in the corner and then hoisted him up, but Lee countered into a pin for a two count.
Lee put Fenix down with a Styles Clash and covered him for a near fall. Lee played to the crowd and then removed his elbow pad and tossed it into the crowd. Lee charged Fenix, who caught him with a rolling cutter and covered him for a near fall. Fenix charged Lee, who caught him with a kick. Lee went to the ropes, but Fenix kicked him twice and then hoisted him up and hit the Mexican Muscle Buster for the win…
Rey Fenix beat Dragon Lee in 13:40 to advance to the finals of the tournament for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.
The brackets showed that Fenix will face the winner of the Penta vs. La Parka match that will be held later in the show. In the ring, Fenix helped Lee to his feet, and then they shook hands and hugged. Fenix put Lee on his shoulders, and Lee pointed down at Fenix…
A Lola Vice vignette aired. They never focused on her face and instead showed her walking in a dress and then they cut to her taking part in MMA training. It concluded with a “9.14” graphic…
Oba Femi was shown walking backstage while Cole hyped the contract signing segment…
Powell’s POV: Fenix vs. Lee was a fun spot-fest style match that the live crowd was really hot for. It was cool to see these guys turned loose. Meanwhile, Lola Vice is a Cuban-American, but she’s over with the Mexican fans, so having her first Raw match in Mexico City is a nice touch.
[Hour Two] [C] Penta and La Parka were shown warming up in separate backstage locations…
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and Paul Heyman were in the ring with a table and chairs for the contract signing. Pearce introduced Oba Femi, who made his entrance. Once in the ring, Oba shook hands with Pearce and Heyman.
Heyman said that with all due respect to Oba, there’s no vision for the future without including the phrase “Fear the Spear.” Heyman introduced Bron Breakker, who made his entrance.
Once in the ring, Breakker sat down at the table and said he was the future of WWE until he got hurt. Breakker said he injured himself because no one, including Oba, was man enough to do it. Breakker accused Oba of stealing his spot while he was injured.
“Bron, you’re an angry orange man,” Oba said. Breakker looked at his arm (he’s laid off on the spray tan compared to how much he had been wearing). Oba added that at different times, Breakker would have been the future, but Oba said it’s 2026 and he’s the future. Oba said he would show Breakker at Sunday Night’s Main Event that he is the future. The fans chanted Oba’s name.
Breakker spoke of taking Oba into the deep end when they meet. Breakker said Oba might cast a big shadow with his entrance, but he will own him in the ring, and then Oba will spend the rest of his career living in his shadow. Breakker said he will be known as the guy who Oba couldn’t beat.
Breakker signed the contract and then stood up and approached Oba while asking him if he was going to sign it. Breakker shoved the contract folder into Heyman’s chest and then asked, “Or is your daddy going to do it for you?”
Heyman asked Breakker what he was doing. Breakker said Heyman was walking around acting as if he represented him. Breakker got in Heyman’s face and told him to sign the contract for Oba. Breakker turned and hit Oba. Oba stood up and traded punches with Breakker. Oba got the better of it.
Austin Theory showed up. Oba roughed up Theory, but Breakker used the distraction to get a few shots in. Oba rallied and cleared Breakker from the ring and then put Theory through the table in the ring. Breakker returned to the apron and then dropped to the mat.
Oba said that’s how it would go when they meet in the ring at Sunday Night’s Main Event, adding that Breakker will run away from him again. Oba signed the contract and then tossed the folder toward Breakker on the floor….
Powell’s POV: I thought this might be a big heat segment with Breakker and the Vision members roughing up Oba. Rather, Oba got the better of Breakker and Theory. Perhaps they’ll go with a big heat segment next week to even it up before their match. If they double down on Oba getting the better of Breakker, that might be a sign that Breakker is going over at Sunday Night’s Main Event, though I can’t imagine it would be a clean win.
Backstage, the Usos told Jacob Fatu that he should stay there after what happened last week. They took issue with Fatu not helping them out last week. Fatu said he did exactly what The OTC told him to do.
Fatu said he doesn’t take orders from Jey, who held up his black ula fala. Jey told Fatu to stand around backstage and do nothing. Jimmy showed Fatu his black ula fala. The Usos left, and then Fatu showed frustration by kicking a production crate…
Je’Von Evans made his entrance… [C] Cole hyped Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton for Sunday Night’s Main Event… Big Cass made his entrance…
3. Big Cass vs. Je’Von Evans. Cole said it was Big Cass’s first WWE match in over eight years. Cass wrestled the match wearing black jeans and tan work boots. Evans got Cass on the floor and then dove on him, but Cass caught him. Evans slipped away and shoved Cass into the apron. Back in the ring, Cass clotheslined Evans over the top rope to the floor. Moments later, Cass put Evans down with a Sidewalk Slam. [C]
Evans dumped Cass into the timekeeper’s area and then got a running start before diving onto him. “I’m about to whoop your ass,” Evans said before throwing a series of punches and kicks that made Cass cover up. “Get your ass up,” said Evans before rolling him back in the ring.
Evans followed and dropped Cass with a kick. Evans hit a springboard clothesline. Evans went up top for his OG Cutter finisher, but Cass shoved him off the ropes. Evans clutched his hamstring. Big Cass drilled Evans with a big boot and then pinned him. Cass had a bloody lip.
Big Cass beat Je’Von Evans in 8:50.
Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh attacked Evans after Big Cass exited the ring. Dom went up top and hit Evans with a frog splash…
Powell’s POV: Wow, that was not what I expected. Evans showed a more aggressive side and really took it to Cass even though he ultimately lost the match. Cass walking away with a bloody lip made the fight that Evans showed look even better.
Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviewed Sol Ruca about challenging Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship next week. Ruca spoke about being excited about the match.
Iyo Sky showed up and wished Ruca good luck and told her that she deserves it. Ruca said the match wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for Sky.
Lyra Valkyria entered the picture looking unkempt. Valkyria was friendly and then asked Ruca to give her the title match. Ruca said she saw what Valkyria was doing and told her that if she wanted a title shot, she should earn it. “Bayley used to talk to me like that,” Valkyria said before walking away…
Penta made his entrance for the second tournament match… [C] Cole set up a trailer for a Mr. T documentary that premieres September 8 on Netflix…
4. Penta vs. La Parka in a semifinal tournament match for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. La Parka’s entrance was not televised. Penta performed a Backstabber and covered La Parka for a two count. [C] La Parka executed a satellite DDT for a near fall. Penta rallied with a Penta Driver for a near fall of his own.
La Parka performed a Spanish Fly off the top rope for a near fall. Penta came right back with the Sacrifice and then hit the Mexican Destroyer for the win…
Penta defeated La Parka in 8:55 to advance to the finals of the tournament for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.
“Brothers will collide next week,” Cole said. The updated brackets showed Penta vs. Rey Fenix in the finals. Fenix walked onto the stage and went face-to-face with Penta. They looked to the crowd and then did a bro handshake…
Cole plugged a Zuffa Boxing event…
LA Knight was warming up in his dressing room when Solo Sikoa showed up and thanked him again for having his back last week. “Look at this softy Solo Sikoa,” Knight joked. Knight said Solo didn’t owe him anything. He spoke about how they could go to the top as a team… [C]
Cole hyped the AAA and NXT doubleheader for Sunday and noted that tickets were still available…
Cole said Zilla Fatu is expected to be the next big star and will be in the NXT Heatwave main event on Sunday. A Zilla video package aired…
Adam Pearce praised Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable for the match he had with Rey Mysterio. Gable said that’s exactly what he wanted from that match and his title run. Gable said that’s his legacy. Pearce checked out while talking about working on what’s next for Gable.
Ethan Page showed up and applauded Gable for beating Rey. Page said Gable was offering title shots to washed-up champions to avoid facing him. Gable said Page had the same opportunity to win the title that he did, and he tapped him out. Gable said Page was near the top of the list of people he wanted to give a title match to, but Page talked his way out of it…
Powell’s POV: So now you have to be nice to Chad Gable to get a shot at his title?
The following matches were announced for next week’s Raw: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sol Ruca for the Women’s Intercontinental Title, Penta vs. Rey Fenix in the tournament final for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship on September 14 in Mexico City, and World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns appears…
[Hour Three] Backstage, Jackie Redmond informed Stephanie Vaquer that she will challenge Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship in two weeks. “Finally,” Vaquer said. She added that she doesn’t need Becky Lynch’s help, but she thanked her for it and said she respects her. Vaquer said she would take the title back in two weeks…
The Usos made their entrance through the crowd… [C]
Powell’s POV: It looked like the Bloodline were heels last week, but Jey and Jimmy entering through the crowd and Jey pumping his arms with kids seems to suggest that nothing has changed as far as their tweener approach.
The end of LA Knight’s entrance was shown, and then Solo Sikoa made his entrance…
5. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. LA Knight and Solo Sikoa. The Usos had Solo down on the floor before an early break. [C] The Usos continued to isolate Solo coming out of the break. Jey charged Solo, who caught him with a clothesline. Knight took a hot tag and put Jimmy down with an inverted DDT. Knight hit a top rope elbow drop for a near fall. At ringside, Jey superkicked Solo and then looked into a camera and spoke to the OTC.
Royce Keys, who had a bandana over his face, appeared out of nowhere and speared Jey and Solo through the barricade and into the timekeeper’s area.
“OTM” Bronco Nima and Lucien Price entered the ring and also had bandanas over their faces. OTM attacked Knight and Jimmy while the referee slipped out of the ring to apparently end the match.
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso fought LA Knight and Solo Sikoa to an apparent no-contest in roughly 10:00.
Keys, Nima, and Price lowered their bandanas and continued the assault on both teams. Keys entered the ring and had OTM shoot Jimmy toward him, and then he hit him with a spinebuster.
Keys and OTM went to the floor. OTM ran Jey toward Keys, who hit him with part of the ring steps. They repeated the ring steps spot with Solo. Keys hit Knight with the steps. Per Keys’ orders, OTM hoisted up Jimmy and gave him a double-team crucifix powerbomb through the broadcast table. The executive producer credits were shown. Keys and OTM returned to the ring and were booed by the fans to close the show…
Powell’s POV: The beatdown was strong and unexpected. The fans booed Keys and OTM like they were heels. I think that’s what they were going for, but it’s hard to say since the Bloodline do heelish things and still play to the crowd like they are babyfaces. I guess the big question is how Jacob Fatu feels about this, given his character’s history with Keys.
Overall, this was a strong episode with some better matches than usual, and a big angle at the end. I will be back shortly with my weekly same-night audio review of WWE Raw for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Were they booing because of heat or because they had no idea who OTM were and Keys has struggled to get over. I hope it’s because of heat as I like all 3 guys and see potential in them as a strong faction. Unfortunately, it seemed more like “who are you?” heat. You saw it differently, maybe others did too. I hope I’m wrong.
Dammit, Jim, I’m a doctor, not a mind reader.
Now that I’ve gotten that dated reference out of my system, the fans should know Keys at the very least. It’s hard to say for sure, but they attacked two babyfaces and two guys who acted like babyfaces this week after being heels last week, so that was enough to get them booed, even if people didn’t know them.
Good to see them featuring Zilla Fatu in a package. That scrappy underdog is going to need some support.