Tag: Stephanie Vaquer

Two title matches added to WWE Survivor Series WarGames

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two new title matches are set for Survivor Series.

The open of Monday’s Raw saw new Intercontinental Champion John Cena come out for a promo but was immediately interrupted by former champion Dominik Mysterio, who was unhappy about his loss the previous week. He threw out the challenge for a rematch on his home turf: Survivor Series in San Diego. Cena agreed to the match, setting the stage for what will be his final premium live event match.

After some more back and forth, Cena wrestled his final match on Raw. He teamed with Sheamus and Rey Mysterio to defeat Dominik, Finn Balor, and JD McDonagh, scoring the win for his team with the AA.

Stephanie Vaquer will defend the Women’s World Championship against a newly-heel Nikki Bella, who last week attacked Vaquer from behind after initially making the save for her against Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. As Vaquer made her entrance on Monday, Bella again attacked her from behind. She cut a promo saying she didn’t return to WWE to sit at the sidelines and thanked Vaquer for reminding her who she is.

The updated lineup for Survivor Series:

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames (November 29)

  • Men’s WarGames match: CM Punk, Jey Uso, and Cody Rhodes vs. Logan Paul, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed
  • Women’s WarGames match: Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Asuka, and Kairi Sane
  • Intercontinental Championship: John Cena defends against Dominik Mysterio
  • Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer defends against Nikki Bella

Nikki Bella turns against Stephanie Vaquer on WWE Raw

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Shocking fans around the globe, Nikki Bella has turned against Stephanie Vaquer.

Toward the final hour of the November 10th episode of Raw in Boston, fans witnessed Nikki Bella’s shocking heel turn. Standing by Stephanie Vaquer during her match against Raquel Rodriguez, the post-match segment saw Bella brutally attack Vaquer and turn heel on live television.

After Bella saved La Primera from an attack by Roxanne Perez, she betrayed Vaquer and turned against the 32-year-old, shifting her focus to the Women’s World Championship. Bella had partnered up with Vaquer a few months ago as many wrestling fans expected the heel turn to come sooner or later.

Although retired from wrestling, Nikki Bella made her in-ring return earlier this year at Royal Rumble 2025 and has since then been an active part of the women’s roster.

Nikki Bella gets advice from Bryan Danielson

A few days ago, while speaking on the latest episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki Bella revealed that her WWE locker room peers think it’s cool that she gets advice from her brother-in-law, Bryan Danielson.

“Bryan (Danielson) and I already have good conversations, mainly about wrestling, but they’re good conversations. It was cute because at Raw yesterday, I was talking with some of the girls and we were talking about my match last week and I was like, ‘Yeah, and Bryan and blah, blah.’ And they’re like, ‘Oh my God, how cool. Like, so Bryan gives you advice?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, he gives me feedback.’”

While Bella is an active part of the WWE roster, Bryan Danielson is a former AEW in-ring wrestler currently performing commentary duties.

WWE Raw live results: New World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk appears

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: November 3, 2025
Location: Rio Ranch Event Center in Rio Ranch, NM 

The Big Takeaway —

The Vision are clearly coming for CM Punk, but it appears his first title defence as World Champion will be against Logan Paul. Paul laid out Punk with brass knuckles following the main event. 

The tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent begins next week in Boston. The first two matches will see Rusev against Damian Priest, and Shinsuke Nakamura against Sheamus. Two more matches will be announced on SmackDown. Announcing matches in parts will allow them to keep some names a mystery for now, but tonight’s announcement wasn’t the most exciting start.

Also, Rey Mysterio returned to confront Dominik Mysterio, and next week’s Raw will also feature two title matches. 

**********

Show Recap — 

New Mexico hosts Raw for the first time tonight, according to Joe Tessitore. 

CM Punk kicks off Raw

There was a recap of CM Punk beating Jey Uso to win the world title (including reaction shots of fans live-watching the event at home). 

Punk entered the arena with the World Heavyweight Championship belt on his shoulder, and the camera followed as he made his way through the stage. Punk posed with fans as he walked down the long aisleway toward the ring, where he soaked in the crowd reaction. 

Punk started with: “Is it great to be champ on a Monday night in the great state of New Mexico or what?!” Punk felt good to be there as champ, and he had a long list of people to thank for helping him get there. Fans chanted, “You deserve it.” 

The first person he wanted to thank was his smart, funny, intelligent, tough, and mean when she wants to be wife, AJ Lee. She stuck with him through the bad times so they could stand together, chests puffed out, in the good times. 

Second, he wanted to thank the fans. Some called them the WWE Universe, but to him, they were CM Punk fans. He doesn’t get there without them, and they should give themselves a hand. They chanted for Punk. 

The third person he wanted to thank was Jey Uso. Punk thanked him for the hard fight and said Jey was truly ‘main event.’ He wanted to remain friends, but he wouldn’t cry about it if they couldn’t be. When he returned, he said he didn’t come back to make friends, he came back to make money and be champion—and now he was. 

Punk didn’t know how much time he had left, and SummerSlam taught him he had to hold on to the strap as tight as he could. The good news was that there was no snake in the grass like Seth Rollins with MITB waiting to cash in. Punk then paused his promo to swing the belt around over his head to mock Rollins’ usual celebration. Punk warned Rollins he would put him back on the couch if he came after him. 

Punk knew the crown meant there was a target on his back. The locker room was filled with badass talent. He had to be the best in the world to keep the title. He knew Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed were coming for his gold. 

Punk wanted to be a fighting champion, and there were a lot of people he wanted to punch in the face, The Vision included. He wanted to test himself against the best in the business, including guys like AJ Styles. Unlike Styles, Dominik Mysterio didn’t deserve a shot, but Punk would still love to punch him in the face. 

Punk put over JD McDonagh (who he called an exceptional pro wrestler) and Finn Bálor, and said he’d love to have a banger with Sheamus. He also would love to face John Cena one more time. Punk ended with, “The champ is here.” 

Logan Paul interrupted. Punk interrupted his entrance because he didn’t want to hear from Paul. Punk suggested he go back to SmackDown and answer Ilja Dragunov’s open challenge. 

Paul said he was a Ferrari, while Punk was a used Honda Civic with 250,000 miles on it. Paul has already faced the best, and beat Styles at WrestleMania. 

Paul Heyman and the Vision interrupted. Heyman called Logan a bitch who should go to the back of the line, because the front of the line belonged to Reed and Breakker. Heyman warned the men in the ring and told them to leave, but they didn’t budge. Logan said he got to the ring first and should get the title shot. 

Breakker said Heyman bought everyone two weeks to live (by keeping them out of the battle royal). They had to sit in the back for two weeks after they dropped Rollins in the dirt. Breakker said Punk’s had his moment, but he wasn’t waiting anymore. Breakker warned them to get out of his ring before he whipped them like a dog. 

Punk knew a fight was coming, so he told Paul to fight with him or get out of the ring. Paul was about to leave, but Breakker shoved him on his ass. 

The Brons swarmed Punk and beat him down. Paul decided to help, but they beat him up too, and Reed laid him out with a Tsunami. That allowed Punk enough time to recover, so he attacked the Brons with a chair, and they bailed.

(The show was 26 minutes old by the time this ended.) 

******** 

Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer & Nikki Bella vs. Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez 

Judgment Day got the heat over Bella using a distraction during a break. Perez crunched Bella with a springboard moonsault, but Bella fought off Rodriguez moments later and hit a tornado DDT before making a hot tag to Vaquer. 

Vaquer ran wild on Rodriguez, but couldn’t hit SVB because Rodriguez was too big. Vaquer hit a flying crossbody instead for two. Vaquer gave Perez the Devil’s Kiss to the delight of the crowd. Bella tagged in and hit Perez with “Rack Attack 2.0,” but Rodriguez broke up the cover (barely). 

Vaquer sent Rodriguez over the top and tried Devil’s Kiss on the apron, but Rodriguez blocked it and slammed her face-first on the apron. 

Bella tried a cradle, but Perez shoved her into the ropes. Rodriguez gave her a cheap shot (with the referee’s back turned), and Perez followed with Pop Rox for the pinfall win. 

That’s two straight pinfall wins over Nikki Bella for Roxanne Perez. 

Match result: Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez defeated Nikki Bella & Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer (12:47)

******** 

They aired John Cena’s announcement regarding the tournament to determine his final opponent. Adam Pearce was backstage with a tumbler of balls, drawing names for the tournament. That’s one way to determine the final opponent for one of the company’s all-time greats. 

Jey Uso approached Punk backstage. Punk wondered if he was talking to Jey Uso or little Roman. Jey said he was talking to Main Event Jey Uso. Jey warned Punk they wouldn’t stop coming after him as long as he was champion and offered to help him against The Vision tonight. Punk gladly accepted. 

(It seems like Jey is getting his usual babyface reaction so far. If anyone is booing, it’s hard to hear because people are also Yeeting.) 

******** 

Penta vs. El Grande Americano (w/ Bravo & Rayo Americano)

Penta went for a Canadian Destroyer on the apron, but El Grande blocked it and dropkicked him off the apron. El Grande tied Penta’s mask to the bottom rope during a break, which always seems to happen to Penta (and always during the break). 

Penta made his comeback as soon as they returned from break, but El Grande cut him off with a Finlay Roll. Penta came back with kicks, a tornado DDT, and a big flip dive. (The crowd chanted, “Holy sh-t” at the big dive.) 

Bravo tried to interfere, so the referee tossed him from ringside. As she argued with Bravo, Rayo gave El Grande the metal plate to put in his mask. Penta avoided the loaded headbutt and went to the top. Rayo tried to interfere, so the ref tossed him too. 

Penta decided to give Rayo a dive before he could leave. El Grande went for a running headbutt, but Penta superkicked him. (It was a silly but amusing visual because of how far away Penta was from actually getting headbutted.) 

Penta followed with a Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win. 

— Rayo and Bravo tried to attack Penta, but he escaped. 

Match result: Penta defeated El Grande Americano (10:26) 

********

There was a pre-taped interview by Asuka and Kairi Sane. They issued a warning to Bayey and Lyra Valkyria. Asuka said her kindness would not last forever, and they were coming for the tag titles. 

Rusev had an interview during a break. He complained about losing to Dom and Penta before stating he wanted to win the tournament and face John Cena. 

********

Dominik Mysterio segment, Rey Mysterio returns 

Dom called himself the king of the luchadors. He proved he was the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time and the greatest AAA Mega Champion of all time. 

Rey Mysterio interrupted to a big reaction and “Holy sh-t,” chants. The announcers discussed rumours that Rey had been cleared. Rey said Dom crossed the line when he called himself king of the luchadors. (Some fans chanted, “Dirty Dom,” so others booed the chant because Rey was standing right there.)  

Rey mentioned all-time greats El Santo, Blue Demon, and Eddie Guerrero. Dom responded, “You keep my father’s name out of your mouth,” which also got a huge pop. Dom said he was better than all of those men, including Guerrero. Dom said he was also better than Rey. 

Rey said Dom could disrespect him if he wanted to, but he wouldn’t let Dom disrespect lucha libre. The crowd chanted, “Whoop his ass.” 

Dom said he made the Mysterio name relevant. Dom has already surpassed everything Rey has ever done and threatened to kick his ass unless he got out of the ring. 

Rey agreed to leave the ring but wanted Dom to understand three things: As long as Rey was around, Dom would never be king of the luchadors; this would never be Dom’s ring; and Dom would never be the greatest Mysterio. 

Dom tried a cheap shot, but Rey saw it coming and hit him with a 619. Rey went up for a splash, but Dom bailed. 

This was a fun segment, and the crowd was hot for it. 

********

Bayley and Valkyria met backstage. They weren’t exactly on the same page, but Bayley convinced Valkyria that everything was good between them. They did their special handshake, but Valkyria didn’t know what to make of this. 

Becky Lynch segment 

As the announcers were talking, Becky Lynch suddenly appeared, and she climbed on the announce table. She said she has been going through a lot. Her hot husband was laid up at home. The Vision ruined everything. A crooked referee seems hellbent on holding her down, and Pearce sent her (Lynch) home to cool down—even though she was the definition of cool. 

Lynch told the crowd that the only thing cool to come out of New Mexico was a TV show about how much meth they did. Maxxine Dupri wasn’t cool either. Dupri was lucky to survive a match against her, but now she wouldn’t shut up about it because the idiot fans made her feel like she belonged. (I think a young fan yelled, “We’re not idiots!”) 

Lynch called herself the greatest of all time. A match against her was not a test Dupri could cram for. Dupri would make one wrong move in their next match, and it would be her last. 

As Lynch marched to the back, she came face-to-face with Asuka as she entered with Sane for their match. 

******** 

Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

Asuka and Sane had the heat on Valkyria until she gave Sane a gut-wrench powerbomb. Bayley tagged in and ran wild on Asuka, hitting a diving elbow drop to the back of her neck for two. Sane cut off Bayley after making a blind tag, but Bayley responded with a Bayley-to-belly for two. 

Bayley gave Sane a sunset flip powerbomb into the turnbuckle, and Valkyria followed with a diving leg drop for a nearfall. (Sane barely kicked out before three.) Sane gave Valkyria a double footstomp (as Valkyria held herself up using the ropes), but Bayley broke up the cover. 

Valkyria and Bayley hit Sane with a backbreaker/elbow drop combo, but Asuka broke up the cover. Bayley broke up a double-team attempt by Asuka and Sane, so Asuka shoved Valkyria into Bayley, knocking her off the apron. 

Valkyria tried a move off the ropes, but Asuka caught her in the Asuka Lock, and Valkyria tapped out. 

— Asuka and Sane cornered Valkyria after the match, but Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair ran out (to Bliss’ music) to chase them away. Asuka and Sane were all smiles as Bliss and Charlotte posed with their title belts. 

Match result: Asuka & Kairi Sane defeated Lyra Valkyria & Bayley (13:28) 

********

Perez and Rodriguez entered the Judgment Day locker room with some good news: Rodriguez was getting a world title shot against Vaquer. Bálor and McDonagh were happy to hear it. 

Dom barged in, upset about what happened with Rey earlier. Dom wondered why they didn’t help him. Bálor said they weren’t invited to his little celebration. Bálor told Dom that he and McDonagh were about to win back the tag titles. After they left, Perez talked Dom into being at ringside for their match. 

World Tag Team Championship match: AJ Styles & Dragon Lee (c) vs. Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh

Judgment Day got the heat right away by attacking the champs as soon as the bell rang. Dragon Lee gave Bálor a sit-out powerbomb and tagged in Styles, who laid out both guys with a slingshot dive. 

A double-down spot led to Dom sauntering out during a break, holding a shillelagh. Styles gave McDonagh a Pelé kick as they returned from break. Dragon Lee tagged in and went on offence until Bálor cut him off with a slingblade and running dropkick. Dragon avoided the Coup de Grace and applied a cradle for two. 

Styles took a swipe at Dom, so Dom jumped on the apron to distract the referee. McDonagh held down Styles while Bálor went for a Coup de Grace, but Styles moved and Bálor hit McDonagh with the stomp by mistake. Styles hit McDonagh with a Phenomenal forearm, but Bálor broke up the cover. 

Bálor told Dom to hit Styles with the IC title belt. Dom was about to do it, but the referee saw him. Sheamus showed up and attacked Dom. The ref was distracted again, this time arguing with Sheamus, so Bálor hit Styles with the shillelagh. McDonagh crawled into a cover, but Dragon Lee broke it up. 

Dragon Lee wiped out Bálor with a dive, and Styles gave McDonagh a Styles Clash for the pinfall win. 

Match result: AJ Styles & Dragon Lee defeated JD McDonagh & Finn Bálor to retain the World Tag Team Championships (10:30) 

*********

Bella apologized to Vaquer for tonight’s loss, and as a result, Vaquer having to defend her title against Rodriguez. Vaquer told her not to worry about it. Bella was doubting herself because she wasn’t sure she could hang with the rest of them anymore. Vaquer told Bella to be herself because she was one of the greats who paved the way for this division. That meant a lot to Bella, who wished her luck next week. 

********

Heyman met with Jey in his locker room. Heyman wondered why Jey would team with Punk, who prevented him from becoming champion. Jey appreciated that Punk faced him man-to-man with no tricks. Heyman was about to mention Roman Reigns, but Jey said he didn’t care what Reigns, Jimmy Uso, or anyone else thought about him. 

Heyman warned him that the leash was off with the Brons after he asked them to stay out of it two weeks ago. The Vision would go after anyone who didn’t conform. However, that didn’t apply to Jey because Jey had a vision of his own. Heyman wished him luck. 

********

John Cena tournament bracket announcement (part one) 

Pearce announced the first two matches in the first round of The Last is Now tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent (chosen by “random” draw): 

  • Rusev vs. Damian Priest 
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus 

Both matches will happen on Raw next week, and Cena will be in attendance. Nick Aldis will announce two more matches on SmackDown. 

Also on Raw next week: 

  • Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s World Championship 
  • Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane for the Women’s Tag Team Championships 

******** 

World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed (w/ Paul Heyman)

During a break, Punk hit a clothesline off the ropes, but Breakker went down awkwardly. Breakker likely missed the planned spot because Punk shook his head when Bron went down. Punk said something to the ref, and they went back to the spot. Bron countered Punk’s Irish whip, so Punk booted Bron. As the ref checked on Bron, Reed decked Punk to get the heat. 

The Brons worked over Punk as fans chanted for Jey Uso. The Brons gave Punk a Shatter Machine, but Jey broke up the cover. Jey (who was over as a babyface) got the hot tag and he hit Reed with strikes, enziguris, a running hip attack and a spear, but Breakker broke up the cover. Punk wiped out Breakker with a dive, and Jey hit Reed with a suicide dive. 

The four men awkwardly brawled outside the ring as the referee counted to ten for a double count-out. The crowd booed. 

— The babyfaces were getting the better of the brawl until Breakker speared Jey. Reed knocked down Punk, and Breakker sent him over the barricade. Reed held up Jey in the ring so Breakker could hit another spear, and Reed followed with a Tsunami. 

Punk chased the Brons from the ring with a chair, but the Brons grabbed chairs of their own. 

Punk stood tall against the Brons as Logan Paul ran out to seemingly even the odds with brass knuckles in hand, but he turned around and knocked out Punk. Heyman held back the Brons from going after Paul, who handed the knux to Heyman as the crowd chanted, “F—k you, Logan.” 

Match result: World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed ended in a double count-out (10:17)

I think this match is an example of why the company isn’t quite ready to put a world title on Bron Breakker. I don’t agree with it necessarily, but the missed spot with Punk and a few other awkward moments during the match and post-match are hard to ignore. More experience (house shows) would’ve helped him work that out by now, so we’ll have to wait a little longer, as Logan Paul is up next for Punk. 

Paul was an early title challenger for both Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes during their reigns, so he’ll slide in again and be an easy (and obvious) first successful title defence for Punk whenever it happens.

Stephanie Vaquer shares statement following WWE Supershow return to Japan

Posted on by Ian Carey

Stephanie Vaquer has posted a statement following her return to Japan.

Vaquer took part in WWE’s back-to-back shows in Tokyo at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on Thursday and Friday, defending her Women’s World title each night. She released a statement on Sunday, thanking Japan for “being part of my story, my strength, and my heart.”

Vaquer wrote:

“Kintsugi is the Japanese belief that teaches that when you break, you can become whole again by embracing your scars—showing that what is repaired is more valuable, because it is unique and stronger. Returning to Japan shakes my soul, because here I was once a rookie who broke while trying to survive through the language, the culture, and the relentless trainings… But here I also learned to rebuild myself, to transform my fractures into strength. I have returned once more, but this time as the WWE Women’s World Champion, with my scars shining like gold… and with the Gold around my waist. Thank you, Japan, for being part of my story, my strength, and my heart.”

Vaquer first toured Japan with Stardom in the summer of 2018. She returned to perform for Ice Ribbon, WAVE, and other promotions in 2022. Before WWE’s shows in Tokyo this weekend, Vaquer’s last match in Japan was for Stardom on March 10, 2024, when she defeated Giulia for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship at Korakuen Hall. Vaquer then dropped the title to Mercedes Mone that June at Forbidden Door.

Vaquer’s post is below:

WWE Raw live results: The fallout from Crown Jewel

Posted on by Steve Khan

WWE will hold one final event in Perth, Australia, before leaving town with Monday’s early edition of WWE Raw — the fallout edition from Saturday’s Crown Jewel PLE.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer both won their respective bouts Saturday to each win the Crown Jewel title. Both are expected on the show to celebrate their victories.

WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio will defend against Penta who is still looking for his first WWE title. Penta, Dragon Lee & AJ Styles were victorious over Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh in a trios match last week to set it up.

The issues involving Bayley, Lyra Valkyria, Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez continue as well with Bayley and Valkyria teaming against Judgment Day’s Rodriguez and Perez.

Join us for live coverage beginning at 8 AM Eastern.

**********

  • Date: October 13, 2025
  • Location: RAC Arena in Perth, Australia

The Big Takeaway —

Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed betrayed Seth Rollins in a big show-closing angle.

**********

Show Recap — 

(I watched One Battle After Another over the weekend, and there’s a minor character without a speaking role who wears an Eddie Guerrero ‘Latino Heat’ t-shirt. The character isn’t named, but is referred to as ‘Latino Heat’ by another character. Anyway, time for morning Raw.)

Following a recap of Crown Jewel, CM Punk, LA Knight, Jey Uso, and Rhea Ripley were shown arriving. 

Michael Cole announced a sold-out crowd of 13,737 (54 more people than Crown Jewel, supposedly). 

Seth Rollins and The Vision open Raw

The Vision entered (without Becky Lynch). Rollins wore the giant Crown Jewel title belt around his waist. The crowd sang Rollins’ song as he entered and barked for Bron Breakker. It was 8:09 am ET by the time Rollins spoke. 

Rollins did his usual spiel, and the crowd sang along. The fans have been calling him a ‘wanker’ for days, so he referred to the fans as wankers, and they cheered. 

Rollins put over Paul Heyman and called himself a blessed man for being in his presence. Rollins hugged him. Fans chanted, “Kiss,” so Rollins kissed Heyman’s forehead, and they all cheered. 

Rollins put over Breakker before moving on to Bronson Reed. Reed got a big reaction, and the crowd sang his name. Rollins said Reed destroyed and embarrassed Roman Reigns and was the new Tribal Chief. 

Rollins called himself the greatest World Heavyweight Champion of all time. People like to say there are levels to this game, but no one was on his level. Unlike all the other greats lately, Rollins hasn’t needed any help to gain his success. (The crowd chanted “Bullsh-t.”) 

Rollins said Reigns needed The Shield and The Bloodline. Cody Rhodes needed him to beat Reigns. Rollins beat CM Punk and Reigns at WrestleMania on his own. He won the world title on his own, and he trounced Rhodes on his own. Rollins didn’t need Breakker, Reed, or Heyman. He has chosen them, and they have chosen him. 

Rollins ended with his usual line, and fireworks went off as he posed with his title belt. 

********

Rusev confronted Penta backstage. Rusev didn’t like that Penta was getting an IC title shot ahead of him against baby boy Dom. It was fine, though, because Rusev spoke to Adam Pearce, and he would get the winner of tonight’s match. 

Rusev told Penta he hasn’t forgotten about getting kicked last week. Penta called him a pendejo and left. (Dom started walking in Rusev’s direction in the background, but turned around and slunk away upon seeing him.) 

Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta 

There were lots of “Dirty Dom” chants throughout the match. Penta went right after Dom instead of doing his usual pose. There was a great spot where Dom charged at Penta outside the ring, but Penta gave him a backbody drop onto the announce table, and Dom went flying. 

They went to break one minute into this title match. (I mention the breaks every week because it’s so odd that, if this were real, you would schedule a match to start knowing you need to go to break a minute or two later.) 

Penta remained in full control through the break and hit a springboard crossbody for two. Dom drove Penta into the ring post and followed with a suicide dive tornado DDT. Dom drove Penta into the barricade, and Penta almost landed in the front row onto some children (they managed to avoid getting hit). Dom tried to take a count-out win, but Penta got back in the ring. 

(They went to a second commercial break just eight minutes into the match. So the first eleven minutes of the match had five minutes of commercials.) 

Dom remained in control during the break while doing a lot of posing. He did Eddie’s springboard senton, and the crowd called for another. He did try another, but Penta moved (as they returned from break), and hit a flying crossbody/splash off the ring post to the outside. 

Dom went for three amigos, but Penta blocked it and hit the move instead. The crowd lightly booed because they wanted Dom to do it. Dom blocked the third suplex and hit one of his own. Fans chanted for Eddie. 

Penta dodged a 619 and hit a Penta Driver for a nearfall. Penta went for a Canadian Destroyer, but Dom countered into a Michinoku Driver for two. 

Rusev marched out, so Penta wiped him out with a dive before he could get involved. Dom used the distraction to grab the little ring bell hammer. Dom also slid his title belt into the ring to distract the referee. As the ref got rid of the belt, Dom hit Penta in the knee (over his knee pads) with the hammer. 

Dom followed with a 619 and a frog splash for the pinfall win. The crowd was happy. 

Match result: Dominik Mysterio defeated Penta to retain the Intercontinental Championship (15:38)

This was a good TV match, but nothing outstanding. It helped that the crowd was very into Dom. It was obvious since last week that the match wouldn’t end until Rusev got involved, and that’s what happened. 

I believe this is the third time that Dom has successfully defended the IC title against Penta. Penta has lost four straight matches to Dom overall. 

********

Jackie Redmond interviewed LA Knight. Redmond said there would be a triple threat tonight to become the number one contender for the world title. Knight said he would pin CM Punk or Jey Uso, and this match might as well be for the title, because he would go on to beat Rollins again. 

Punk interrupted. Punk said Knight would never pin him or become champion. They argued a bit more, and Knight got the last word before leaving. Punk called him an idiot after he left. 

********

Asuka confronted Kairi Sane. Asuka was pissed about losing at Crown Jewel. Sane apologized and said she would fix it. Asuka told Sane she would fight Ripley tonight and remind everyone that she (Asuka) was in charge. 

Asuka was about to leave, but Sane peeled her hair back to reveal a bruise on her forehead (the crowd gasped). Sane said it happened because she tried to protect Asuka. Asuka didn’t care, and she slapped Sane (which got a big reaction). 

This was good. 

******** 

Alexander Volkanovski and Jack Della Maddalena were in the front row. 

Rhea Ripley (w/ IYO SKY) vs. Kairi Sane (w/ Asuka)

Asuka caused a distraction, of course, so Ripley confronted her outside the ring. Sky attacked Asuka, so Sane wiped out Sky. Asuka laid out Sky as they went to break. Sane held control over Ripley through the break, and there were “F—k her up, Rhea” chants (which were censored). They also called Asuka a wanker.

Ripley came back with clotheslines, a thrust kick, and a running boot for two. There was a great shot in the replay of Sky smiling as Ripley kicked Sane in the face. Sane dodged a charge, and Ripley ran into the ring post. Sane followed with an Insane Elbow off the ropes to a standing Ripley outside the ring (which looked great). 

Sane went for an ill-advised spear, but Ripley simply caught her and hit a Razor’s Edge. Ripley followed with a running kick for two. A battle on the ropes led to Sane hitting a double foot stomp for two. Sane flew off the top rope, but Ripley caught her out of mid-air and hit an electric chair facebuster. 

Asuka tried another distraction, but Sky got rid of her. Sane tried a rollup for two, and Ripley followed with a Rip-tide for the pinfall win. This was a pretty good match. 

— Asuka attacked Sky after the match, so Ripley attacked Asuka. Ripley set up Asuka for a Rip-tide on the table, but Sane hit Ripley from behind with a kendo stick. Asuka gave Ripley a DDT onto the table. Asuka posed with Sane over Ripley’s prone body. Officials checked on Ripley during a break, and Sky helped her to the back. 

Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Kairi Sane (15:58)

******** 

Cathy Kelley interviewed Rusev during a break. Rusev said Penta got what he deserved. Rusev was coming for Dom’s belt, and nobody would stop him. (I’m thinking somebody will stop him.) 

Jimmy Uso met with Jey backstage. Jimmy couldn’t believe they were getting blamed for Roman’s loss. Jey said they should start listening to Reigns and start looking after themselves. Jey appreciated Jimmy’s help, but he had to focus on tonight’s triple threat. Jey was about to say something, but Jimmy cut him off. Jimmy knew Jey thought he couldn’t handle Bronson Reed, but Jimmy told him, “You handle your business, and I’ll handle mine.” The crowd cheered Jimmy standing up to Jey here. 

Bronson Reed vs. Jimmy Uso 

Jimmy’s ribs were taped after getting speared through the barricade on Saturday. He attacked Reed as soon as he entered the ring, but Reed immediately punched him in the ribs to take over. Reed had complete control through an early commercial break until Jey dodged a senton. 

Jimmy was too weak to hit a Samoan drop, so he instead hit an enziguri and a running hip attack for two. Jimmy followed with Whisper in the Wind for two. Jimmy tried a Samoan drop, but collapsed with Reed landing on top of him. Reed followed with consecutive sentons and a Tsunami for the pinfall win.

— Breakker greeted Reed in the aisle before spearing Jimmy in the ring. Reed held up Jimmy, and Breakker speared him again. 

Breakker was about to spear Jimmy through the barricade, but Jey ran out to make the save. Jey managed to clear the ring, but ate a corner splash by Reed in the process. (They mistimed the spot, so Reed actually hit Jey’s shoulder, but Jey sold his mid-section because that was the plan.) 

Jimmy thanked Jey for the help, but they were not on the same page.  

Match result: Bronson Reed defeated Jimmy Uso (7:39) 

******** 

Lyra Valkyria and Bayley met in Gorilla. Valkyria told Bayley they were teaming tonight, but it would only be a one-time thing. The delusional Bayley thought she was kidding and excitedly went through the curtain. 

Lyra Valkyria & Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez

Valkyria and Bayley worked well as a team early on and did a bunch of double-team spots. It was one spot too many, because Bayley flung Valkyria into Rodriguez (outside the ring), but Rodriguez caught her and gave her a fallaway slam into Bayley. 

Judgment Day had control of Bayley through a break until she hit Perez with a Bayley-to-belly and made the hot tag to Valkyria the moment they returned from break. Judgment Day cut off her comeback attempt, and Perez brought Bayley off the top rope with a hurricanrana. Judgment Day continued to dominate Bayley, and Perez hit her with a springboard moonsault for two. 

Valkyria checked on Bayley and cleared the ring of the heels in the process. Valkyria slapped Bayley to fire her up, and that caused Bayley to snap into a different personality. 

Bayley wiped out Perez and Rodriguez with a suicide dive. She slammed Rodriguez into the ring post and clotheslined her over the barricade. She hit Perez with a flying elbow drop in the ring and followed with a Rose Plant for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Bayley & Lyra Valkyria defeated Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez (11:10) 

********

Backstage, Rollins told Heyman he could feel something special coming on the horizon. Rollins was proud of the Brons and told them this was the most incredible weekend of his professional life. 

The birth of his child, marrying his wife, and seeing how much the Brons have grown in the past six months have been the proudest moments of his life. This was the mountain top. He told them to breathe it in. They were also on the verge of taking the next step, and no one could knock him off the mountain top. 

*******

During a break, there was a replay of Maxxine Dupri beating Becky Lynch via count-out last week. Kelley interviewed Dupri in the crowd, and Dupri thanked the fans for their support. She announced that she would be facing Lynch for the Women’s IC title next week in her hometown of Sacramento. 

********

AJ Styles met with Pearce. Styles called Crown Jewel an incredible night, despite the loss. He called John Cena a legend. Pearce thanked him for an incredible moment. 

Dom interrupted because he wanted some credit. (I forgot to mention it earlier, but Dom has a new neck tattoo.) Dom also wasn’t happy about having to defend his IC title against Rusev. 

Styles talked Pearce into giving him and Dragon Lee a tag title match against Judgment Day. Dom realized he messed up by getting involved here. Dom left to inform Judgment Day of the title match. 

******** 

Next week on Raw: 

  • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship 
  • Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Rusev for the Intercontinental Championship 
  • Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh vs. AJ Styles & Dragon Lee for the World Tag Team Championships 

********

Stephanie Vaquer segment 

Redmond interviewed Vaquer by the stage. Vaquer felt blessed after winning the Crown Jewel champion, and she was the first woman in company history to win four titles in one year. 

Rodriguez and Perez interrupted. Perez was pissed because she thought she should be the world champion, not Vaquer. Perez was the last person to beat Iyo Sky, and it should have been her wrestling for the title at Wrestlepalooza. Vaquer told her to stop crying and do something about it. Perez said she would—on her own time. 

*******

Cole thanked the Perth fans and announced a 3-day combined attendance of 40,503 (SmackDown, Crown Jewel and Raw). 

Triple threat number one contender’s match: CM Punk vs. LA Knight vs. Jey Uso

(There was a big angle at the end.) 

Punk entered to a huge reaction. The crowd continued to sing his song after it was cut, and Punk was happy. 

Jey quickly cut off Punk with a superkick, but the crowd continued to chant for Punk. Knight went after Punk outside the ring, and Jey wiped him out with a dive. They went to break 90 seconds into this high-stakes match. 

Knight and Jey took out Punk again during a break before going at it in the ring. Back from break, Punk knocked down men with a dive off the top. Punk did his usual comeback spots and took down both men with a combo bulldog/clothesline before hitting Knight with a flying elbow drop. 

Knight avoided a GTS, gave Punk an inverted DDT and gave Jey a regular DDT. Knight hit both men with a diving elbow drop (which didn’t look great), but they each kicked out of pinning attempts. They went to break again, and like the opening match, this match had five minutes worth of commercials in the first eleven minutes. 

After the break, Jey gave Punk a superkick and followed with an Uso Splash on Knight for a nearfall. Knight gave Punk a BFT, but Jey broke up the cover and shoved Knight into the ring steps. 

With Punk still down in the ring, Jey went for an Uso splash, but Punk got his knees up. Punk followed with a GTS for the pinfall win. 

— The Vision entered as Punk celebrated. Breakker sprinted down to ringside and speared both Jey and Knight. 

The Brons swarmed Punk in the ring. Breakker speared Punk, and Reed hit a Tsunami. Rollins stood over Punk and told him he would never be champion. They chucked Punk out of the ring. The Vision posed, but notably, Breakker had his back turned in the corner of the ring. 

It seemed like the show was about to end, but Bron Breakker turned around and speared Seth Rollins. The crowd exploded. 

Breakker got in Reed’s face and told him to make a choice. Reed didn’t waste much time. He slid Rollins to the corner and hit him with a Tsunami. 

Heyman checked on Rollins and told them to stop. Breakker pulled Heyman to his feet. Breakker grabbed Rollins’ world title belt. Heyman stood between Breakker and Reed and raised their hands (the crowd popped). So all three men are together. 

Match result: CM Punk defeated Jey Uso and LA Knight to become number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship (13:30)

The timing of this angle is interesting, considering Punk just became the number one contender. The focus immediately shifted to Bron and Bronson. I wonder if this was always the plan, or if they sped things up with the show being in a lull lately (or if Rollins is hurt). I am glad they pulled the trigger with Breakker in particular, because I did not want a full year or two of him standing by Rollins’ side knowing the turn was coming.

WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Champion crowned

Posted on by Ian Carey

The 2025 winner of the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship has been decided.

Stephanie Vaquer defeated Tiffany Stratton today in Perth, Australia to win the title. The finish saw Stratton miss a Prettiest Moonsault Ever, followed by Vaquer hitting a top-rope corkscrew splash for the win.

Following her victory, Paul “Triple H” Levesque presented Vaquer with the Crown Jewel Championship ring and wrapped the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship belt around her waist.

Jackie Redmond interviewed Vaquer after the match. She was visibly emotional as the crowd chanted, “You deserve it.”

“Today we made history together,” Vaquer told the live crowd. “This is a beautiful championship. This represents all the motivation, support, and love you all have given me.”

“You believe in me. Now I believe in me.”

The win comes less than a month after Vaquer became the Women’s World Champion by defeating IYO SKY for the vacant title at Wrestlepalooza.

Last year, Liv Morgan became the inaugural Women’s Crown Jewel Champion when she defeated Nia Jax in Riyadh at Crown Jewel 2024. Morgan has been out of action since suffering a shoulder injury on the June 16 episode of Raw. She underwent surgery for the injury later that month.

WWE Crown Jewel live results: John Cena vs. AJ Styles

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: October 11, 2025
Location: RAC Arena in Perth, Australia

**********

Show Recap — 

COUNTDOWN SHOW —

There was a video package narrated by Rhea Ripley that was essentially all about how loud the international crowds are. 

Michael Cole, Big E, and Wade Barrett hosted the first hour of the pre-show. They aired part one of the video package for Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes (part two aired later). Jackie Redmond and Cathy Kelley each analyzed the match.

They spoke about Ripley, who happens to be celebrating a birthday today. 

The pre-show is two hours long, and 25 minutes into it, they’re killing time by showing a long clip of Big E on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast.

There was a video package of John Cena’s 2025 so far. They confirmed his final dates are in Boston, New York City, San Diego and Washington D.C. They also spoke about AJ Styles’ final year. 

Cole mentioned that the inaugural Crown Jewel championships were crowned in Saudi Arabia, and the fans behind him booed.

There was a video package for Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton. 

Redmond spoke with Ripley earlier this week about returning to Australia.

Chelsea Green and Peter Rosenberg tried local cuisine around Perth. 

A video showed men in black suits transporting the Crown Jewel championship belts from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Perth, Australia. 

Rosenberg and Redmond replaced Barrett and Cole on the panel. 

A video package of Ripley showed her as a young fan who got an early start to her career. When they spoke about her growing up as a fan, the clip they decided to show was of none other than Triple H (beating up Ric Flair). 

Grayson Waller showed up to the panel to put over Ripley, Bronson Reed, and The New Day (knowing Big E was sitting right there), and he drank beer out of his shoe. 

Kelley interviewed Paul Levesque. He spoke about the Perth crowd and tonight’s big matches. (Unlike in Paris, I’m glad he spoke more about the show itself instead of how loud the fans would be.) 

There was another feature on Ripley. She spoke about her early days in WWE. She didn’t have any tattoos when she tried out because she was afraid she wouldn’t get hired. William Regal warned the class they wouldn’t hear from the company for a while, but Ripley got a call to come in four days later. She didn’t wear much makeup in those days because she hated wearing it. She was told early in NXT that if she got any tattoos, she had to ensure they were covered up, so she made sure her new gear included pants. She impressed everyone, including Triple H, with her match against Iyo Sky at the second Mae Young Classic, and that led to her being sent to NXT UK.

A lot of the pre-taped stuff assumes Reed will be a crowd favourite tonight, but as the panellists have acknowledged several times, Roman Reigns is still the favourite. 

Kelley interviewed AJ Styles, who confirmed his retirement in 2026 on yesterday’s kick-off show. Styles said tonight’s match against John Cena would be emotional and special. He looked forward to beating up Cena.

Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed will open tonight’s show. 

Sophie Foster sang the American national anthem. The Australian fans booed.  

They loudly cheered and sang the Australian anthem that followed. 

CROWN JEWEL PERTH —

Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman, Cody Rhodes, Stephanie Vaquer, Tiffany Stratton, AJ Styles, Asuka and Kairi Sane, and Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky were shown arriving earlier today. 

Rhea Ripley narrated the intro video for today’s show. (The same video aired on the pre-show.) Oddly, the intro for this show was about the loud international fans they’ve had in recent years, and encouraging the same from tonight’s fans. The video didn’t include anything about tonight’s card or feuds. 

Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers. 

Cole announced a sold-out crowd of 13,683. It’s quite a visual. The majority of fans are wearing yellow John Cena shirts. It almost looks like a playoff NHL or NBA game where the entire crowd is wearing one colour. (You’d think these were the only shirts that were available, or they were given away.)

Australian Street Fight: Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed (w/ Paul Heyman) 

Despite Reed being Australian, Reigns was easily the crowd favourite. There was even an early, “F—k him up, Roman” chant. 

Reigns was all over Reed for the first six minutes. He chucked a rugby ball at Paul Heyman and clobbered Reed with a cricket bat. Reigns grabbed a mic and told the fans to acknowledge him if they wanted tables. Reigns grabbed a table, but Reed attacked him from behind and slid the table back under the ring. The fans called him a wanker. 

Reed instead attacked Reigns with the steel steps and a steel chair. Reed opened a steel chair and placed it upright, but Reigns grabbed him and put him through it with a Samoan drop. Reigns followed with clotheslines, but Reed blocked a Superman punch and hit a Jagged Edge (DVD) for two. 

Reed attacked Reigns with a stop sign, and the fans chanted, “Read the sign.” Reed instead hit a uranage onto the sign for two. Reed missed a senton and landed on the sign. Reed also missed a corner charge and went face-first into a chair wedge between the ropes. Reigns followed with a Superman punch for two. 

Reigns set up for a spear outside the ring, but you could tell something was about to happen because of how slowly he ran. Bron Breakker appeared and speared Reigns. The Brons gave Reigns a Shield powerbomb through the announce table. 

The crowd chanted “Yeet,” which brought out Jimmy and Jey Uso (to Jey’s music). They superkicked Breakker and teed off on Reed. The Usos handed out running hip attacks and gave Breakker a 1-D. 

The Brons fought off The Usos on their own without any nefarious means. Reed shoved Jimmy off the top rope, and Breakker gave Jey a press slam into a gut buster. Breakker speared Jimmy through the barricade. 

Reed was about to give Jey a Tsunami, but Reigns hit him with consecutive Superman punches. Reigns also punched Breakker off the apron. 

Reigns and Reed fought for position near a corner announce table. After Reigns avoided a DVD, Jey went to spear Reed—but Reed moved and Jey speared Reigns through the table by mistake. 

Breakker speared Jey, and Reed hit Reigns with a Tsunami for the pinfall win. 

— Reigns admonished Jimmy and Jey for getting involved. He told them, “The whole world thinks I can’t do sh-t on my own. I told you I’m going to do this on my own.” (Referring to the help he constantly gets from the Bloodline.) 

Reigns told the Usos that he loved them. “I love you, but I don’t wanna see y’all ’til Christmas.” Reigns left as the fans chanted, “Someone’s in trouble.” 

Jimmy and Jey argued in the ring until Jey left on his own. 

Match result: Bronson Reed defeated Roman Reigns (21:05)

This was good for what it was. They kept it simple as far as street fights go and did all they needed to for this crowd. 

They played this up like a huge win for Reed, and it felt like it. He’s the first person to pin Reigns in a single match besides Cody Rhodes in a long time. He did get inadvertent help from Jey Uso, but he was also outnumbered and still won. 

The angle with Reigns and the Usos was good if you aren’t sick of Bloodline drama. 

********

There was a video package for the upcoming match and a commercial break. (This pattern continued through the rest of the show.)

Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer vs. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship 

This was a first-time ever match. Vaquer has the most wins in WWE in 2025, while Stratton came into the match undefeated this year. 

They wrestled back-and-forth early on, but Vaquer kept getting the better of Stratton. Vaquer also kept shoving her boot in Stratton’s face. Vaquer tried a submission, but Stratton countered with a back suplex. Stratton followed with a handspring elbow and a nice-looking Alabama slam for two. Vaquer came back with a dragon screw and corner meteora for two. Stratton followed with a backbreaker for two. 

Stratton tried a senton bomb, but Vaquer got her knees up. Vaquer hit Devil’s Kiss (which got the usual reaction) and the old version of SVB (backbreaker) for two. Stratton hit a rolling senton but missed a PME. 

Vaquer followed quickly with a spiral tap (corkscrew splash) for the pinfall win. 

— Triple H presented an emotional Vaquer with the Crown Jewel ring and championship belt (which is so big it covers more than half her upper body). 

The crowd chanted, “You deserve it.” Redmond handed Vaquer a microphone, and she cut her typically endearing promo. Vaquer said they did this together. The title represented all the emotional support the fans gave her. She followed her dreams, the fans believed in her, and now she believed in herself. Now, La Primera was the world champion and Crown Jewel Champion. She posed as fireworks went off. 

Match result: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Tiffany Stratton to win the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Championship (10:06) 

This was a good match for the time they had. It was nice seeing two people have a good wrestling match with a clean finish. 

********

Heyman congratulated Reed. Heyman said ‘the vision’ of the future now meant Reed and Breakker. Heyman also told them to stay in the back if Seth Rollins called for help tonight in his match with Rhodes. Heyman said we would find out who the better man was. Heyman left. 

Breakker didn’t seem to like this. He asked Reed what would happen if Rhodes won. Heyman returned to tell him, “I think you both know the answer to that question.” 

******** 

John Cena vs. AJ Styles

Styles wore some throwback gear—blue and white trunks (instead of long tights). Cena entered wearing a yellow and green t-shirt. (As mentioned above, a large portion of the crowd is wearing Cena’s yellow shirt.)

Alicia Taylor introduced Cena, and the fans loudly chanted, “Thank you, Cena.” Cena then pointed to Taylor to introduce Styles. She called him “The definition of total nonstop action,” the ace of the Bullet Club, and the face that runs the place. Styles smiled and seemed surprised by the intro, presumably written by Cena himself (or someone else on Cena’s behalf).

Cena fended off Styles’ offence and did the five moves of doom and AA for a nearfall only about six minutes into the match. Styles caught Cena and seemed to be going for an AA, but hit a fireman’s carry into a neckbreaker (Ushigoroshi) instead. (Cole gave a shout-out to Mauro Ranallo.) 

Cena hit Styles with Miz’s Skull Crushing Finale for two. Styles followed with a rack bomb for two, and a Scorpion Death Drop for two (Cole didn’t mention him by name, but gave a shout-out to Sting). 

Styles countered an STF into a crossface, but Cena countered that into Rusev’s Accolade. Styles countered that into Samoa Joe’s Coquina Clutch. Cena fought out and applied a Walls of Jericho, but Styles countered into a calf crusher. 

Cena fought out, but AJ nailed a Styles Clash for two. Styles went for a Phenomenal forearm, but Cena caught him and hit a Sister Abigail (kiss to the forehead included) for a close nearfall. The crowd exploded for that. (Barrett mentioned Bray Wyatt and said, “We miss you, pal.”) The fans didn’t waste any time getting out their cellphone cameras, and Cena smiled at the sight. 

Styles followed with Christopher Daniels’ Angel’s Wings for two. They traded counters until Cena set up for a Pedigree, but Styles countered into a Deadeye for two. Cena followed with Randy Orton’s draping DDT (to which Cole said, “Vintage John Cena!”). Cena followed with an RKO for a nearfall. Crowd loved that. 

Cena went for an Orton punt, but Styles avoided it and hit an AA for two. Styles was about to do the five knuckle shuffle, but Cena grabbed him by the throat like Undertaker and hit a chokeslam. 

The crowd chanted “619,” which was funny enough, but it was immediately followed by Cena dropping Styles onto the middle rope. Cena acted like he was going for a 619, but Styles cut him off with a clothesline. Styles followed with a springboard 450. Styles tuned up the band and hit Sweet Chin Music for two. 

Styles hit a Phenomenal forearm for two, and Cena hit an AA for a nearfall. Styles tried a high cross, but Cena rolled through and hit a Tombstone piledriver. Cena followed immediately with an AA for the pinfall win. 

— Cena helped Styles to his feet, and they hugged. They raised each other’s arms before Styles left the ring so Cena could celebrate. 

Cena kissed his wife at ringside. Cena posed for the Australian fans one final time before leaving. 

Match result: John Cena defeated AJ Styles (27:12) 

This was tremendous. 

********

Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane

This was a homecoming for Rhea Ripley, and it just so happens to be her 29th birthday. 

Asuka and Sane attacked the babyfaces as the opening bell rang. Everyone got involved, but Sky was alone with Asuka when the dust settled. Sky got the better of their exchange, and the crowd sang her name as she hit Asuka with a suicide dive. Sky dodged an attack by Sane, but that allowed Asuka to shove Sky into the post. (The ref held back Ripley from helping.) 

The heels worked over Sky, and the fans called Asuka a wanker. Sane cut off Sky’s hot tag attempt and goaded Ripley into distracting the referee so they could double-team Sky. Asuka hit a strike combo before Sane hit a double foot stomp for two. 

Sky fired up and no-sold multiple strikes and slaps by Asuka. Asuka kept going, but Sky hit a flapjack. Ripley made the hot tag and hit Sane with clotheslines and a kick to the head for two. Sane cut her off somewhat easily, and the heels took over again briefly until Ripley nailed Sane with a boot. Ripley gave Sane a Razor’s Edge, and Sky followed with a missile dropkick for two. 

Sane gave Sky an Alabama Slam (much safer than the one she did on Raw) and knocked Ripley off the apron. Sky brought Sane off the top rope with an arm drag and went to the top, but Asuka distracted her. Kairi knocked down Sane and drove Ripley into the steel steps. 

Sky wiped out the heels with an Asai moonsault. She followed with a moonsault on Sane in the ring, but Asuka broke up the cover. Asuka knocked Sky off the top rope and hit Ripley with strikes. She held down Ripley as Sane hit an Insane Elbow, but Sky broke up the cover. 

Ripley and Asuka traded strikes and counters until Ripley hit a thrust kick. Ripley dropped her face-first on the top turnbuckle and set up for an avalanche Rip-tide, but Sane tagged herself in and broke it up. Ripley booted Sane off the apron (taking the bullet for Asuka in the process). 

Ripley gave Sane a Rip-tide, and Sky followed with a moonsault for the pinfall win (Sky pinned Sane).  

Match result: IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley defeated Kairi Sane & Asuka (19:57) 

This was pretty good, although the crowd wasn’t as into it as you’d think, perhaps because they were coming down from the previous match. Ripley got a big reaction coming out, but Sky seemed to get more crowd chants during the match than she did. (Sky was also in there a lot longer.) 

The finish was pretty straightforward. Sane took the bullet for Asuka in the end, and the babyfaces won clean. There’s definitely more to come between these four. 

******** 

Twenty minutes elapsed between the end of the previous match and the beginning of this one. 

World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes for the WWE Crown Jewel Championship

Rollins wore the watch Rhodes gifted him to the ring (he wore it over his wrist tape). He dramatically removed it as he removed his entrance attire. 

There was an unintentionally funny moment early in the match where, after getting slammed by Rhodes, Rollins tried rolling out of the ring, but his head collided with the referee’s foot. The ref checked on a frustrated Rollins, who brushed him off and rolled out moments later. Rollins’ frustration grew because the fans kept calling him a wanker. 

The crowd loved Rhodes and cheered as he kept getting the better of Rollins. Rollins confronted Barrett and shoved Cole down in his chair. (Rollins was pissed at Barrett for highlighting the ‘wanker’ chants on SmackDown.) 

Rollins attacked Rhodes from behind as he checked on Cole. With Rhodes draped over the barricade, Rollins hit a double foot stomp to his shoulder. (Fans cheered when Rollins knocked over the Prime bottles.) 

Rhodes went for a Disaster kick, but Rollins ran up behind him and hit a sit-out powerbomb for two. Rollins targeted Rhodes’ arm/shoulder and did the Stardust cartwheel and pose. Rollins did some Dusty jabs, but Rhodes responded with jabs of his own. 

Rollins applied a figure four, and Rhodes struggled for a while before finally getting out of it. Rhodes fought back and hit a Vertebreaker (Rollins landed safely). Rhodes hit a powerslam, a Disaster kick, jabs, a bionic elbow, a suicide dive, and a Cody cutter for two. 

Rollins avoided another Disaster kick attempt and hit a Pedigree for two. Rhodes tried a Cross Rhodes, but Rollins hit one of his own for two. Rhodes avoided a Phoenix splash but missed a super Cody Cutter in spectacular fashion, and Rollins hit a curb stomp for a nearfall. 

Rollins grabbed his watch and wrapped it around his fist. He contemplated using it, but placed it on the apron and returned to the ring. Rhodes met him with a Cody Cutter and Cross Rhodes for a nearfall. 

Rollins repeatedly kicked Rhodes as he was trapped upside down in the corner. The ref pulled Rollins away, but Rhodes was still trapped. Rollins went to the top rope on the other end of the ring and hit an awesome-looking coast-to-coast headbutt for a nearfall. 

Rollins followed with a Spanish fly off the top and a Man-handle slam for a nearfall. They found themselves perched on the top rope again, and Rhodes nailed an avalanche Cross Rhodes for a close nearfall. 

They traded spots until Rhodes set up for a Pedigree. Rollins scampered out of it and crawled right to watch in the ring’s corner. Rollins wrapped it around his hand. Rollins accidentally (or accidentally on purpose) bumped the referee moments later, and Rhodes set up for the Cross Rhodes, but Rollins punched him with the watch. 

Rollins hit a curb stomp and a second stomp off the middle rope for the pinfall win. 

— Levesque presented Rollins with the Crown Jewel ring and championship belt after the match. 

Kelley was about to interview Rollins, but he yanked the mic away. He knew she was going to ask him how it felt to get the monkey off his back. It felt better than anyone could imagine. Some of us dream impossible dreams and have the fortitude to reach those dreams. But only one man reached higher than the highest. He was no longer the greatest of his generation—he was the greatest of all time. 

Rollins said his catchphrase and posed as fireworks went off. 

Vaquer joined Rollins in the ring so the two Crown Jewel champions could pose as the show ended. 

Match result: Seth Rollins defeated Cody Rhodes to win the WWE Men’s Crown Jewel Championship (29:43)

The bulk of this was just a normal match until they started doing some big moves toward the end. I know the best matches always build and get better as they go, but the first 20 minutes felt fairly standard. 

Rollins had to win based on the story they were telling, so he did, and we’ll have to wait a while longer before his buddies tear him apart. 

Overall, this was a more enjoyable WWE show than we’ve been getting lately, and worth checking out if you planned on watching this later in the day.

WWE SmackDown live results: Crown Jewel go-home show

Posted on by Marc Quill

Editor’s Note: The following are live results from the international broadcast of WWE SmackDown on Netflix with the U.S. version airing at 8 PM Eastern on USA. If you want to avoid spoilers for tonight, you have been warned.

WWE heads to Perth, Australia, for today’s SmackDown — the first of three WWE live shows over the weekend centered around Saturday’s Crown Jewel.

WWE men’s United States Champion Sami Zayn will continue his open challenge series after defeating Aleister Black last Friday with an assist from Damian Priest.

Speaking of Priest and Black, they will attempt to settle their simmering feud in a Last Man Standing match.

The WWE Tag Team titles will be on the line as The Wyatt Sicks’ Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis defend against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins).

WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer & WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton will attempt to put their differences aside before their Saturday match as they take on Giulia & Kiana James.

Our live coverage starts at 8 AM Eastern.

**********

– Our show opened with a video package showing the mens and women’s Crown Jewel Championships being moved from the WWE Experience museum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Perth, Australia ahead of tomorrow’s Crown Jewel PLE.

– Following that, we then went live to the RAC Arena, as the men’s Crown Jewel Championship was shown in the ring.

Cody Rhodes addresses Crown Jewel

The Undisputed WWE Champion and reigning men’s Crown Jewel Champion was first to enter for our opening segment as Michael Cole and Wade Barrett recapped the happenings of last Friday’s SmackDown as it related to Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

Once Rhodes entered the ring, he basked in the cheers of the Australian crowd before he started off by asking “what do you want to talk about?” Rhodes said that we could talk about Seth Rollins and the supposed “doom and gloom outcome” of the match at Crown Jewel, but after he heard Paul Heyman’s warnings on Raw, it’s clear that Rollins is becoming the man he sacrificed himself to defeat at WrestleMania 41.

Rhodes continued by saying that when you love WWE as much as Rollins does, you’d do everything for it, even perhaps skewing reality as a result. But, there comes a downfall as it becomes a quest for control. Rhodes said that Rollins might not love the “QB” nickname that was given to him, but it’s a collective one that he’s proud to have as making WWE great is a team effort. Rhodes shouted out individuals like Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, Jey Uso, and even Seth Rollins as being important aspects of WWE.

The crowd began chanting “Seth’s a wanker” as Rhodes asked for Barrett and Cole on commentary to confirm that chant. As he got back on track, Rhodes said that if the world did revolved around Seth Rollins, what did that mean for him? He said that in this hypothetical world, this still meant that Rhodes would remain the one man that Rollins just simply cannot defeat.

This did its job of selling the men’s Crown Jewel match and the idea of Cody Rhodes being the one white whale that has eluded Seth Rollins. It’s clear that Rollins will certainly win tomorrow’s match, but just how he does it is something to watch.

**********

– Backstage, Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer was being approached by Chelsea Green to join the Secret Hervice until WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton appeared. Green left as Vaquer and Stratton agreed to be on the same page for tonight’s tag match.

– Elsewhere, Cody Rhodes was walking and approached by Jacob Fatu, who said that once Rhodes was done with the Crown Jewel business, he wanted next for the Undisputed WWE Title. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis approached Fatu and wanted to discuss something with him. As Aldis left, Drew McIntyre attacked Fatu before he was backed off by officials.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura was revealed as Zayn’s opponent, as he entered to his old theme music and entrance.

The match got going with Zayn and Nakamura engaging in a duel of chain wrestling that neither man got the upper hand on. Nakamura got a bit of an advantage with a boot to the face followed by a leg drop on Zayn. The momentum continued for the challenger as he delivered his sliding German suplex to Zayn, which took us into the break.

Our opening contest returned from commercial with Zayn and Nakamura trading strikes in the middle of the ring until the latter dropped his foe with a nice vertical suplex. Nakamura fired himself up and teed off on Zayn with strikes and an enzuigiri that sent Zayn stunned into the corner. The challenger followed that with a heel kick to the face of Zayn that got a near-fall. Nakamura maintained his strong-style-tinged assault on Zayn until a clothesline turned him upside down.

Zayn headed to the top rope and missed with a dive. He attempted a Blue Thunder Bomb, but fell victim to Nakamura’s patented spinning kick. In the corner, Nakamura had Zayn dead to rights for a Kinshasa, but he got countered into a Michinoku Driver for a near-fall. After pinfalls were traded, Zayn connected with the Exploder Suplex into the corner and looked like he’d have the Helluva Kick in the chamber. Nakamura avoided that and went to the top with a diving kick to the back of Zayn’s head. One, two… not yet! With the match still to be decided, we went to another break.

SmackDown returned from the break with Zayn and Nakamura once more mixing it up with strikes until Zayn’s attempt at a Blue Thunder Bomb was countered into a modified Kinshasa to the back of the U.S. Champion’s head. Zayn instinctively rolled out of the ring as he caught Nakamura by surprise with an Exploder Suplex into the barricade. Zayn then hit a Helluva Kick before he threw Nakamura back into the ring before the count of ten. As Zayn tried to get back into the ring, Nakamura caught him by surprise with a Sudden Impact kick that got a near-fall. He then got Zayn with the Scorpio Rising and looked to have the Kinshasa lock and loaded. That was until a hooded man attacked

The hooded man pulled Nakamura out and threw him over the barricade. The man revealed himsefl to be the returning Tama Tonga, as the other members of the M.F.T.s appeared around the ring to surround Zayn. The group laid a beatdown on both champion and challenger, as Solo Sikoa took in the destruction.

Sami Zayn def. Shinsuke Nakamura via DQ to retain the United States Championship

A great match ruined by another DQ finish. I’m not sure if dressing up this Bloodline retread in facepaint in a “Malibu Stacy with a new hat” situation is going to make them any interesting, but I guess I can’t fault WWE for trying again with this, as daunting a task as it may seem to be. That said, it’s at least great to see Tama Tonga back from injury.

**********

– Backstage, we learned that on next week’s SmackDown, Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu would go one on one. As McIntyre discussed this with GM Nick Aldis, he was attacked by an irate Fatu, who wanted to get a little payback on the assault from earlier in the night. A gaggle of referees and officials tried their best to keep the two separated.

Stephanie Vaquer & Tiffany Stratton vs. Giulia & Kiana James

Vaquer and James started things off for their respective teams as the latter delivered a cheapshot to her opponent. Vaquer answered with a back suplex and caught James in prime position for an early-match Devil’s Kiss, much to the crowd’s delight. James retreated and tagged Giulia as we headed into an oddly-placed commercial break.

The action resumed from the break with Giulia throwing Vaquer into her team’s corner as James tagged herself in and kept the Women’s World Champion isolated for a moment. Giulia was the legal woman again as she took off from the top with a dropkick for a near-fall. Vaquer managed to kick Giulia aside which gave her enough time to tag in Stratton.

The WWE Women’s Champion was a house of fire as she unleashed a flurry of offense on James with a somersault clothesline into the corner followed by a slam for the near-fall. Stratton stunned James into the middle rope and looked to have a running attack, but Giulia created a distraction as she then entered the match with an Arrivederci Knee to Stratton. Giulia then connected with a Northern Lights Bomb, but Vaquer broke up the pin.

As things began to break down, Stratton got the Alabama Slam on James as Vaquer entered the with a tag. Vaquer connected with a modified version of the Angel’s Wings, but Giulia broke up the count. Stratton with a blind tag as Vaquer launched herself onto Giulia outside to take her out of the equation. Back in the ring, Stratton finished James off in short order with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

Vaquer and Stratton stood in front of the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship and faced off after the match.

Tiffany Stratton & Stephanie Vaquer def. Giulia & Kiana James

Standard women’s tag team fare, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I do think that giving Giulia and James the win here wouldn’t have hurt as it’d at least create a new set of challengers for Stratton to contend with post-Crown Jewel.

**********

– As Zaria and Sol Ruca were chatting amongst themselves, the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss appeared and told the NXT stars that facing them would be not be an easy battle to expect. Utlimately, Flair and Bliss granted Zaria and Ruca a chance at their Women’s Tag Titles.

WWE Tag Team Championships: The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) (w/ Nikki Cross & Erick Rowan) (c) vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) (w/ B-Fab)

The match got going right away as Gacy and Lumis ran into the ring and immediately began to fight with Dawkins and Ford. As things finally setled down, the Profits had the upper hand early as they threw their weight around at Gacy’s expense. Outside the ring, Dawkins barrelled through both Gacy and Lumis, which sent the two Wyatts into the timekeeper’s corner. We headed to the commercial break with the Street Profits having control in the early stages of this match.

We returned from the break as the Wyatts had Ford staggered in the corner and ready for a double superplex. Dawkins emerged and held Gacy and Lumis in place instead, as Ford recovered and delivered a double blockbuster on the WWE Tag Champs. The cover, but Nikki Cross put Gacy’s foot on the bottom rope. Things broke down as B-Fab attacked Cross on the outside. Erick Rowan stood behind B-Fab, which allowed Cross to go on the attack with a leap. Dawkins then launched over the top rope to take down Rowan as Ford was the legal man.

From the top rope, Ford wanted to hit the Frog Splash, but Lumis pulled Gacy out of harm’s way, which caused Ford to hit the mat hard instead. The two Wyatts then finished things off with the Plague on Ford to retain the WWE Tag Titles.

After the match, Solo Sikoa and the M.F.T.s. appeared and had a brief, but tense staredown with the Wyatt Sicks.

The Wyatt Sicks def. The Street Profits via pinfall to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships

Just a standard tag match, with nothing really to write home about. The tease with the M.F.T.s targeting the Wyatts certainly happened, I do at least want to see where this goes initially.

**********

– The Miz was interviewed backstage about his betrayal of Carmelo Hayes on last week’s SmackDown, as he called himself “the spotlight” and that Hayes “blew it” in his eyes and that his former Melo Don’t Miz partner ultimately “missed”.

– We got a recap of the Crown Jewel Kickoff and Seth Rollins’ abrupt exit from the kickoff while The Vision was on stage, with the implication being that Rollins’ confidence is in question ahead of his match with Cody Rhodes tomorrow.

Crown Jewel Final Card

  • Men’s Crown Jewel Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins
  • Women’s Crown Jewel Championship: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton
  • Australian Street Fight: Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed
  • Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane
  • John Cena vs. AJ Styles

Last Man Standing: Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black

We got going right away with Priest pummeling Black in the corner before he threw him over the top rope. Priest pulled out a kendo stick from under the ring, but got caught by surprise with a kick from Black. Priest recovered and battered his foe with the top half of the steel steps as the fight made its way through the entry way. We took a commercial break after one more steel steps strike from Priest to Black.

SmackDown’s main event resumed as Priest sent Black crashing into the barricade with a fierce throw. The referee began his count, but Black managed to get himself back on his feet as he ran back into the ring. Priest connected with an elevated Flatliner on Black before he set up the bottom half of the steel steps in the middle of the ring. Priest looked for a superplex onto the steps, but Black escaped and instead sent his rival face first into the steps.

Priest wanted to hit the South of Heaven on Black right on the steps, but he couldn’t connect with it. Black headed up top and crashed onto Priest with a Meteora. That, however,was not enough to keep Priest down for the count. With the steps turned on its side, Priest threw Black face-first onto it. As the action spilled to the outside, Priest was thrown against the steel steps as his neck bounced off of it. Somehow, Priest recovered and shoved Black onto the top of the commentary table, as we took another break in the action.

We returned as Priest unleashed the pain on Black with a kendo stick to the back. He tried for some sort of an Old School-style maneuver, but Black kicked Priest upon landing, which sent him out of the ring upon impact. Black took a chair from the crowd and battered Priest in the ribs with it repeatedly. Priest recovered in time and chokeslammed Black against the apron before delivering a Razor’s Edge onto the commentary table. Black was seemingly out cold, but he woke up and got himself back to his feet before the count of nine.

As Black stood up, Priest once again threw Black with a Razor’s Edge onto the table. Once more, Black rolled off the top of the table, which allowed him to beat the count of ten. After this, the battle broke out into the crowd as Priest took Black to a set of production boxes. With Black and Priest on top of a platform, the latter looked to have this won. That was, until Zelina Vega appeared and checked up on Black, as he pleaded for Priest not to do any damage. Priest did not comply, and ended up eating a fireball to the face, followed by a Black Mass kick that sent him crashing through a table. The referee made the count, and Priest was unable to make it to the count of ten, which gave Black the victory.

Aleister Black def. Damian Priest via pinfall

**********

A fun main event with a very interesting finish as Zelina Vega made her return to WWE TV with a new gimmick as she’s now aligned with her real-life spouse Aleister Black. That should be interesting to see going forward.

All in all, this wasn’t really much of a go-home show for Crown Jewel as it was basically an extended PLE where matches that otherwise wouldn’t fit the Levesque-ian way of 5 matches per PLE card are booked. It’s certainly not bad thing to position pre-PLE editions of SmackDown. The matches that we did get were at least decent, and it was nice to see some surprise returns to spice things up.

WWE SmackDown updates: Contract signing, Damian Priest

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A contract signing will go down on WWE SmackDown tonight as the build to Crown Jewel: Perth continues

WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer are set to clash at the October 11 PLE to determine the 2025 women’s Crown Jewel Champion. To make that match officially official, the two will take part in a contract signing on tonight’s show.

Though this ceremonial contract signing segment is happening, the match was confirmed last week when Stratton retained her WWE Women’s Championship over Nia Jax and Jade Cargill in a triple threat match.

Vaquer’s spot at Crown Jewel has been in place since Wrestlepalooza, when she defeated IYO SKY to win the Women’s World Championship after the belt was vacated due to Naomi’s pregnancy.

Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio is hosting SmackDown tonight. It had been announced that Damian Priest would be in action against an unnamed opponent, but WWE’s website has removed that from their preview. Whether Priest will still be wrestling on the episode is not known. He told TMZ Sports that his plan for the show is to issue a challenge to Aleister Black.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, October 3) —

  • Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed
  • Sami Zayn United States Championship open challenge
  • Crown Jewel: Perth contract signing with WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer

Myles Borne congratulates girlfriend Stephanie Vaquer on WWE title win

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On social media today, NXT wrestler Myles Borne sent out a message congratulating his girlfriend Stephanie Vaquer on her first WWE main roster title win.

“I’m so proud of you. You are so special and amazing in and out of the ring,” Borne wrote on Instagram while sharing a photo of them with Vaquer holding her new championship. “Never doubted you for a moment, keep reaching for the stars mi amor. Congratulations mi campeóna, I love you.”

Vaquer won the Women’s World Championship at WWE Wrestlepalooza last weekend, defeating IYO SKY for the vacant belt after it had been relinquished by Naomi. Original plans had called for Vaquer to challenge for the title at Clash in Paris in August, but that could not happen due to Naomi’s pregnancy.

The news that Vaquer and Borne were dating first became known this May when Vaquer was spotted in pictures with Borne’s family. In a tweet during his NXT feud with Lexis King, Borne confirmed the relationship on X/Twitter by calling Vaquer his “Chilean queen.” The couple met while Vaquer was in NXT after signing with WWE.

Borne — who is partially deaf — got a victory over King on NXT last night in a Lights Out match.

Following her Women’s World Championship win, Vaquer will compete at Crown Jewel: Perth on October 11 to determine the 2025 women’s Crown Jewel Champion. Her opponent will be the WWE Women’s Champion — either Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax, or Jade Cargill. Those three are set to face off in a triple threat match on SmackDown this Friday with Stratton defending the WWE Women’s Championship.

WWE Raw live results: Wrestlepalooza fallout

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: September 22, 2025
Location: Ford Center in Evansville, IN

The Big Takeaway —

Asuka and Rhea Ripley wrestled for the first time in almost three years, and the show’s closing angle saw Asuka turn heel on Iyo Sky. (See more below.) 

Jey Uso beat LA Knight, and a heel turn may be around the corner for Jey, too. (It could be leading to something else, but the teases are increasingly less subtle.)

As expected, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Champion Seth Rollins will wrestle at Crown Jewel, while Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer will wrestle the winner of SmackDown’s triple threat title match between WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill and Nia Jax. While it ultimately doesn’t matter who the Crown Jewel Champion is, Rhodes and Rollins had a long talking segment to add some intrigue to their match.

**********

Show Recap — 

A new signature video opens the show (as it did at Wrestlepalooza), and the clips focus on the company’s more recent history. 

There was a Wrestlepalooza video recap, in which they also spliced in clips from wrestlers and personalities making the rounds on ESPN leading up to the show. 

The Vision, Stephanie Vaquer (and her father), The New Day and Grayson Waller, Bayley, and LA Knight arrived at the arena. As Knight arrived, Rusev confronted Dominik Mysterio and shoved him into some equipment boxes. 

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers. They announced that Cody Rhodes would face Seth Rollins for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship in Perth, Australia. 

Cody Rhodes kicks off Raw

Rhodes showed off his inaugural Crown Jewel championship ring and said he would love to win another. 

Rollins and the Vision (minus Becky Lynch) interrupted. Rollins told his partners to remain in the aisle as he entered the ring alone. The crowd sang Rollins’ song before switching back to chants for Cody. 

Rollins said he had Crown Jewel circled on his calendar since they both walked out of SummerSlam as champions. Two of the best in the world in their primes would go one-on-one, and may the best man win. At least it should be that simple, but it wasn’t. It was deeper than that and bigger than that. 

Rollins knew what everyone (the fans, wrestlers, and “the internet”) thought about him, but he didn’t give a damn. The fans didn’t know what was good for them. (The fans chanted for CM Punk, and Rollins shut them down by saying Punk didn’t matter here because he didn’t have a championship.) Rollins wanted to know what Rhodes thought of him. 

Rhodes said Rollins has recently made some questionable choices, including aligning with Paul Heyman. But Rollins also changed his life. Rollins changed his life because Rhodes wouldn’t have known what he was capable of if not for their Hell in a Cell match. Rollins changed his career by being his shield at WrestleMania and helping him bring the world title to the Rhodes family. 

Rhodes knew it was pro wrestling 101 to run Rollins down right now to hype up their match, but Rhodes wanted to know what Rollins thought of himself. Rhodes said Rollins could be the absolute best in the business. But that version of Rollins wouldn’t be hiding behind the three Vision goons. 

Rollins pointed out his wristwatch, the one Rhodes gifted him after WrestleMania 40. Rollins hadn’t worn it until tonight. Rollins wondered if that was a real gift or a token gesture because Rhodes was fantastic about saying all the ring things about him, but only when it suited Rhodes. Rhodes undermined everything Rollins stood for. 

Rollins didn’t appreciate Rhodes going on interviews and saying he was the guy to take this business into the future. Rhodes called himself QB1, so Rollins wondered what that meant for him. Either Rhodes thought Rollins wasn’t good enough, or just not as good as him. 

Rollins said the Vision weren’t goons, they were the future of the business, and he was the tip of the spear, not Rhodes. Rhodes could be the quarterback if he wanted to, but he would be Rollins’ quarterback. It didn’t matter what Rhodes thought, because they would get the answer at Crown Jewel. This wasn’t a two-man show. Rollins stated, “I’m the alpha.” 

Rhodes reminded Rollins that they’ve had three matches, and they’ve all been one-on-one. Rhodes peered over at the Vision and asked if it would be the case again in Perth. Rhodes concluded with a question: “In the three matches that we’ve had, Seth Rollins, how many of those have you won?” 

Rhodes left the ring, and the Vision cleared a path for him to leave. 

********

Jimmy Uso met with Jey Uso backstage. (Jey had tape over stitches on his forehead.) Jimmy said their loss was trash because he knew they could beat the Brons. Jimmy went to Adam Pearce to request a rematch, only to learn that Jey was already busy tonight because he had asked for a match against Knight. 

Jey was red-hot and said they would have won if not for Knight being the referee. Jey was also pissed about Jimmy tagging with Knight last week (and losing). Jimmy asked if he was being blamed for their loss. Jey settled down (realizing he didn’t want to upset Jimmy) and said no, but he planned on beating up Knight tonight. 

******** 

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods cut their usual ad-break promo. 

No disqualification six-man tag match: The New Day & Grayson Waller vs. The War Raiders & Penta

Woods wore a gigantic black hat a few weeks ago, so all three heels had a hat this week. They put the hats on during the break, so the babyfaces stole the hats and posed with them. The heels attacked them from behind to gain the heat. 

Kingston hit Penta with a diving leg drop off the top turnbuckle through a table outside the ring. The camera missed it because Woods blocked the cameraperson, so they immediately showed a replay. Erik brought both members of New Day by himself off the ropes, and Ivar went for a moonsault, but New Day dodged it. 

Penta avoided going through a corner table and instead suplexed Kingston through it. Waller cracked a kendo stick over Penta’s back, but Penta fought him off and hit an avalanche Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Penta & The War Raiders defeated Grayson Waller & The New Day (10:15) 

This was pretty fun for the time they had, and the crowd was super into it. They popped huge for Penta’s finish. 

********

Dominik approached Judgment Day backstage. He wanted their help with Rusev, but Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh weren’t interested. Bálor wondered why El Grande Americano didn’t help Dom, but Dom said he was back in Mexico. Bálor claimed he was busy and began doing something on a tablet. 

Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez talked McDonagh into helping Dom. McDonagh only agreed because it would be best for Judgment Day. McDonagh said he would speak with Peace, but Dom told him he already got McDonagh a match against Rusev. McDongh (and Bálor) weren’t thrilled to hear this, but Dom was sure pleased with himself. 

********

Bayley met with Lyra Valkyria backstage. Bayley had selective memory, and Valkyria was surprised to learn that Bayley wasn’t mad at her after calling her an idiot last week. Bayley was all smiles and said she didn’t know what Valkyria was talking about. Bayley asked her to be at ringside for her match tonight. Valkyria wasn’t sure, but she eventually agreed. (Bayley wore Punk’s “AJ’s husband” jacket.) 

********

During a break, Byron Saxton asked Heyman about seemingly being Brock Lesnar’s advocate again. Heyman ignored the question and instead said Rollins would beat Rhodes at Crown Jewel. 

Heyman cut the promo on behalf of Rollins, but did so as if he was talking about Lesnar (using a lot of the lines he normally uses for Lesnar promos). Heyman said Rollins winning wasn’t a prediction or even a spoiler—it was a prophecy. 

********

Stephanie Vaquer promo 

Vaquer entered to a good reaction. Pearce congratulated her on winning the Women’s World Championship. Vaquer called this a dream come true. At times, it seemed impossible, but she worked hard for it and accomplished it. She beat one of the best in Iyo Sky and had her dad as inspiration. She pointed out her dad in the crowd.

Vaquer said this championship represented the motivation and support the fans gave her. They celebrated with her at Wrestlepalooza. She thanked them. Vaquer said her fire would keep making history, and nobody could stop her. 

Pearce told Vaquer that Tiffany Stratton was defending her title against Jade Cargill and Nia Jax in a triple threat on SmackDown, and the winner would face Vaquer at Crown Jewel. Vaquer looked forward to being there. 

Fireworks went off as Vaquer posed with her title belt. 

— Nikki Bella and Rhea Ripley approached Vaquer backstage to congratulate her. Ripley gave her a friendly reminder that she was coming for the title. 

Asuka (with Kairi Sane) confronted Vaquer. Asuka said Sky deserved to be champion, not Vaquer. Vaquer said she would fight Asuka any time she wanted. Vaquer left (with Bella). 

Ripley was tired of Asuka. Asuka told her to stay away from Sky, or else. Ripley challenged her to a match tonight, and Asuka accepted. The crowd popped for that. (The match was made official later on.) 

********

Bayley (w/Lyra Valkyria) vs. Roxanne Perez (w/Raquel Rodriguez) 

Barrett noted that Perez was tied with Knight for most matches in WWE in 2025, and they spoke about how the experience was helping Perez get better and better. (Perhaps a lesson to be learned there.)

Bayley was in control and went to the middle rope, but she distracted herself by watching Rodriguez at ringside. Perez kicked her leg out of her leg and took control ahead of a break. Rodriguez also took a cheap shot at Bayley during a break. 

Bayley fought back after a break, but Perez cut her off. Perez went for a suicide dive, but Bayley blocked it with a forearm. Perez fought her off and hit a Pop Rox outside the ring, and Bayley just barely beat the ten count. 

Rodriguez booted Bayley as Perez distracted the referee, so Valkyria attacked Rodriguez and drove her into the ring post. Perez then wiped out Valkyria with a suicide dive. 

This caused Bayley to snap into another personality, I guess, and she nailed Perez with a Bayley-to-belly, a running boot, and Rose Plant for the pinfall win. 

(Tesstitore tried to convince us that this was a violent attack, but it was really just one wrestler hitting another wrestler with their big moves for the win.) 

— Valkyria was pumped up for Bayley and gave her a hug. Bayley suddenly had no interest in Valkyria being there and shoved her down. Valkyria was shocked as Bayley screamed at her and told her to stay out of it. 

The crowd was into Bayley during the match, but they booed her in the post-match (which was the idea). 

Match result: Bayley defeated Roxanne Perez (10:46) 

********

Jimmy congratulated Rhodes on his Wrestlepalooza win. Rhodes asked how Jey was doing. Jimmy said Jey was in his own head and wouldn’t listen to him. Jimmy asked Rhodes if he would talk to him, so Rhodes agreed. 

Rhodes approached Jey after a break. Rhodes said Jimmy was worried about him. Jey said Big Jim was always tripping and told Rhodes not to worry. Rhodes said he knew what Jey felt like. There were highs and lows, wins and losses. People in their position isolate themselves, but Rhodes reminded Jey that he has his family, friends and fans. Rhodes told him, “We believe in you.” 

Jey told him not to worry. “Imma find my way back to the top, Cody.” Rhodes left, and Jey stared at him as he did. 

******** 

Rusev’s entrance happened during a break. 

Rusev vs. JD McDonagh (w/Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio)

Rusev was in complete control until McDonagh kicked the steel steps into his legs. McDonagh followed with an Asai moonsault ahead of a break. McDonagh continued to shine with a few spots after a break, including a moonsault for two. 

McDonagh hit Rusev with multiple clotheslines, but couldn’t knock him down. Rusev nailed him with a body slam and Matcka Kick. Rusev applied the Accolade, and Dom hopped on the apron. Dom considered breaking it up, but was too afraid to get involved, so McDonagh taped out. 

— Rusev wouldn’t let go of the hold after the match as Dom just stood there, so Bálor ran out and gave Rusev a reverse DDT (which got a modest pop). Before Rusev could get up, Judgment Day escaped while Bálor admonished Dom. 

Match result: Rusev defeated JD McDonagh (10:12)

This match was between two heels, so the crowd wasn’t super into it, but they did get into McDonagh a bit thanks to his offence. 

********

Sky approached Asuka and Sane backstage, but Asuka didn’t want advice from someone who lost. Asuka left. Sane was in agony over all of this, but told Sky that Asuka was the reason they were there, so they had to listen to her. 

********

Jackie Redmond interviewed Knight. Redmond’s question was taking too long to get out, so Knight cut her off. Knight said Jey should be worried more about his own health. Knight was only checking on Jey’s well-being during the Wrestlepalooza match before he got speared through the table. 

Knight wasn’t trying to hurt Jey before—but he would tonight. Jey might’ve brain’ed himself on Saturday, but if he hadn’t, Knight would do it for him with a BFT. 

Jey Uso vs. LA Knight

Jey wore all black (with white sneakers) and did his full entrance. Knight did his entrance, but as he jumped down from the middle rope, Jey punched him before the match officially began. The ref called for the bell to begin. 

Jey was all over Knight until Knight cut him off with a neckbreaker. Jey avoided a baseball slide and clotheslined Knight to regain control during a break. After the break, Knight scaled the ropes to bring Jey down with a superplex. 

They traded strikes until Knight ducked one and hit a reverse DVD for two. Jey followed later with a suicide dive and superkick for two. Knight responded with a DDT and flying elbow drop for two. 

Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed ran out, so Knight attacked them both before they could enter the ring. The referee just watched this all transpire. 

Knight re-entered the ring but ran into an Uso spear. Jey followed with an Uso Splash for the pinfall win.  

— Jimmy joined Jey on stage after the match. Jimmy thought they should help Knight because he was about to be attacked by the Brons. Jey didn’t care, so he left. 

Jimmy grabbed a chair and sprinted to the ring. Jimmy invited the Brons into the ring, but Heyman talked them down, and they left. 

Match result: Jey Uso defeated LA Knight (8:36)

This was good, although I hate these distraction finishes. The referee looked like an idiot, letting things just continue normally after the Brons got involved. The match itself went at a fast pace, with the crowd into it all the way, and it felt like a fight between two guys with building animosity.

********

Becky Lynch ranted backstage while Rollins was in deep thought as he looked at his wristwatch. Lynch ranted about Rhodes, the Usos, and the fans. Lynch said the fans were thieves trying to steal the things they built. Lynch wanted to make an example. She left. (Rollins didn’t say a word.) 

********

Sky approached Ripley. Ripley, a grown adult, asked if they were allowed to be around each other. Sky wanted Ripley to cancel her match against Asuka. Ripley said she was sick of Asuka’s disrespect. Ripley hoped they could beat the respect into each other like she did with Sky. Sky said, “Fine.” 

Before Sky could leave, Ripley told her to be careful around Asuka. Sky was offended by this comment. Sky said Asuka was family and was the reason she was there. Sky said she could trust Asuka, but didn’t know if she could trust Ripley. Sky left, and Ripley was upset.  

******** 

Raw next week (7 pm ET/4 pm PT start time): 

  • Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Rusev for the Intercontinental Championship 
  • Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez 
  • The Usos vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed in a tornado tag match 

********

There was a video package for Los Americanos, trying to make it seem like they were a deeply rooted part of lucha libre history. Of course, they used gross-looking AI for the video. 

Maxxine Dupri asked Pearce for a match because she wanted to prove herself. Pearce told her to keep working until he finds someone. 

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee approached Pearce next. Styles said the Americanos were pissing him off and admitted to being a petty man. Dragon Lee wanted them in a tag match next week. Pearce said he would talk to them. (So he knows who they are?) Styles told Pearce not to sign any more Americanos for a while. 

******** 

Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka (w/Kairi Sane)

This was their first match since December 2022, and the announcers built this up as a PLE-level match. They went to commercial break a minute into it. 

Asuka was in control while targeting the leg, but Ripley came back with clotheslines, a thrust kick, a dropkick, and a Northern Lights suplex for two. Asuka avoided a Razor’s Edge, dropkicked her leg, and hit a sliding kick for two. Ripley responded with a boot and cannonball off the apron, leading to a second break. 

Ripley maintained control through a break and hit a superplex when they returned. They traded strikes until Asuka applied a jackknife cover for two. Ripley followed with a thrust kick, Razor’s Edge, and shining wizard for two. Asuka went for an armbar, but Ripley managed to escape. 

Ripley missed a charge and collided with the turnbuckle, and Asuka followed with a kick to the head for two. (The crowd chanted for Ripley.) Asuka knocked Ripley out of the ring and bounced her head off the table. Asuka said something to Sane before getting back in the ring. 

Ripley tried another kick, but Asuka caught her in a leg lock. Ripley tried getting to her feet, so Asuka nailed a German suplex. Asuka came off the top, but Ripley nailed her mid-air with a dropkick. (The crowd chanted, “This is awesome.”) 

Asuka shouted orders to Sane, so she reluctantly jumped on the apron with her fist clenched. Sane went for a back fist, but Ripley blocked it. Asuka went for a running hip attack, but Ripley moved, and Asuka knocked Sane off the apron by mistake. 

Ripley grabbed Asuka in a small package for the pinfall win. 

— Asuka blew mist in Ripley’s face immediately after the match. Asuka commanded Sane to attack, so she did hesitantly. They attacked Ripley until Sky quickly ran out to make the save. 

Sky settled Asuka down. Asuka was in tears, and they hugged. Asuka suddenly dropped Sky with a spinning back fist, and the crowd booed. 

Asuka commanded Sane to attack Sky. Again, Sane didn’t want to, but she did. Asuka saw Ripley getting to her feet, so she knocked her down with a spinning heel kick. Asuka held Sky as Sane (still in anguish over all of this), hit an Insane Elbow. 

The crowd booed as Asuka stood tall (while holding Sane), with Sky and Ripley laid out. 

Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Asuka (17:15) 

This was excellent, although they relied yet again on an interference/distraction spot. Given the story being told, this was an appropriate spot for it, but it was hindered by the fact that they do this in 80% of TV matches. 

The match and the post-match were great, and they have built well to Asuka finally turning heel. Asuka and Lynch have both turned heel before to their detriment, but this one felt more purposeful. Asuka has looked awesome since returning, and her inevitable match with Sky feels like a big one. 

Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, more react to Stephanie Vaquer’s WWE Women’s title win

Posted on by Ian Carey

Stephanie McMahon, Triple H and more are celebrating Stephanie Vaquer’s WWE Women’s World title win.

Vaquer defeated IYO SKY on Saturday at WWE Wrestlepalooza to win her first championship on the main roster, only 14 months after signing with the company. Following her win on the show, Triple H spoke about Vaquer on the post-event show, mentioning her performance on the PLE came after she had been dealing with an illness for weeks.

“In the last few weeks, Stephanie has been very sick. I don’t know the details of what the flu-type thing going on but she was very sick. It was why she missed the TV, it’s why there were some odd build to it.

“She was able to feel well enough and get cleared medically to compete tonight. For her to be able to do that against IYO, who I consider one of the greatest women of all time in this industry. For her to have a win like that tonight to become the women’s world championship is incredible. She has been here for a very short time. As we move forward now, she becomes a dominant force. The landscape of WWE in the women’s division just changed with Stephanie Vaquer becoming women’s champion.”

Stephanie McMahon responded to a social media post by Vaquer shortly after her title win. Vaquer posted, “They call us dreamers, but we’re the ones who don’t sleep” and McMahon responded:

“I believe in you @Steph_Vaquer! All anyone has to do is watch last night’s match with @Iyo_SkyWWE and they will believe too. La Primera es la campeona! Felicitaciones!”

Shawn Michaels also responded to Vaquer’s post after her win on Saturday’s show in Indianapolis. He wrote:

“On behalf of myself & everyone at #WWENXT… congratulations to  @Steph_Vaquer on becoming Women’s World Champion. Couldn’t be prouder of you. Keep on dreaming, La Primera. #Wrestlepalooza”

Stephanie Vaquer explains why she missed September 8 WWE Raw

Posted on by Ian Carey

Stephanie Vaquer has not been feeling 100 percent recently.

Vaquer missed the September 8 episode of WWE Raw where she had been scheduled for a contract signing segment with IYO SKY for their match at Wrestlepalooza. However, she returned the following week and wrestled on both Raw and SmackDown.

During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Vaquer explained that she missed the show due to illness.

“To be honest, the last three weeks I was no good. I was sick. My body [does] not feel like a hundred percent,” Vaquer said on Friday. “I feel a little weak. I could not train really good the last month, but when I [was] back last Monday, I really feel the people and I really feel everything and really forget everything about that.”

Vaquer’s title win on Saturday comes just 14 months after signing with WWE. She signed with WWE on July 10, 2024, and debuted three days later at a live event in Mexico City. She had wrestled Mercedes Moné at Forbidden Door on June 30, 2024. Later that year, Vaquer said that joining WWE was her dream and that factored heavily into her decision to sign. After Wrestlepalooza, she mentioned having achieved a lifelong dream.

“They call us dreamers, but we’re the ones who don’t sleep,” Vaquer posted to social media. “I dreamed of this my whole life. Today I become the WWE World Champion, the first Latin American woman to achieve it. Thank you to everyone who has believed in me.”

Vaquer’s full interview with Sports Illustrated is available here.

WWE crowns new Women’s World Champion at Wrestlepalooza

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Stephanie Vaquer is now in possession of her first WWE main roster gold.

In the biggest moment of her WWE career so far, Vaquer defeated IYO SKY at Wrestlepalooza to become the new Women’s World Champion. A beautiful-looking Spiral Tap from the top rope won Vaquer the belt, which had been vacant after Naomi had to relinquish the title last month due to her pregnancy.

The story of the Vaquer vs. SKY match centered around SKY sustaining knee damage from multiple dragon screws by Vaquer. When SKY missed a moonsault near the finish, she landed knee-first before taking the Spiral Tap from Vaquer.

Vaquer and SKY showed respect to each other after the pinfall. Along with that, Vaquer got to share a special moment with her father at ringside. He traveled from Chile to Indianapolis to watch his daughter become champion.

WWE chose Vaquer and SKY as the two competitors for tonight’s match because both were owed title shots prior to Naomi being forced out of action. Vaquer earned her title shot by winning a battle royal at WWE Evolution this summer.

Before signing with WWE in 2024, Vaquer was a star in Mexico as the CMLL Women’s World Champion. She held the NXT Women’s Championship and NXT North American Championship earlier this year prior to being called up.

WWE confirmed during Wrestlepalooza that Vaquer will face the WWE Women’s Champion at Crown Jewel: Perth on October 11. Neither of their belts will be on the line, but the winner will become the Women’s Crown Jewel Champion for 2025.

Tiffany Stratton — the current WWE Women’s Champion — is defending her title against Nia Jax and Jade Cargill in a triple threat match on SmackDown this coming Friday.

Stephanie Vaquer talks learning English, names WWE dream opponents

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Stephanie Vaquer is working hard every day to improve her English-speaking skills.

Vaquer, who was born in Chile and starred in Mexico before arriving in WWE, has the chance to win her first main roster gold this weekend at Wrestlepalooza. She’s battling IYO SKY with the vacant Women’s World Championship on the line. Ahead of the PLE, she appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet and discussed how much effort she’s putting into learning English.

“Now I’m here 10 months. I know my English is not perfect, yet I try,” Vaquer said. “But I think for 10 months, it’s good. And I really try to learn every day.”

Vaquer said she is taking weekly English classes, and she makes sure to practice all the time. Promos can be challenging because she is thinking in Spanish and then attempting to translate that into English in her head.

“Every week,” Vaquer said about the frequency of her classes. “But for me, I learn every day because I try to practice every day. It’s hard because for me, I need to think in Spanish. I think in Spanish. Translate, yeah. And I don’t want people to think — I don’t want people to say, ‘Why she speaks so slow?’ Because I try to translate everything. And sometimes, no same. In Spanish, maybe makes sense. But in English, they’re like, what? So, it’s hard. It’s difficult. But I hope one day. I need, I just need more time and learn more.”

Vaquer said she’s so happy with the support she’s received from the audience since joining WWE. She held both the NXT Women’s Championship and NXT Women’s North American Championship prior to her main roster call-up. Now, she has the opportunity to accomplish a childhood dream by winning a main roster title.

Plans were originally for Vaquer to challenge Naomi for the Women’s World Championship at WWE Clash in Paris last month, but Naomi had to vacate the belt due to her pregnancy. Though Vaquer is sad that match couldn’t happen, she feels like the situation has worked out for everyone involved. She’s looking forward to being part of the first WWE PLE of the ESPN era this Saturday.

When asked about dream opponents, Vaquer named Asuka and Rhea Ripley as people she’s never faced one-on-one before and wants to have a match against.

The full episode of Insight can be watched below: