Date: May 25, 2026
Location: Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH
The Big Takeaway —
Raw featured another contract signing, a fun Intercontinental title match, and a nonsensical show-long storyline involving Austin Theory, Seth Rollins, and The Street Profits.
On a personal note: this report will be my final time covering a WWE show. See more below.
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Show Recap —
Paul Heyman paced around the ring, awaiting his cue to start the show as the announcers plugged Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar at Clash in Italy.
Heyman said he was there to hype a match that didn’t need to be hyped. (His speech was interrupted by chants of “Oba.”) He called this rematch the biggest in professional wrestling history, and he cut to the video screen for a pre-taped Lesnar promo.
Lesnar congratulated Femi on his WrestleMania victory, but said that win was going to cost him. Lesnar has had his ass beat before, but nothing quite like that. It was so bad that Lesnar was done (and left his gloves in the ring). However, it wouldn’t end like that for him. Lesnar asked, “Brock Lesnar can take an ass-whooping, but can you?” He said Femi would get his ass kicked by a humbled, retired beast, and he would rule over Femi.
Heyman said the good news was that everyone would get to see history, but the bad news was that Femi had awakened the beast.
Femi entered and cornered Heyman. Femi said he might have awoken Lesnar, but “what do you think four F5s has awoken in Oba Femi?” Heyman was panicking, so Femi assured him he was safe. Femi wanted Heyman alive to see him retire Lesnar a second time. Heyman liked to say it was only business, but four F5s seemed pretty personal to him.
Femi pulled out the contract and signed it on Heyman’s chest. He told Heyman to deliver a message: “Last time, I was fighting to beat him. This time, I’m fighting to kill him.” (The crowd liked Femi, but that line only got a modest reaction from them.)
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Roman Reigns was shown arriving earlier. It’s his birthday, so a stagehand tried handing him a mystery gift, but he chucked it aside. Jacob Fatu, Rey Mysterio (announced as the new GM of AAA), and Judgment Day also arrived.
Intercontinental Championship match: Penta (c) vs. Je’Von Evans
Evans immediately went for a cutter, but Penta blocked it. Evans hit a hurricanrana instead, then landed on his feet after Penta tried a hurricanrana of his own. After a quick exchange of counters and a face-off, Evans joined Penta in doing his little dance.
However, Evans nailed an unsuspecting Penta with a dropkick before hitting a leaping dive. Evans tried a springboard move back in the ring, but Penta superkicked him out of the air. Moments later, with Penta back outside the ring, Evans went for a suicide dive, but Penta used his momentum to toss him into the edge of the announce table.
Evans fought back during a break by driving Penta over the barricade before hitting a springboard clothesline back into the ring. As Michael Cole noted, Evans was no longer smiling. He traded chops with Penta, but instead of going for another chop, Evans hit a sudden knee strike and a cutter for a nearfall. Penta responded with a backstabber for two.
With Penta hunched over on the apron, Evans leaped over the ropes and hit a cutter onto the edge of the ring for a two count. Penta blocked another springboard move and hit a Penta driver for a nearfall.
Penta went to the top, but Evans leaped to the top rope and hit an avalanche hurricanrana. Evans went for an OG Cutter, but Penta nailed him with a mid-air superkick. Penta went for a destroyer, but Evans countered with a knee strike.
Evans went for the OG Cutter again, but Penta caught him with a mid-air backstabber, followed by a Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win.
— Penta raised Evans’ hand post-match, but a frustrated Evans pulled his hand away and left the ring. Penta celebrated with his belt.
Match result: Penta defeated Je’Von Evans to retain the Intercontinental Championship (11:31)
An excellent TV match. Evans is ready to be a singles champion.
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Austin Theory gets a new tag team partner
Austin Theory approached Heyman backstage. Theory was ready to hand over his tag title belt to Heyman, who wasn’t sure why. Theory said Logan Paul was hurt, so he wasn’t sure what to do with it. Heyman said Logan knew that this business wasn’t ballet.
Heyman also put it in every contract that “The Vision” would be the ones defending the tag titles, without specifying who. Heyman said Theory could defend the titles with Bron Breakker. Heyman explained further until Theory gave him a big hug and thanked him.
Heyman told Theory, “I did this for you because I believe in you. Because I wanted this for you.” (Probably some reality to that line.) Theory wanted to take out anyone involved in taking out Logan. Heyman was on board.
(It’s pro wrestling logic, but it’s silly that Heyman can simply put “The Vision” in the contract, and Adam Pearce wouldn’t make him specify which members make up the team.)
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Joe Hendry was in the ring, I guess for a concert. He sang his Fire Logan Paul song again until Theory attacked him from behind with a steel chair. Theory hit Hendry repeatedly in the back with the chair. Theory was about to leave, but turned around to hit Hendry’s “head” against the steel post (it was done safely). Officials checked on Hendry.
Backstage, Seth Rollins approached Angelo Dawkins. Rollins said he knew what it felt like to get screwed over by the Vision (as the Street Profits did at SNME). But they had an opportunity with Logan gone. The Vision was the weakest they’ve ever been, but they were also the most dangerous. (What?) Rollins said she’s never seen that side of Theory, and they should put the Vision out for good.
Montez Ford approached and was not having this. Ford wasn’t interested in Rollins’ redemption story. Rollins said if he were around for their match, the Street Profits would be tag champs right now. They didn’t have to be friends when this was over; they just needed to work together to get rid of the Vision.
Rollins knew why Ford didn’t trust him, but he was also the only one between them who was a multi-time world champion and a WrestleMania main-eventer. Ford said he never stabbed his brother in the back. Ford wanted a match against Rollins tonight, and Rollins accepted. Dawkins was annoyed.
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There was a video package for the El Grande Americano vs. Original El Grande Americano, Mask vs. Mask match in AAA on Saturday.
Penta approached Evans backstage. Evans apologized for being unprofessional earlier. He called Penta a great champion, but let him know he’d be seeing him again soon. They bumped fists.
Rey Mysterio approached Penta and congratulated him on his success. Penta congratulated him on his position in AAA, too. Penta wanted to be a fighting champion, and there was no one he would rather face than Mysterio. Rey liked the sounds of that. Penta left to go talk to Pearce.
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Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (w/ Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan & AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio) vs. Lyra Valkyria & Bayley
Bayley made a hot tag following a break, hitting Perez with a back suplex and sunset flip powerbomb into the corner. Valkyria tagged in and teamed with Bayley to hit Perez with a combo neckbreaker.
They awkwardly made their way to the side of the ring so they could be in position for Morgan to put Perez’s leg on the bottom rope. However, the ref saw this and tossed her from ringside. Morgan protested, so Bayley attacked her. Rodriguez clotheslined Bayley, and Valkyria wiped out Rodriguez. Perez tried to use the distraction by applying a schoolboy, but Valkyria kicked out. Morgan finally left ringside.
Bayley tagged in and went to the top rope, but Dom distracted the ref, so Rodriguez shoved Bayley off the top. Perez hit Bayley with Pop Rox, and Valkyria was supposed to break up the cover, but she was late, so Bayley kicked out of Perez’s finisher.
Rodriguez tried powerbombing Valkyria out of the ring, but Valkyria used a leg scissors to wipe them both over the top rope.
Dom leaped on the apron to distract the ref so Perez could use his AAA title as a weapon, but she got in a tug-of-war with Bayley. Bayley knocked Perez backward, and Perez knocked Dom off the apron by accidentally hitting him with the belt. Bayley rolled up Perez for the pinfall win.
Match result: Bayley & Lyra Valkyria defeated Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez (10:50)
A mess of a match. Awkward-looking spots with tons of interference and distractions. Rodriguez and Valkyria, in particular, were off in this match, and the overbooked spots didn’t help.
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Roman Reigns met with Pearce backstage. Pearce didn’t think Jacob Fatu should be employed by WWE. Reigns understood, but he had to show the power and stroke that they (the Bloodline) had.
Reigns didn’t actually want to go back to his old ways and didn’t realize Fatu knew he had the ace to pull by challenging him to Tribal Combat. But Fatu knew Reigns had no choice but to accept as Tribal Chief. Reigns said there had to be consequences in the contract. If Fatu lost, he had to serve Reigns. But if Fatu won, he wished Pearce luck, because they were all screwed.
*******
There was a Memorial Day video narrated by Cody Rhodes.
LA Knight promo
LA Knight entered. He said it’s been a while since he’s felt this. It’s been since WrestleMania since he stood in the ring in front of everyone. He wished everyone a happy Memorial Day and thanked all of their service members.
Knight put the Vision in his rear-view mirror at WrestleMania and stood with Jimmy and Jey Uso, but the Usos have been doing things a bit differently lately. Next week on Raw, the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments begin, and he was throwing his name in the hat. That meant he would be earning a title shot and was coming for Roman Reigns, who was the most corrupt champion he’s ever seen.
Jimmy Uso interrupted. He said he fought side-by-side with Knight against the Vision at Mania. Knight said that was true, but now Jimmy was with Reigns, fighting three-on-one. It rubbed Knight the wrong way, and he was one of the Bloodline’s past victims.
Jimmy understood because a lot of people had a problem with the Bloodline. They made things ugly for everyone for years. They did what they had to do, but it wasn’t like that anymore. Jimmy invited Knight to enter KOTR because if he won, he’d have a fair shot at Reigns.
Knight heard the word “fair” and asked if Jimmy was being honest with him, or if he was even being honest with himself. Knight saw Jimmy playing third-fiddle to Reigns, behind Jey, and didn’t want to see him become Reigns’ errand boy again.
Jimmy said Knight was lucky the Yeetman wasn’t there, because if he was, they wouldn’t be talking. Knight said that proved his point. The two of them would attack him two-on-one, and maybe Reigns would join them, just like they did to Fatu.
Jimmy said their family business had nothing to do with Knight, so he should tread carefully, or he would become their business.
Knight said Jimmy was the one he liked. He was ok with Jey. But he didn’t like Reigns then, and he didn’t like him now. Reigns always needed somebody’s help. If the family business became his business, he would make sure they went out of business. Knight told Jimmy to deliver that message to Reigns.
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Ethan Page interrupted a conversation between Pearce and Rey. Page didn’t like that Rey was trying to get an IC title match. Rusev jumped in next, wanting to know what was going on. Page said Pearce and Rey were conspiring against Rusev. Rusev believed him, so he wasn’t happy to hear this. Rey was more than happy to fight Rusev to earn an IC title match. Pearce made it official.
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90 minutes into Raw, we’ve had two matches amounting to about 22 minutes.
Seth Rollins vs. Montez Ford
After a break, Rollins hit a superplex into a falcon arrow for two. They traded counters until Rollins hit a Pedigree for two. With Ford down, Rollins tried to talk sense into him and convince Ford that he’s changed. Ford slapped him, so Rollins hit consecutive buckle bombs.
Rollins went for a third buckle bomb, but Ford countered and drove him out of the ring. Ford hit a running flip dive over the corner to the outside, followed by a frog splash in the ring for two.
Ford went for a 450 splash, but Rollins dodged it and hit a curb stomp. Rollins was exhausted, but fell into a cover for the pinfall win.
— After the match, Dawkins scampered out to the stage where Theory attacked him with a steel chair. Theory continued the attack until officials ran out. Pearce called him sick.
Match result: Seth Rollins defeated Montez Ford (12:35)
This match was fine, but a step down from what you might expect. Unlike the Evans’ match earlier, it didn’t feel like Ford deserved a better fate here, but that seemed to be the point.
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Backstage, Ford was steaming and wanted an update from Pearce on Dawkins. Rollins joined in and wanted an update, too. Ford finally agreed with Rollins that there were bigger things going on and bigger fish to fry. His brother was down, and he needed them. Rollins and Ford nodded at each other before Ford went into the trainer’s room to check on Dawkins.
Rollins told Pearce he wanted Breakker and wanted the match as soon as possible.
(Breakker wasn’t on the show tonight, and Paul is out with an injury, so it’s odd that they’re having so much trouble against one guy with a steel chair.)
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Clash in Italy (airing 2 pm ET/11 am PT):
- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther for the WWE Championship
- Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship
- Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
- Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat for the World Heavyweight Championship
- Becky Lynch (c) vs. Sol Ruca for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship
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Becky Lynch interview
Cathy Kelley interviewed Lynch backstage. Kelley said Sol Ruca was sidelined with injuries tonight, and it seemed like Lynch had the advantage for their upcoming match.
Lynch said some people got punched in the face and became the face of the industry, while others got punched in the face and got a wake-up call that they were in over their heads. Ruca was totally outmatched.
Some people might be impressed with her tricks and flips, but she hasn’t picked up a single pinfall victory since her debut. Ruca’s name was written in sand, but the tide was coming in. Lynch’s name was etched in stone and would be around forever. There was a difference between striving for greatness and standing across from it. Lynch welcomed her to the big time.
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Ethan Page joined commentary for this match.
Rey Mysterio vs. Rusev
They played cat-and-mouse until Rey set up for a 619, but Rusev popped off the middle rope and clobbered him with a back elbow. Rusev was in control, but Rey came back after a break with a low seated senton and Lionsault for two. Rey tried a springboard move, but Rusev caught him and hit a spinning side slam, followed by a Machka Kick for two.
Rusev tried chucking Rey through the ropes, but Rey countered by hitting a 619 to the gut. Rey went for a regular 619, but Rusev caught him. Rusev went for the Accolade, but Rey quickly slipped out and applied a schoolboy for the pinfall win. Page was displeased.
Rey is now the number one contender for the IC title, setting up a potential match against Penta.
— Rusev attacked Rey after the match, so Dragon Lee ran out to make the save. Page ran into the ring, but Dragon Lee fought him off and used a hurricanrana to drive him into Rusev. Dragon Lee wiped out Page with a flip dive while Rey hit Rusev with a 619. Dragon Lee hit Rusev with Operation Dragon and posed tall with Rey.
Match result: Rey Mysterio defeated Rusev (9:27)
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An irate Pearce told Theory he’d had enough and kicked him out of the building. Theory said it wasn’t enough after what happened to the rest of the Vision. Pearce told him again that he was done for the night. Heyman settled things down and walked Theory out of the building.
They walked past Alpha Academy as they left. Otis and Akira Tozawa weren’t impressed. Maxxine Dupri told them to cut Theory some slack. She said she’d catch up with them later, and she left.
(Seriously, what’s stopping Ford and Rollins from ambushing Theory right now?)
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Next week on Raw (airing at 2 pm ET/11 am PT):
- King and Queen of the Ring tournaments begin
As Knight referenced earlier, the tournament winners earn title shots.
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Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu contract signing
This was the second contract signing with these two men in the past four weeks.
Jacob Fatu entered first, and security filled the aisleway. Fatu signed the contract, then he chucked the leather chairs and table out of the ring at the security guards. Security swarmed into the ring, but Pearce settled them all down.
Roman Reigns entered. He signed the contract. Reigns told Pearce and security to leave them. Pearce thought it might be smart for security to remain. Reigns said Fatu made a blood oath. He can’t touch him until Italy. Reigns told them to leave now, so they did.
Reigns told Columbus to acknowledge him. They did. Reigns told Fatu this could have been simple. After Reigns beat him, Fatu could have acknowledged him, and they could have moved on to the next mission.
Fatu said hell no. Fatu wasn’t like everyone else. Reigns was indeed the reason their family was living the life that they were, that their family was living on top of the mountain. Reigns elevated the family and took them to the promised land. But he could only take them so far. It was time for a change. It was time for another destination.
Fatu smiled and asked Reigns whether he lived by the Bloodline’s code at Backlash, or if he bent the rules just to beat him. Fatu knew Reigns did what he had to do in that match, but in Tribal Combat, anything goes. Fatu would dog-walk Reigns’ bitch-ass. When Fatu took over all of this, everyone would face the consequences.
Reigns said he was a man of his word. If Fatu won, he would be head of the table. Fatu would lead, and Reigns would follow. But if Fatu couldn’t dog-walk him, Reigns would walk him like a dog. Reigns would domesticate him. Fatu would serve him, learn from him, and, in time, Fatu would love his Tribal Chief.
Fatu was on board with that. This was a win for him. Even if Reigns won, Fatu still had a job. Nothing changed there. But when Fatu won, everyone—including Reigns—would learn how to acknowledge him.
They shook hands and touched foreheads to make it official.
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I won’t go into it too in-depth here, but as mentioned above, this will be my final time covering WWE. I’ve been watching WWF/WWE basically my entire life. The quality of the product has been much worse than it is now many times over the past three-plus decades, but it’s become increasingly difficult to follow this company as a whole for a long list of reasons.
I’ve already stopped buying merchandise and attending shows. But continuing to cover the shows doesn’t feel worth the time and mental fatigue, especially with a full year of programming ahead culminating in a WrestleMania show that, as it stands now, represents much of what’s wrong with the company. There’s more to it than that, but I’ll leave it there.
I’m (probably) not disappearing entirely from this website, for those wondering. This also isn’t me encouraging anyone to stop watching WWE. Like what you like. But I’m done with it.
