WWE Raw results (6/1): Powell’s live review of start of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments

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

WWE Raw (Episode 1,723)
Turin, Italy, at Inalpi Arena
Streamed live June 1, 2026, on Netflix

[Hour One] Michael Cole checked in on commentary and then set up a WWE Clash in Italy recap video. Cole was joined on commentary by Corey Graves…

A black SUV pulled into the indoor parking area. Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso exited the vehicle. A crew member handed Reigns the World Heavyweight Championship belt. Reigns and the Usos made their entrance via the small entrance area that was also used for Clash in Italy. Pyro shot off while Reigns and the Usos stood in the entrance aisle holding up their index fingers.

Ring announcer Alicia Taylor introduced Reigns and the Usos, who headed to the ring. The Italian fans sang and then chanted “OTC.” Reigns smiled and was about to speak, but then he put the mic down and looked to the crowd with a big grin. The fans sang Roman’s name. Reigns told the crowd to acknowledge him.

Reigns said there’s no day like Acknowledgement Day. The fans chanted “OTC” again. Jey questioned whether Jacob Fatu was. Jey said it was Fatu’s first day on the job, and he was already late. “Come on, Jacob,” Jey said.

Jacob Fatu made his entrance dressed in non-wrestling attire. Reigns told Fatu not to drag it out. “You know what time it is,” Reigns said. Jey said Fatu was moving too slowly. Fatu approached Jey and stared at him before knocking the microphone out of his hand. “Jacob, I’m over here,” Reigns told him.

Fatu stood in front of Reigns and said he knew the consequences of their match. Fatu spoke of losing in front of the world, including his children. Fatu spoke of his children seeing him take a loss and be a man of his word. “Last night, I lost to my Tribal Chief,” Fatu said. “But I didn’t lose to your punk ass, Jey.” Jey smiled.

Fatu said he would keep it one hundred. Fatu dropped to one knee and said, “I acknowledge you.” Fatu stuck his hand out. Reigns grabbed his hand and pulled Fatu to his feet. “You don’t understand this now, Jacob, but I love you,” Reigns said. Jimmy delivered the “we the ones” line. Reigns and the Usos put up their index fingers. Fatu stood behind Jimmy and raised his index finger. Reigns, the Usos, and Fatu left the ring. Reigns held up his title belt in the entrance aisle while the Usos and Fatu held up their index fingers…

Cole and Graves spoke from their desk. Cole said Reigns once again insulated himself with family. Cole said Reigns has the dangerous Samoan Werewolf on a leash and can unleash him at any time. Cole announced that Saturday’s AAA show featuring Original El Grande Americano vs. El Grande Americano in a mask vs. mask match would be replayed on Netflix after Raw.

Powell’s POV: The live crowd loved the opening segment, but it turned out to be rather uneventful. For those who haven’t watched, the mask vs. mask match is definitely worth watching. Interestingly, Netflix is replaying it even though the show is available on YouTube. I wonder if this is a sign that AAA could end up on Netflix.

Cole hyped Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker for later in the show. Cole narrated backstage/arrival shots of Rollins, Breakker with Paul Heyman and Austin Theory, new Women’s Intercontinental Champion Sol Ruca…

The Wade Barrett narrated King and Queen of the Ring video package aired… the brackets for the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments were shown…

Intercontinental Champion Penta made his entrance for the first King of the Ring tournament match before a commercial break… [C] Carmelo Hayes was in the ring coming out of the break. Solo Sikoa made his entrance with Talla Tonga, and then Oba Femi’s entrance followed. Once in the ring, Oba fought off his opponents and then struck his pose…

1. Penta vs. Oba Femi vs. Solo Sikoa (w/Talla Tonga) vs. Carmelo Hayes in a four-way King of the Ring tournament match. Penta fought Hayes in the ring, while Oba and Solo fought on the floor. Oba and Talla had a brief staredown on the floor before Oba returned to the ring. Oba put Penta and Hayes down with a double chokeslam and then shook the ropes. [C]

Oba tried to spear Penta and Hayes, but they moved, and Oba went through the ropes and into the ring post. Solo and Talla ran Oba into the ring post twice and then dumped him into the timekeeper’s area. In the ring, Solo turned Hayes inside out with a clothesline. Penta superkicked Solo, who came right back with a clothesline. Hayes put Solo down, and then Penta hit Hayes with the Penta Driver, but Solo broke up the pin attempt that followed.

Oba stood up in the timekeeper’s area. “Oba Femi has risen,” Cole said. Oba avoided a Talla punch and eventually dumped him onto the broadcast table. Back in the ring, Oba tossed Solo across the ring and then hit the Fall From Grace for the win…

Oba Femi defeated Solo Sikoa, Penta, and Carmelo Hayes in 9:00 in a four-way to advance in the King of the Ring tournament.

Oba grabbed a mic from the floor and then returned to the ring. Oba recalled Brock Lesnar asking if he could take an ass kicking and what he would do after taking seven F5s. “I’m standing, I’m winning, I took your best shot, and I’m still here,” Oba said. He added that he will be King of the Ring. Oba said it’s 1-1 between him and Lesnar, and then said he would see Lesnar “down the line”…

The updated brackets showed that Oba will face the winner of the Dominik Mysterio vs. Bron Breakker vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest four-way match in the next round of the tournament…

Powell’s POV: A bounce-back win for Oba following his loss to Brock Lesnar. I can’t see Oba taking a clean loss in the KOTR tournament, but there’s always a chance of outside interference costing him if he’s not winning KOTR. His promo was solid. The fans popped big for Oba and chanted his name repeatedly, so the loss to Lesnar didn’t hurt him in the eyes of this crowd. I don’t think this crowd is an aberration. It’s going to take more than one loss to Lesnar to cool off Oba.

A video package spotlighted the Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker feud… Graves hyped Rollins vs. Breakker as the show’s main event… New Women’s Intercontinental Champion Sol Ruca was shown walking backstage while Cole said she would appear after a break… [C]

Cathy Kelley stood in the ring and introduced Sol Ruca, who slapped hands on her way to the ring. Cole said Becky Lynch took to social media to blame everything from referee Jessika Carr to Ruca’s shoes for her loss at Clash in Italy. A “you deserve it” chant broke out once Ruca was in the ring.

Kelley asked Ruca if she thought she would be standing in the ring as a champion after spending less than a month on the Raw roster. Ruca said she believed she could be a champion. Ruca thanked the fans for believing that she could be a champion.

Ruca said Becky Lynch gave her a chance to prove herself against the very best, and she proved her wrong. “And it’s not just me saying it, everyone is saying it,” Ruca said. She told the fans that they deserve a fighting champion, and that’s what she will be. Ruca said the souls of those who underestimate her will belong to her…

Powell’s POV: Meh. Ruca’s character came off a little too confident, to the point that she risks turning off some fans if this approach continues. Meanwhile, I get it, her finisher is the Sol Snatcher, but the lines about stealing the souls of her opponents are too much.

[Hour Two] Footage aired from after the Clash in Italy event of Cody Rhodes walking backstage. Roman Reigns stepped out of his dressing room and had a brief staredown with Cody…

Backstage, Roman Reigns told Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso that he would get to Cody later. He encouraged Jey to stay on Jacob Fatu, adding that Jey is the only one who understands tough love. Reigns said Jey held the World Heavyweight Championship. He encouraged Jey to win the King of the Ring tournament and go on to win the WWE Championship. Jey headed out, and Jimmy was about to follow, but Reigns called him back. Reigns told Jimmy that he needed him, and Jey needed to do this on his own…

Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee made their entrance for a tag team match… [C] Cole hyped WWE touring Mexico in September…

The tail end of Ethan Page and Rusev’s entrance was shown, along with footage of Rey beating Rusev last week to earn an Intercontinental Title shot…

2. Ethan Page and Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. Rusev got the better of Lee early in the match. Lee eventually motioned for a tag. The fans popped huge for the idea of Rey tagging in, but Page pulled him off the apron for strong heat. Rusev hit Lee from behind and then performed a uranage slam. [C]

Lee tagged Rey, but the referee didn’t see it. Lee eventually fought free of the heels and made the hot tag. A short time later, Page caught Rey in a Boston Crab. Lee superkicked Page to break the hold. Lee used a huracanrana to send Rusev crashing into Page, and then sent Rusev to the floor. Page hit Rusev with a suicide dive. Rey dropkicked Page and followed up with a 619 before pinning him…

Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee defeated Ethan Page and Rusev in 11:30.

Powell’s POV: It was good to see the Italian fans treat Rey like the legend that he is. As much as I love Page’s work, he’s the type of heel who can take a pinfall loss and get his heat right back the next time he gets promo time.

Backstage, Adam Pearce spoke with Penta. Pearce played up Penta defending the Intercontinental Title against Rey Mysterio. Penta was happy that Pearce intends to make the match official. Penta exited.

LA Knight showed up and took issue with Pearce visiting Roman Reigns’ locker room. Knight said it seemed like the only person Pearce wanted as champion was Reigns. Pearce said Fatu was a liability. Pearce said he wasn’t trying to put The Bloodline back together. Knight grabbed Pearce’s hand and held it up while Pearce had his index finger raised…

Bron Breakker was shown warming up backstage… [C]

The broadcast team hyped the encore presentation of the mask vs. mask match for immediately following Raw. Highlights of the match aired. Cole and Graves spoke briefly and then set up highlights of what happened after the match, and included the shocking footage of Original El Grande Americano removing his mask to reveal Chad Gable. Who knew?!?…

Graves hyped the two-night Triplemania 34 being held on September 11 in Las Vegas, at the Luxor, and September 13 in Mexico City…

Iyo Sky made her entrance for the first Queen of the Ring tournament… [C] Roxanne Perez was in the ring coming out of the break. Giulia made her entrance, followed by Lash Legend…

3. Roxanne Perez vs. Iyo Sky vs. Giulia vs. Lash Legend in a four-way Queen of the Ring tournament match. Giulia, who recently ditched most of the braids and has blonde hair, was over big with the Italian fans. Cole mentioned that Zelina Vega, who was recently released, won the first Queen of the Ring tournament.

Giulia caught Legend in a standing guillotine, but Legend placed her on the top rope to break the hold. Legend powered up Sky and Perez, but Giulia hit Legend with a missile dropkick from behind. Giulia suplexed Sky. [C] Sky hit the Bullet Train Attack on Giulia, but Legend grabbed her from behind. Sky rolled through Legend and hit her with a standing double stomp.

Giula put Legend down with a knee strike and had her beaten, but Perez broke it up. Perez performed a Russian Leg Sweep and DDT simultaneously on Sky and Giulia. A short time later, there was a tower of doom spot that resulted in Legend performing a double powerbomb on Perez and Giulia. Legend hit the Lash Extension on Perez and then Giulia. Legend went for the pin, but Sky broke it up with a top rope double stomp to the back. Sky hit Giulia with Over the Moonsault and then pinned her…

Iyo Sky defeated Giulia, Roxanne Perez, and Lash Legend in 10:40 in a four-way to advance in the Queen of the Ring tournament.

The updated brackets showed that Sky will face the winner of the Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill four-way match in the next round of the tournament…

Powell’s POV: I didn’t expect Giulia to win, but I also didn’t expect to see her take the loss in Italy. While Sky going over is no surprise, I thought there was a long shot chance they would have Perez win the tournament to challenge Liv Morgan at SummerSlam.

Backstage, Maxxine Dupri spoke with Adam Pearce while Otis and Akira Tozawa stood by. Dupri wasn’t happy about being excluded from the Queen of the Ring tournament. Pearce said she would be the first name on his list if there was an opening. Pearce exited. Otis asked Dupri if she was doing okay. “I’m fine,” Dupri snapped back. Otis said he and Tozawa always have her back, but they noticed she’s been spending more time with Austin Theory. Dupri asked them to trust her and let her handle it…

Seth Rollins was shown warming up… [C] A video package aired on Danhausen and the New York Knicks…

Backstage, Cathy Kelley asked Bayley and Lyra Valkyria what would happen if they met in the Queen of the Ring tournament. Bayley mentioned she’s never been in the Queen of the Ring tournament. Valkyria spotted Sol Ruca and ended up getting her to agree to defend the Women’s Intercontinental Title against her. Valkyria was fired up, but Bayley didn’t look pleased…

The broadcast team hyped the European tour dates, and Cole mentioned that next Monday’s Raw will be held in Paris at the same 1CT/2ET start time as today. Cole and Graves announced the following matches for next week’s Raw in Paris: Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Talla Tonga vs. Ricky Saints in a King of the Ring match, and Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green in a Queen of the Ring match…

Backstage, Roxanne Perez vented to Raquel Rodriguez, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh about not being Queen of the Ring. Liv Morgan entered the room and was upbeat. Rodriguez nudged her to point out that Perez was upset. Morgan said she knew Perez was upset, but they’re family, and that’s what matters most. Perez mentioned that she could have used family. Morgan said Judgment Day would win both tournaments and that she and Dom would be queen and king, then had to walk it back to pacify Rodriguez and McDonagh…

[Hour Three] Seth Rollins made his entrance for the main event… [C] Bron Breakker wore one of the World Tag Team Title belts while making his entrance with Paul Heyman…

4. Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker (w/Paul Heyman). Rollins clotheslined Breakker over the top rope to the floor. Rollins hit Breakker with a pair of suicide dives. Rollins went for a third suicide dive, but Breakker stuffed it and then tossed Rollins over the barricade. [C]

Breakker worked over Rollins on the floor before rolling back inside to break the count. Breakker returned to the floor and cleared the Italian and English broadcast tables. Rollins tried to hoist up Breakker, who slipped away and threw a knee before tossing Rollins back inside the ring.

Breakker military pressed Rolins, who slipped away and hit a reverse DDT on the way down. Rollins performed a springboard Swanton for a near fall. Rollins went to the ropes, but Breakker cut him off. Breakker performed a Frankensteiner to pull Rollins from the ropes and then covered him for a near fall of his own. Moments later, Rollins jumped from a broadcast table while Breakker jumped from the apron, and they both clotheslined one another in midair. [C]

Rollins set up for a Stomp, but Breakker speared him. Rollins rolled to the floor. Breakker followed and placed him on the English broadcast table. Breakker climbed onto the Italian broadcast table and then charged for a spear, but Rollins hit him with a Pedigree on the way down. Rollins sold knee pain as he got Breakker back inside the ring. Rollins performed another Pedigree and then covered Breakker for a near fall.

Rollins set up in a corner of the ring, but Austin Theory ran out. Rollins cleared Theory from the ring and dodged a charging Breakker. Rollins clotheslined Breakker and then held his arms while stomping on his face. Rollins set up for a Stomp, but Theory hit him with one of the World Tag Team Title belts while Heyman distracted the referee.

Montez Ford ran out and took out Theory with his weekly dive over the ring post onto his opponent on the floor. Breakker speared Ford. Breakker returned to the ring and speared Rollins, which led to a good near fall. In the ring, Rollins hit the Stomp on Breakker and had him pinned, but Heyman put Breakker’s foot over the bottom rope. Cole stood up and yelled to the referee that Heyman did it.

Rollins slowly exited the ring and walked toward Heyman on the floor. Heyman yelled at Rollins. Breakker ran around the ring, but Rollins pulled Heyman into Breakker’s spear, which sent both men crashing through the barricade into the timekeeper’s area.

Rollins grabbed the tag team title belt. Breakker returned to the ring and speared Rollins. Cole said Breakker ended up spearing the championship belt. Graves said Breakker may have knocked himself out. Rollins got up and hit the Stomp on Breakker before pinning him.

Seth Rollins defeated Bron Breakker in 22:25.

Cole said Rollins protecting himself from the spear was one of the most cerebral things he’s ever seen (really?). Rollins acknowledged Ford, who was standing on the floor. The executive producer credits were shown while Rollins motioned for a title belt.

Cole and Graves stood behind their broken broadcast table and told fans to stay tuned for AAA’s mask vs. mask match…

Powell’s POV: The AAA match was included with Raw. In other words, it was not a separate item on Netflix. Is this building somehow cursed when it comes to people on the floor putting a wrestler’s foot over the bottom rope? It wasn’t as bad as the flub with B-Fab and Jade Cargill, but Heyman also failed to put Breakker’s foot over the rope. Fortunately, Breakker’s foot was touching the bottom of the rope, so it wasn’t like the referee had to stop his count for no reason, like during the WWE Women’s Championship match at Clash in Italy.

The main event was enjoyable, but the presentation was lousy. I get that the show was held in a market where English isn’t the first language, but Oba Femi spoke to the crowd, and there were plenty of backstage segments. So why didn’t we hear anything meaningful from Rollins, Breakker, or Heyman to set up the main event? They played up Heyman staying down after he was speared, so we’ll see if that was done to write him out, perhaps just for next week’s last Raw on this European tour.

Overall, an underwhelming PLE fallout show without much in the way of storyline advancement. The favorites went over in the four-way tournament matches, and the acknowledgement ceremony took the easiest path with Jacob Fatu acknowledging Roman Reigns. I will be back shortly with my same-day 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.

WWE Raw Poll: Grade the June 1 edition

pollcode.com free polls

WE VALUE YOUR PRIVACY

Be the first to comment

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.