Results
- Bron Breakker def. Penta (14:58)
- Jade Cargill def. Roxanne Perez (Queen of the Ring Semi-Final) (11:47)
- Becky Lynch def. Bayley (DQ) (WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship) (13:29)
- Cody Rhodes def. Jey Uso (King of the Ring Semi-Final) (20:05)
Seth Rollins is confident as ever
Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw, a go-home before King of the Ring inside the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, started with some wrestler arrivals. Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes, Roxanne Perez alongside Finn Balor, Jade Cargill (with a Labubu), Becky Lynch, and Bayley were all shown.
Seth Rollins, alongside his faction of Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, came to the ring for the opening segment. Pat McAfee was once again off TV this week, so Michael Cole was joined by NXT commentator Corey Graves.
For those who didn’t catch it, Rollins and company caused havoc on Smackdown last week. The broadcast said LA Knight is “out indefinitely” after the attack he suffered from the squad.
Rollins argued that no matter who the crowd wants, it all ties back to him: CM Punk was brought back to WWE because the company wanted to cash in on how much he hates him. He said there isn’t a “second coming” of Cody Rhodes unless Rollins puts him on the map.
After listing off some accomplishments, Rollins started to flaunt what they did to LA Knight on Friday. Rollins said that he wants to be diplomatic with how he deals with other wrestlers, but in cases like Knight, is willing to use force. Rollins said that everyone in the division is running a race for second place, as his Money in the Bank briefcase is the “finish line” and the “end game.”
Seth Rollins sends message to Penta after Bron Breakker’s win
Penta came out to interrupt Rollins’ promo, as he’s scheduled to face Bron Breakker in the opening match of the night. Notably, Rollins and Reed went to the back before this bout kicked off. The match started under commercials, although nothing really happened until the broadcast returned 45 seconds later.
Penta went flying at the six-minute mark of the match, soaring over the top rope with a tope con hilo to take out Breakker. Penta had some momentum after this move, but lost it all after a top-rope spot between the two saw Breakker throw him stomach-first onto the ringpost. Breakker set Penta up on the commentary table, then did his dive from the ring apron to the desk.
A cocky Breakker, aware that he was back in the lead, opened a bottle of water from the commentary desk and poured it on his head. Back in the ring, Breakker continued to go after the body of Penta by giving him a double knees – this earned him a two-count.
Penta was thrown into the ropes but responded with a kick to the head of Breakker. The Mexican talent hit Breakker with a Swingblade, then, after a few reversals, bridged a suplex into a two-count pin attempt.
Penta couldn’t get a Mexican Destroyer on Breakker, instead scoring a thrust kick. Penta went to the top, where Breakker tried for his top-rope Frankensteiner. He slipped and fell when first trying the maneuver, but got it on second attempt.
Breakker tried to come off the ropes with his fast spear, but Penta stopped it with another thrust kick. A series of counters earned Penta a DDT, then he connected with the Mexican Destroyer. However, it still wasn’t enough to put away Breakker.
Penta tried for a Penta Driver, but Breakker escaped. He tried coming off the middle rope with a move, but a quick-thinking Breakker responded with a mid-air spear, with the high-impact move giving the match a sudden finish at nearly 15 minutes.
Rollins and Reed reappeared on the stage to congratulate Breakker on his win. Rollins then went over to Penta: “This is your one warning. Stay out of my way.”
IC title match off Night of Champions
It was mentioned on the broadcast that next week’s Raw will have a special start time of 6 p.m. ET, two hours earlier than its usual beginning.
The broadcast replayed Liv Morgan’s injury from last week, and said she’s likely to be out for “several months.”
Backstage, Adam Pearce told AJ Styles that Dominik Mysterio, like Morgan, has also been injured. He said that the Intercontinental title fight between them is off this weekend’s Night of Champions card, and guaranteed Styles a future title shot once Mysterio is healthy again.
Tag champs New Day approached Pearce about a photoshoot. Pearce had a better idea: New Day vs. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh set for next week on Raw. That’s official. Grayson Waller warned Pearce to be kinder to New Day.
Goldberg says he will ‘beat the f***’ out of Gunther
A sit-down interview by Michael Cole with Goldberg was the next segment. This interview notably took place before the show, instead of being live in the ring – so no run-ins expected. As we learned last week, Goldberg will face Guther at the next Saturday Night’s Main Event card.
Goldberg recounted the time he went to a WWE card with his family, where he was confronted by Gunther. “The lack of respect from him that I saw that night was pretty unbelievable,” Goldberg said about Gunther, admitting that he was embarrassed in front of his family. “There was absolutely no way I was going to let him get away with it.”
A fired-up Goldberg told Cole that he’s going to “beat the f*** out of Gunther.”
Cole asked Goldberg if the upcoming bout it his retirement match, to which he said it is. But his reply when asked about what would happen if he won Gunther’s World Heavyweight Championship? “Interesting dilemma.”
Jade Cargill books ticket to Queen of the Ring finals
Finn Balor tried to rally together the Judgement Day clubhouse, saying that Liv Morgan wouldn’t want them sulking due to her absence. It’s noted by Raquel Rodriguez that a decision hasn’t been made about the tag titles that she holds with Morgan. Balor agitated Rodriguez to prove that she has to be an “enforcer” in the group, and that she needs to make Rhea Ripley pay for costing her a Queen of the Ring semi-final spot last week. We’ll see what comes of that later, it seems.
Backstage, Lyra Valkyria was seen wishing Bayley luck ahead of her match tonight, and that she deserves a shot against Becky Lynch. Bayley was immediately defensive about the kind thoughts from Valkyrua, but then apologized about being so hostile. She then said Valkyria will be next in line for a shot after she wins the belt. Lynch was notably seen in the background watching this conversation at one point.
A Queen of the Ring semi-final match between Roxanne Perez and Jade Cargill took place in the next bout. The winner will take on Asuka, who won in her semi-final bout on Smackdown just a few days back.
The fight went to the outside early, where a slip from Cargill got her leg trapped in-between the ringpost and the stairs. Perez kicked the stairs into Cargill’s leg, getting her in control of the match before a commercial break.
Perez remained ahead as the match returned. Cargill caught a crossbody off the second rope from Perez, reversing it into a fallaway slam to start mounting a comeback. Still selling the leg spot she took against the steel steps, Cargill ended a combo of moves with a spinebuster.
Cargill connected a chokeslam, but it still wasn’t enough to put away Perez. Cargill hit a huge thrust kick and tried for Jaded, but Perez reversed into a roll-up pin attempt. Cargill missed on a front kick, then Perez scored a kick of her own.
Perez started to show frustration after a head kick didn’t earn her the win. Perez tried for PopRox, but Cargill escaped. Cargill hit a big boot, a powerbomb, then a Jaded to win in just under 12 minutes. Cargill will face off against Asuka in the Queen of the Ring finals.
As Cargill was posing on the stage, Asuka herself made an appearance. The two finalists had a face-off in front of the crown prize.
Gunther sends fired-up message to Goldberg
Sheamus was seen backstage telling Natalya and Maxxine Dupri that they have a chance at the women’s tag titles. They gave credit to Sheamus for the effort he gave in the King of the Ring opening round last week.
Rusev confronted Sheamus, claiming that the Celtic Warrior is a “snake”: “Smiles to their face, knife to their back.” Sheamus wasn’t having these claims, telling him, “It’s time to put up or shut up.” Looks like we’ll be getting Rusev vs. Sheamus sometime in the near future.
Gunther, who will be facing Goldberg at Saturday Night’s Main Event, came to the ring for a promo.
Gunther said that for most people, being declared “next” by Goldberg means you would get wiped out by the legend. “But it’s not 1999 anymore,” the angry champ said. “It’s 2025, and right now, I’m the guy.”
Gunther said there’s nothing Goldberg can say, as it won’t change his belief that when he looks at Goldberg, “I see a 58-year-old one-trick pony that can’t lace my books.”
Gunther issued an apology to Goldberg’s family for what he’ll do to him when they fight at Saturday Night’s Main Event. He then stormed out of the ring.
Backstage, Sami Zayn was asked about the loss he suffered to Randy Orton on Smackdown. Just before he could answer, Karrion Kross stepped into the shot. For those who don’t remember, Kross predicted Zayn’s loss to Randy Orton last week.
“What happened? Exactly what I told you would happen,” Kross said.
While calm at first, Zayn eventually responded to Kross by striking him across the face. Then, he said that a match between them has been made official. Kross and Scarlett started laughing once Zayn walked away. “Got ’em,” Kross said.
Alliance with Lyra Valkyria backfires on Bayley
Tonight’s title fight, a WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship match between Becky Lynch and the returning Bayley, was next. Just before the match, Lynch said backstage that Bayley and Lyra Valkyria were conspiring against her to lose this match, as otherwise neither of them would be able to get the title.
While Bayley has been on TV for a couple of weeks, this marked her first in-ring appearance since mid-April.
Lynch got a big move in before a commercial break, throwing Bayley shoulder-first onto the top turnbuckle, targeting an arm before letting the challenger fall to the mat afterward. She continued focusing on Bayley’s right arm during the break. They both took each other out with crossbodies just before the broadcast returned.
Bayley started to climb back into the bout with a series of strikes and then a side slam, earning her a two-count. Bayley connected with a Bayley-To-Belly for a near fall, a move she landed after a series of quick reversals.
Bayley scored a Sunset Flip that sent Lynch into the turnbuckles, earning another two-count. Bayley climbed to the top, where Lynch eventually joined her. Lynch scored a superplex, then put in an armbar.
Bayley turned the armbar into a pin attempt, causing Lynch to let it go. Bayley reversed a Disarmer attempt into another pin. Bayley then put in a Single-Leg Boston Crab, with commentary noting that her injured arm prevented her from getting a hold on the other leg. Lynch escaped the hold by reaching the ropes.
Bayley scored a manhandle slam after a striking battle on the feet, although Lynch rolled out of the ring after taking the blow. Bayley left the ring as well, where she was thrown over the commentary desk. Lynch buried Bayley in the commentator’s chairs, as well as some steel chairs she found at ringside. The champ hoped to defend with a count-out.
But aiming to prevent this outcome was Lyra Valkyria, who appeared at ringside and started taking the chairs off Bayley. Lynch went after Valkyria, encouraging her to fight back and cause a disqualification result.
Bayley got back to her feet and started to come near the ring. Lynch tried for a baseball slide to the outside, but hit Valkyria instead of her intended target, Bayley.
Bayley sent Lynch over the commentary table, into a ringpost, then back into the ring. The challenger climbed to the top, possibly getting close to a victory. But, as she set up for an elbow drop, Valkyria came to her senses and jumped Lynch in the ring. While Valkyria showed up with the hopes of helping Bayley, she ended up throwing out her title shot.
Bayley and Valkyria argued in the ring as a beaten but victorious Lynch crawled her way to the back.
Raquel Rodriguez wipes out Rhea Ripley
Backstage, Chad Gable told Ivy Nile that she needs to handle Stephanie Vaquer, as she’s been in her way as of late. Gable cut off his pep talk to go mock Penta after his loss to Bron Breakker. This confrontation made Penta attack Gable, hitting his “Sacrifice” arm-snap on him. Ludwig Kaiser was seen watching this altercation.
Raquel Rodriguez came to the ring to call out Rhea Ripley, who played a part in her not winning a Queen of the Ring fatal four-way match last week.
Ripley answered the call from Rodriguez, and these two didn’t want to talk it out. They started brawling, first in the ring before heading over to the timekeeper’s area. Rodriguez brought out a SlimJim table. After being occupied by this table for a moment, Ripley came off the commentary desk with a forearm.
Ripley tossed Rodriguez into a steel staircase, then finished the table setup that Rodriguez started. Ripley tried for a Riptide through the table, but Roxanne Perez arrived for the save.
Ripley took out Perez by throwing her head-first into a turnbuckle. But, as she turned around, Rodriguez picked Ripley up for a Tejana Bomb through the table.
Rodriguez helped Perez up, then the two celebrated their ability to win the brawl.
The broadcast showed the 2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers, celebrating with a custom WWE title.
It was announced before the main event that Jelly Roll will be a special guest for the July 11 episode of Smackdown. Mark your calendars.
An irate Rhea Ripley stormed into Adam Pearce’s locker room, insisting a match against Raquel Rodriguez. Pearce agreed on the match, adding that it will have street fight rules.
A last-minute change was made to the Night of Champions lineup: Sami Zayn will meet Karrion Kross in a singles match. Some fans thought they wouldn’t see Zayn on that card after he was eliminated from the King of the Ring tournament, but now he’s back on the lineup.
Cody Rhodes overcomes fellow former champ Jey Uso to advance in King of the Ring
The main event of the night saw Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso set their friendship aside to compete in the semi-final round of the King of the Ring tournament.
Rhodes went after the legs of Uso early, applying a Figure Four as the match returned from a commercial break. Uso reminded Rhodes that he was far from out of the match, getting a two-count with a Samoan Drop.
After a hip attack in the corner, Uso came off the top with a frogsplash. However, Rhodes put up his knees to counter the move. Rhodes then put in a kimura submission, threatening to end the bout after just eight minutes.
Uso escaped the submission and threw Rhodes into the ropes, applying a sleeper hold after. Michael Cole did a good job of explaining that these submissions have earned these two wrestlers high-profile wins in the past, so this isn’t just some throwaway spot.
Rhodes stayed in the sleeper for some time, eventually escaping by dumping Uso over the ropes, causing him to crash onto the ringside mat. Rhodes tried to meet Uso where he was with a tope suicida, but Uso stopped the dive with a slap to the former undisputed champ’s face.
Uso climbed to the top, but a punch from Rhodes prevented him from coming down and into the ring. The two babyface stars traded blows in the corner until Rhodes came down with a superplex. Hurt by the move, Rhodes didn’t capitalize on a follow-up pin. The match went to a second commercial break.
Both wrestlers spent a fair amount of the break regaining their senses, although Uso was able to come off the top with a crossbody at one point. They were trading punches on the feet as the match returned. Uso caught Rhodes with a powerslam following a back-and-forth sequence.
Uso tried for a Cross Rhodes (you read that right), but Rhodes escaped and came off the ropes with a Cody Cutter for a two-count. Uso avoided a Disaster Kick, then came running off the ropes for a spear, giving him a near fall as well, stretching this match past 16 minutes.
Rhodes came off the top rope with a Cody Cutter, but Uso remained in the match. A fired-up Rhodes tried for a Cross Rhodes, but Uso reversed it into his own Cross Rhodes… But it wasn’t enough to end the match.
Uso hit Rhodes with a pair of superkicks, then a spear. He climbed to the top for a Uso Splash, but Rhodes joined him on the top and brought them both down with a super cutter. Rhodes then finally connected with the Cross Rhodes to earn a clean win over Uso in 20 minutes.
Rhodes had to go through one hell of a singles match, but in the end, he secured a spot in the King of the Ring finals against Randy Orton.
After the match, Rhodes and Uso hugged, clearly still close friends despite putting each other through a tough 20-minute war.
