[epic music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[music concludes]
-["4X4" playing] -[Michael] This is the capital of Arizona,
Phoenix, a city which will host WWE's flagship show
for the 21st time.
We are downtown, smoldering 107 degrees outside.
Inside the PHX Arena,
we're sold out tonight.
Live for Monday Night Raw on Netflix.
♪ Can you come? ♪
♪ Girl, the sun Find the moon, find somе fun ♪
♪ Yeah, hella fumes In the room, one-of-none… ♪
[Michael] The brand new Intercontinental Champion
of the women's division is here.
"The Man" Becky Lynch, who beat Lyra Valkyria in controversial manner
this past Saturday at Money in the Bank, Becky is here live.
And the return tonight of Phoenix, Arizona's own,
the two-time Divas champ,
WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella is live on Netflix.
And banged up and beaten up, still raring to go.
"Main Event" Jey Uso will have to take on this man,
"The Ring General" Gunther, the former World Heavyweight Champion,
the man who tapped out to Jey Uso back at WrestleMania.
And there is "Main Event" Jey Uso,
been run through the ringer the past couple of weeks,
but he claims he's ready to go tonight.
It's our main event for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Uso, Gunther, live.
["4X4" continues playing]
[Michael] And we are live tonight, ladies and gentlemen,
sold out inside the PHX Arena.
14,361 WWE fans on hand
as we cap off what has been a wild weekend in WWE.
[song concludes]
[dramatic tense music playing]
[Rhodes] LA, Southern California, full of the West Coast,
where everybody is somebody.
-What a day here in the City of Angels. -[Konnan] City of Angels.
[Rhodes] Hollywood.
And today, once again, the American epicenter of lucha libre.
The loudest, wildest, most passionate fans have traveled from around the globe.
[Rey] What a historic day. You will see the new stars of AAA.
["Apaga la luz" playing]
[Rey] The entire world can see… [speaking Spanish]
The one thing that I fell in love with as a kid.
¡La lucha libre!
["Apaga la luz" continues playing]
I'll see you at Money in the Bank.
[exciting rock music playing]
[Michael] You are looking live at the sold-out Intuit Dome.
Welcome to Money in the Bank.
["Right Back Down" playing]
The partnership here is so great. This building is so incredible.
The technology that is here,
the fan base that will come to these events.
[Michael] Naomi is Miss Money in the Bank!
[laughs]
[yells indistinctly]
Nobody with gold in this division is safe.
[Michael] Becky Lynch wins the Intercontinental Championship.
My goodness, I am wonderful.
[Pat] And Lyra's gotta pay up.
[Michael] Lyra Valkyria had had enough.
Which superstar will punch their ticket to a guaranteed world title opportunity?
♪ If you want to talk about it We could open up about it ♪
♪ Since you feel There's nothing left to say ♪
♪ I have to know we'll make it through We'll make it through this ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ You can shove it right back down ♪
[Michael] Rollins for the second time in his career
-is Mr. Money in the Bank. -Mr. Money in the Bank.
♪ Right back down We're fanning the flame ♪
♪ Bring your own weather And live in the rain ♪
♪ Then you can shove it right back down We're fanning the flame ♪
♪ Bring your own weather And live in the rain ♪
[Michael] God!
-[crowd cheering] -It is! It's R-Truth!
♪ Send out the message That you are the victim ♪
Yes, Truth!
[Michael] R-Truth returns to screw John Cena
and hand the victory to Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.
[song concludes]
-["The Time Is Now" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "John Cena sucks"]
♪ Your time is up, my time is now You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise, boy I'm shinin' now You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ In case you forgot or fell off I'm still hot, knock your shell off ♪
♪ My money stack fat Plus I can't turn the swell off ♪
♪ The franchise, doin' big bi'ness I live this, it's automatic I win this ♪
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Undisputed
WWE Champion,
-John Cena! -[crowd booing]
♪ Kid, your boy hold weight ♪
♪ I got my soul straight I brush your mouth like Colgate ♪
♪ In any weather I'm never better Your boy's so hot ♪
♪ You'll never catch me In the next man's sweater ♪
♪ If they hate, let 'em hate I drop ya whole clan ♪
♪ Lay yo' ass down For the three-second tan ♪
-[crowd booing] -♪ Your time is up, my time is now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise, boy I'm shinin' now You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's gon' be what it's gon' be ♪
♪ Five pounds of courage buddy Tint pants with a gold T ♪
-[song concludes] -[crowd booing]
[crowd clamoring]
[Alicia] He is the greatest of all time.
The Never Seen Seventeen.
Here to grace Phoenix
with his presence one final time.
The last real champion,
-John Cena! -[crowd booing]
[crowd chanting "Let's go Cena, Cena sucks"]
You teach me something every single time you open your mouths.
[crowd booing]
What you taught me at Money in the Bank…
truth is a lie.
Because you opened your mouth
and wasted your energy saving a sideshow comedian.
Whose greatest achievement is pretending to be me.
And you thought you did something good.
[crowd chanting "We want Truth"]
Do you think that actually accomplished anything?
[crowd cheering]
You are all spineless keyboard warriors.
You are ignorant armchair activists,
and you do not have any real power to change anything.
[crowd booing]
Oh, you don't like that?
R-Truth is a gimmick that you will spit out
and a year from now, you will not care anything about.
R-Truth is you'll never use me
to benefit one of your garbage pity parties ever again.
This is my farewell tour, damn it. Do you hear me?
[crowd booing]
I have limited time. I told you when we started, 36 dates.
And the last time we counted was the Raw after WrestleMania.
Down to 27.
Since then I've been to Fort Worth, Dayton, St. Louis,
Tampa, Knoxville…
-[crowd chanting "What"] -…Bakersfield, Los Angeles,
-and now Phoenix. -[crowd cheering]
This is almost over. We are halfway done.
And if you want to accomplish something,
don't waste your voice and send me the frigging class clown.
Use your voice and send me competition.
Because the way I see it, everyone you have cheered for
from R-Truth to Cody Rhodes to Randy Orton.
[crowd cheering]
I have shut your mouth and beaten your best.
-["Cult of Personality" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Look in my eyes, what do you see ♪
♪ The cult of personality ♪
♪ I know your anger, I know your dreams ♪
♪ I've been everything you wanna be ♪
♪ Oh, I'm the cult of personality ♪
♪ Like Mussolini and Kennedy ♪
♪ I'm the cult of personality ♪
♪ The cult of personality The cult of personality ♪
♪ Neon lights, Nobel Prize ♪
-[inaudible] -♪ When a mirror speaks ♪
♪ The reflection lies ♪
♪ You won't have to follow me ♪
♪ Only you can set me free ♪
-[song concludes] -[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]
Are you comfortable, John?
I want you to be comfortable
because I have a lot of things I wanna get off my chest.
And I am prepared to have this conversation with my fists.
But one way or another,
you will listen to everything I have to say right here, right now.
[crowd cheering]
It's ironic, isn't it? You…
strapped up, the cowboy…
the Boy Scout, saying you're gonna ruin wrestling,
saying you're gonna ruin the establishment
that made you who you are.
And CM Punk, the iconic class, the outcast,
the redheaded stepchild, the punk rock kid
from Chicago seemingly defending the establishment.
[crowd cheering]
Well, the more things change, the more things stay the same.
I'm not defending the establishment. Let's make it real clear, John boy.
I'm not standing for TKO. I'm not here to defend the billionaires.
I'm here to defend the people.
-[crowd cheering] -[Punk] Yeah.
What are you so mad about, John? Huh?
You mad because the establishment picked you
but the people never did, huh?
They picked me in 2011 to be the voice of the voiceless.
[crowd cheering]
You say you haven't had the best,
you haven't faced the best competition, boy, you have.
Cody's the best we got.
[crowd cheering]
And you beat him because you take cheap shots and you take shortcuts.
No, I'm not here to kiss my final boss's ass like you.
[crowd gasping]
I'm here to let you know that these people are my boss.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
It's my job to give them what they want. And if they want the truth,
-they're gonna get Ron Killings. -[crowd cheering]
No, we're all spokes on a wheel.
I've said it very famously and I've always known that.
And it's time CM Punk taught John Cena that he's just a spoke on the wheel too.
[crowd cheering]
And it starts by me taking that title off your shoulder.
[crowd cheering]
Yeah, remember when me and you locked up at Elimination Chamber?
First time in over ten years, and I felt it,
but I felt something a little bit different.
And then you watched as Seth Rollins stomped me,
and you didn't hesitate, and you pulled me back in the ring,
and you put me in the STF.
And the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness
was you almost in anguish saying, "I'm sorry."
Yeah.
You screamed "I'm sorry," because you knew then
and you damn sure now know that what you're doing is not right.
Look around you, John, you know that what you're doing is wrong.
[crowd chanting "You sold out"]
When I take that title off you,
you're gonna spend the rest of your dates crisscrossing the country,
apologizing to these people for the man you've become.
-[crowd cheering] -[Punk] That title…
that title has corrupted you.
And I know because that same belt turned me into a monster in 2012,
and when I came back here to WWE, I had a list of goals.
And holding that belt wasn't one of them,
because I'm afraid of the man I become when I have it.
Now that's the chip.
Everybody in the back should want that.
Everybody in the back should wanna be heavyweight champion.
Few can accomplish it.
But I now see that I have to become a monster
to stop the monster.
[crowd cheering]
To you, to guys like you, to Seth Rollins, that is a chip,
that means power, and it means control.
And to me, that is something that belongs to the people.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Let's go Cena, Cena sucks"]
[crowd chanting]
By my count after tonight, you've got 18 dates left.
Of what little respect I had for you, I'll leave it up to you
as to which one of those dates I take this off your shoulder.
And if you're not a coward, if you're any type of a man,
if you're more Boston Red Sox than you are New York Yankee.
[crowd cheering]
You'll say that date is tonight, right here, right now in Phoenix.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Yes"]
John Cena, CM Punk.
One final match.
[crowd cheering]
The Best in the World against the greatest of all time.
For the undisputed WWE Championship!
Let's do it!
[crowd cheering]
Not tonight.
[crowd booing]
No.
A match like this…
you're gonna follow me to Saudi Arabia.
[crowd groaning]
And we're gonna do it at Night of Champions.
Ball's in your court, hero.
You want a title match?
It's gonna be at Night of Champions, what do you say?
[inaudible]
["The Vision" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh, CM Punk just said to John Cena, "You're on."
Let's see if our general manager makes it official, but meanwhile…
[crowd chanting "Oh whoa oh"]
[Michael] This man is Mr. Money in the Bank!
[crowd chanting "Oh whoa oh"]
♪ Burn it down… ♪
[Michael] Just a little reminder…
by Seth Rollins that he can cash in any time,
any place on a World Champion.
[crowd chanting "Oh whoa oh"]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen,
here at ringside tonight, I'm Michael Cole.
Pat McAfee is off this evening, but I'm joined by Wade Barrett.
Wade, do you think General Manager Pearce makes this match for Night of Champions?
I mean, that is an all-time matchup, doesn't get much bigger.
It's been a wild few days out here in the West,
and we ain't slowing down tonight here in red hot Phoenix.
Well, let's show you what's gonna happen tonight,
because we have our first round matchups
in both the Queen and King of the Ring tournaments.
-There's the field for the women. -[upbeat song playing]
[Michael] It'll be filled out over the next couple of weeks,
including a first-round matchup tonight,
Fatal 4-Way style, as you take a look at this field.
Rhea Ripley, Kairi Sane,
Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez will do battle here tonight.
Now, on the men's side of things,
general manager Adam Pearce has reserved the right
to add one more Superstar to this tournament.
Who that'll be, we'll find out in the weeks to come.
But we do have a Fatal 4-Way matchup coming tonight in the first round.
You'll see Sami Zayn,
the Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio,
Bron Breakker, and Penta in a Fatal 4-Way live tonight.
[song concludes]
["American Made" playing]
[Michael] And what a way to get things started.
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing American Made,
from Minneapolis, Minnesota,
weighing in at 202 pounds,
Chad Gable!
[Michael] A clearly banged up Chad Gable.
We'll tell you how these injuries occurred in just a bit.
But coming up next,
Chad Gable takes on AJ Styles.
[crowd chanting "You suck"]
["American Made" playing]
[music fades]
["Phenomenal" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Alicia] And his opponent,
from Gainesville, Georgia, weighing in at 220 pounds,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles!
[Michael] We know AJ Styles has never lost to Chad Gable in a one-on-one match.
However, last week on Monday Night Raw,
he did lose to Gable's alter ego one El Grande Americano.
It was a Triple Threat match for the final spot
in the Money in the Bank ladder match, Punk, Styles, and El Grande.
Clearly here,
Americano slipping that steel plate underneath his mask
and he would use it to his advantage.
[Wade] There's a mask issue, he faced the mask issue.
And caught AJ with a massive headbutt.
And these ludicrous allegations coming from Michael Cole
are completely unfounded.
Now, of course, Gable went on to compete in the Money in the Bank matchup,
but in the end, lost to Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[Michael] Well, nonetheless,
you did say that Gable competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match,
didn't you? You just said that.
-[Wade] Wait a second. -[Michael] No, you just said that.
[Wade] Okay, hang on.
Your paperwork blew over onto my desk and I read the wrong thing.
That's not what I meant whatsoever. You're taking my words out of turn here.
[Michael] You're all busting over the situation.
[Wade] Wait a second.
[Michael] Well, let's look at some facts too.
Remember, you saw El Grande Americano last week
-and then this past Saturday… -[bell ringing]
…had that right elbow heavily taped in white tape.
Well, Gable has his right elbow heavily taped
-and white taped here tonight. -[Wade] Okay. Listen.
Listen, first of all,
Chad Gable not only competed at Worlds Collide against Vikingo.
[Michael] Yeah, it was a spectacular match.
[Wade] Okay, took a lot of damage in that matchup.
On top of that, Chad Gable trains in the dojo day after day
with a couple of in-ring savages like the Creeds.
-What do you expect? -[crowd chanting "AJ Styles"]
[Michael] Oh, nice, deep arm drag by Gable to AJ Styles,
and Styles follows up with one of his own.
El Grande Americano has been a thorn in AJ Styles's side as of late.
And AJ, understanding that he's the same man as Gable,
figures he might as well just take out his frustration on Gable here tonight.
[Wade] Well, he figured wrong on two levels there.
First of all, it's not the same man.
And secondly, you don't take out your frustrations on a competitor
-like the Olympian, Chad Gable. -[crowd chanting "You suck"]
[Wade] Quite the opposite is usually true, in fact.
So, AJ Styles, despite his veteran experience,
-needs to have a good think about things. -[Michael] Uh, nice leapfrog by AJ.
-I got you… -[Michael] Dropkick catches Gable.
[Wade] But look, here's the thing, we've spoken in the past about AJ Styles.
He's talked about the length of time he has left in his career,
and he really is in a, "Win Now" situation.
And missing out on that Money in the Bank qualifier
-has got his mind all twisted… -[Michael] Oh!
-…and that will not make it any better. -[Michael] Yeah, Gable taking advantage
over the fact that the Creed's are out there as well,
and a great throw by Chad Gable.
You saw the hesitation by Styles, and the Creeds came over to Gable.
-[Brutus] Whoo! -[groans]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And we are live here in Phoenix, Arizona tonight,
Monday Night Raw, live on Netflix.
AJ Styles starting to rally against Chad Gable.
Gable dominated for the last few minutes, but AJ Styles is right back in it.
[Wade] Yeah, something we've seen from AJ Styles for the past 25 plus years.
This is the level of AJ Styles, truly unparalleled.
[Michael] And Styles now, backbreaker to Gable.
Oh! And down goes Gable, cover by Styles,
-is it enough to put him away? -[crowd counting]
[Michael] And a near fall by Gable.
Creed Brothers, Julius and Brutus looking on at ringside.
[Wade] What a massive advantage AJ Styles really had
coming into this matchup, given the amount of abuse
that Chad Gable absorbed in that match at Worlds Collide against Vikingo,
and it's starting to tell now.
[Michael] It was a tremendous match against Vikingo
for the AAA Mega Championship at Worlds Collide,
record setting Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.
-And a nice German suplex by Gable… -[Wade] Oh!
…dropping Styles on the back of his head.
AJ may be out, Gable now heading up to the top rope,
looking to put Styles away with a flying headbutt.
Caught him in the temple, cover,
-hook to the leg by Gable. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Styles stays in it.
[Wade] Well, that German suplex alone was enough to KO any man.
Oh, man. Now, take another look at this. What a terrible landing for AJ Styles
right on the top of the head and then it's compounded
by this precision flying headbutt of Gable.
The fact that AJ Styles kicked out is astonishing.
[Michael] Styles back to his feet. That's astonishing as well.
And now, AJ Styles with Gable up high. Gable could be in trouble here.
[inaudible]
-[Michael] Oh! -[crowd groaning]
[Michael] Sending Gable down to the mat. Styles, thought he was gonna stack him up,
but instead, looked like he was gonna go for the Styles Clash.
Julius Creed saving Gable as Brutus had the official distracted.
[Wade] Just a great tactical move by the Creed brothers.
Sometimes question the smarts of Brutus Creed.
-[Michael] Oh! -[Wade] He's always a little off,
but now Julius Creed is gonna be a little off after that one.
[Michael] And so is Brutus, that running forearm by AJ Styles.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Fighting battles at every angle now is AJ Styles,
-but crucially, he is winning them. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Styles ready to go,
looking for the Phenomenal Forearm,
but Gable picks him off the top rope into an ankle lock.
[Wade] Tremendous reflexes from Gable,
and now all the agony in the world is directed,
and AJ Styles cannot get to the rope.
[Michael] Dragging Styles back to the middle of the ring,
Gable looking for a tap out here. Got the ankle lock locked in.
Styles, though, rolls to his back and now tries to create some separation.
-But Gable still holds on. -[Wade] Like a vice on that ankle.
Trying to tear every sinew holding it together.
[Michael] Yeah, pitbull, full mentality here by Gable.
Ankle lock, trying to make Styles tap. Is Styles gonna tap out?
[Wade] It wasn't so long ago, AJ Styles needed some ankle surgery.
It's not gonna be better after that, that's for sure. Wait up.
[Michael] And just like that, rolling into the--
Well, trying for the Calf Crusher.
-Meanwhile, Styles Clash. -[Wade] Whoa! The flash clash.
-[crowd counting] -[Michael] And just like that,
-Styles with the win. -[bell ringing]
-["Phenomenal" playing] -[Alicia] Here is your winner,
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[Michael] Maybe Chad should have just wrestled
as El Grande Americano and he would have picked up
another win over AJ. Nonetheless,
AJ Styles with a Styles Clash out of nowhere.
-What did you call it? -[Wade] It was a "Flash Clash,"
but let's take a look back at AJ Styles picking up the momentum,
taking out anything that moves, anything that was a threat.
And this flash clash out of nowhere
connected with Chad Gable and getting the dub…
-[bell ringing] -…once again for the veteran.
-Impressive start. -["Phenomenal" playing]
[Michael] Styles with a measure of retribution
here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Great performance from "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
♪ No, they don't want none No, they don't want none ♪
♪ They looking scared No, they don't really want none ♪
-[crowd cheering] -Hey, Liv.
So, I was thinking and I have a plan--
You know what? Save your breath because here's the real plan.
I'm gonna advance in this tournament, then I'm gonna defeat Iyo Sky,
and I'm gonna win back my Women's World Championship.
Okay, well, I think, we're on the same page,
because I was actually coming here to say
that I think, maybe we should work together.
That way, one of us wins for the Judgment Day, you know?
How about you just stay out of my way?
Okay, may the best woman win.
I will. [chuckles]
["Liv Gone Mad" playing]
[Michael] And the interesting way that these two women vying
-for the same prize here tonight. -[Wade] Who? "Dirty" Dom?
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following Fatal 4-Way is a first-round match
in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first, from Elmwood Park, New Jersey,
she is one half of the Women's Tag Team Champions,
Liv Morgan!
[Michael] It is her first, first-round matchup
in the Queen of the Ring, and it's live on Netflix.
-["Voyager" playing] -[Michael] Kairi Sane heading to the ring.
Already in the ring, Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez,
who, well, some people will tell you Roxanne and Liv
are both members of Judgment Day.
Others will say, Roxanne Perez isn't quite in the group yet.
[Wade] I think the only person who would officially say
that Roxanne Perez is in the group, is Roxanne Perez.
I've certainly seen nothing official from any of the key members.
-[Michael] Well, Finn Bálor… -[Wade] Things change real quickly.
See, Judgment Day is a democracy just because one person says it…
-[Michael laughs] Okay. -…they all have to agree.
-♪ This is my Brutality! ♪ -["Demon In Your Dreams" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Ask this woman if Judgment Day is a democracy.
[Wade] Well, it is. Because they all voted to kick her out.
That's how democracy works, Michael Cole.
[Alicia] From Adelaide, South Australia.
Rhea Ripley!
[Michael] Rhea Ripley set for action in this Fatal 4-Way tonight.
I misspoke earlier, said Liv Morgan was in the Money in the Bank
this past Saturday, she was not.
So, she is fresh when it comes to the women in this matchup,
along with Kairi Sane.
Rhea Ripley and of course Roxanne Perez participating
in that ladder match on Saturday night.
[Wade] Yeah, one of the most punishing match types in all of WWE.
And this woman, as you mentioned, and of course Roxanne Perez,
just 48 hours to recover, simply not enough.
So, if you're a betting person,
you would put all your money on Liv Morgan or Kairi Sane at this stage.
Although things change fast when Mami's in town.
[Michael] First round matchups continue Friday on SmackDown
and Monday, next week here on Raw.
The winner of course, will move to the semifinals.
The winner from Raw, the winner from SmackDown
will meet in the finals at Night of Champions
in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, two weeks from Saturday.
And remember, Wade,
the prize that the winner of the Queen of the Ring
gets an opportunity to take on their respective brands'
World Champion at SummerSlam.
[Wade] Yeah, you get a great crown, you get a great nickname…
-[bell ringing] -…for a year or so.
But really, that's the key prize, you want a shot at the gold,
one of the big ones.
[Michael] Nia Jax won last year, she went on to SummerSlam to beat Bayley
for the championship.
Fatal throw away, first woman to gain pinfall submission.
Will win this matchup, no disqualifications, no count outs.
So, Roxanne Perez helping Liv Morgan out early in this matchup.
[Wade] Oh, and the history-- cross-- between Rhea Ripley
and Liv Morgan, and Roxanne Perez really saved the bacon of Morgan there
as Ripley looked to snatch all her hair off her head.
[Michael] Kairi Sane, who, last couple of weeks
have knocked off both Raquel Perez and Liv Morgan,
been on a roll here in WWE.
Roxanne and Liv taken down by Kairi Sane.
[Wade] Kairi Sane really building some momentum here in the early goings.
We'll win some singles gold for the first time since NXT,
and nobody doubts the caliber, but don't take your eye off Mami.
[Michael] Rhea Ripley misses wildly, Kairi Sane now.
-[Wade] Oh! -[Michael] Oh! And Rhea caught her.
Again, the first ever Queen of the Ring back in, 2021,
the current United States Champion, over on SmackDown, Zelina Vega.
Cover now by Rhea Ripley, shoulders down,
kick-out by Kairi at two.
[Wade] And Rhea Ripley just always looks invincible.
But as we saw at Money in the Bank,
you put people in these multi-person matches,
all the cards get thrown up in the air and makes it almost impossible to predict.
[Michael] Well, Rhea Ripley looking to out-power Kairi Sane here.
Look at the strength of Rhea Ripley, the Eradicator.
Kairi, though, lands on her feet, misses with a backhand.
[Wade] Looked like crossfit workout by Rhea "Bloody" Ripley.
You don't get that in crossfit, though, do you?
[Michael] Cover now by Sane, will she be the one
to advance to the Semifinals. And a kick-out by Rhea.
[Wade] You got Rhea Ripley alone in the ring, two opponents on the outside.
Now's the time to make it count.
With the power of Rhea Ripley, it ain't that easy.
[Michael] They're shoving Kairi to the mat.
Here's the speed of Kairi Sane, the former NXT Women's Champion.
[Wade] It's gonna be crucial when you're in there
with someone so powerful as Ripley-- Keep moving.
And right now it's three on one against Rhea Ripley,
and that is a great strategy.
[Michael] And Liv Morgan caught Kairi Sane with a running knee.
What about the history between Rhea and Liv over the world title?
And now, Roxanne Perez, looking-- Coming to the aid once again of Morgan.
[Michael] It is every woman for herself, but-- Uh-oh.
[grunts]
[Michael] In with the Codebreaker, Rhea able to counter.
-Now looking for a Riptide on Morgan. -[crowd cheering, applauding]
-[Wade] Dropping the big bombs. -[Michael] And Perez this time
with a chop block to the back of the knee.
[Wade] Perez has to be trying her best to earn her way
into Liv Morgan's good graces.
-It's one way to do it. -[grunts]
[Michael] And now Morgan-- Codebreaker,
and Roxanne Perez drops Rhea Ripley on the back of her head.
And maybe Liv beginning to understand that I can work with Roxanne
and turn this into a one-on-one match.
[Wade] Great chemistry between these two right from the off.
[Michael] Oh, went for the cross body, did Sane,
caught by Perez and Morgan.
[both grunt]
[Wade] It's like they were made to be together,
isn't it, Michael Cole?
[Michael] Maybe Liv should let her in The Judgment Day, as Kairi Sane
is dumped onto Rhea Ripley outside the ring.
Fatal 4-Way continues in the Queen of the Ring.
[Sane groans]
[Michael] The story of this Fatal 4-Way has been the fact that Liv Morgan
and Roxanne Perez have been able to work together to neutralize Rhea Ripley.
But now Kairi Sane is starting to fight back in this match.
[Wade] Yeah, that's part of the issue.
You focus so much offense on the biggest threat,
which of course is Rhea "Bloody" Ripley.
You don't focus enough on someone like Kairi Sane,
who has flown under the radar, but is now back on top.
[Michael] Yeah, walking the plank, Kairi Sane.
Into the cover, first woman to gain pinfall or submission,
Roxanne Perez saves the match up not only for Liv,
but for herself as well.
[Wade] Yeah, of course, that wasn't quite as benevolent as it may have looked.
Of course, Roxanne Perez would have been out of the tournament too,
had that been a three count.
[Michael] Roxanne-- Uh-oh.
And Rhea Ripley back into the match with a wicked drop kick.
Liv Morgan, though, takes advantage.
[Wade] Ripley stumbling, but still not quite down and out.
[Michael] Oh, and a Codebreaker, springboard Codebreaker for Liv Morgan.
-One, two-- -[Michael] Cover now,
and Kairi Sane breaks things up. And Wade, in Fatal 4-Way matches,
it's so hard to build any type of momentum.
[Wade] Yeah, absolutely, you need to clear out as many opponents
as you can and focus on one. I'll say this,
Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez have done a great job
of clearing out Rhea "Bloody" Ripley,
who hasn't had a chance to dominate so far.
But you get the sense we're perhaps closing in on a grand finale here.
And it looks like it's Kairi Sane who's gonna pull it off.
[Michael] Yeah, Kairi Sane headed up the top rope looking for the Insane Elbow.
Meanwhile, Liv Morgan this time,
seemingly saving Roxanne Perez.
[Wade] You do not wanna taste that elbow, stop that at all costs.
And now we're getting a rope brawl, which again,
Kairi Sane was looking all the better for.
[Michael] Then Morgan stunned once again,
looking for double team help from Roxanne Perez.
[Wade] And we are seeing the bond between Perez and Morgan
grow as the seconds tick by here.
[Michael] Top rope now.
Meanwhile, here's Rhea Ripley.
[Wade] Just took way too long up there on the ropes.
[Michael] The Eradicator, down go Morgan and Perez.
[Wade] Double powerbomb. -[Michael] Kairi Sane from the top.
That flying forearm cover now…
-[crowd counting] -…for the win Ripley, kick-out by Rhea.
[Wade] Bodies are dropping and that really felt like the moment
for Kairi Sane with Perez and Liv Morgan down and out.
And this is why this single armed powerbomb times two from Rhea Ripley
and this flying forearm to the jaw from Kairi Sane
just when the defenses were down, but, just about enough left
-in Rhea Ripley. -[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Michael] Sold out crowd tonight of 14,361 in Phoenix, Arizona,
capping off what's been an incredible weekend
for WWE as Kairi Sane and Rhea Ripley slug things out.
Fatal 4-Way match to determine who goes to the semifinals
in the Queen of the Ring tournament.
[Wade] This is-- Rhea Ripley who has taken so much abuse already
in this match up. Kairi Sane, much less than that.
[Michael] And Kairi with a backhand blocked by Rhea.
Kairi now picking the leg of Rhea Ripley, right to the back of the neck.
[Wade] Gotta use technique against a powerful athlete like Ripley.
[grunts]
[Michael] And here-- Kairi Sane pulling out all the stops.
-Innovative offense by Sane, cover now. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] And Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez
save the matchup, breaking things up.
[Wade] That right there felt like a window closing for Kairi Sane
-and Rhea "Bloody" Ripley. -[yells]
You had your chance to win, that chance is over now.
[Michael] And again, this double team taking out Ripley.
And a kick right to the face by Perez.
[Wade] And Morgan with blood streaming from her nose.
Such are the stakes here tonight. The desire to qualify to the next round…
-[Michael] Backstabber. -…of this tournament.
[Michael] An homage to Carlito there as Kairi is sent out of the ring.
And now Morgan and Roxanne congratulating one another.
Rhea Ripley, though, has risen from the ashes.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] And Mami is ticked off.
And Ripley with a couple of clotheslines, and Wade,
you can hear the rumbling in this place.
[Wade] Yeah, and Rhea Ripley has that effect
on arenas around the world, where Mami has this look in her eye.
Two on one just doesn't cut it anymore.
[Michael] Roxanne Perez, gonna go for a ride to the Fallaway Slam.
Kairi Sane, top rope.
Rhea ducks out of harm's way. Ripley with a big boot.
-[Wade] Ripley taking no chances now. -[Michael] Headbutt.
[Wade] She's come unglued, she's dropping falls left and right.
[Michael] Morgan went for Oblivion and Rhea able to block.
[Wade] Power wins in the end.
[Michael] And Ripley gonna make Morgan pay with a Riptide.
Rhea gonna go to quick one-- Wait a minute.
Raquel Rodriguez, where did she come from?
This is a Fatal 4-Way, no disqualifications.
[crowd clamoring]
[Wade] Oh, so much history between these two,
especially from their NXT days.
Don't look away.
[Michael] And now, Kairi Sane from the top,
takes out both Rhea and Raquel!
[Wade] Raquel Rodriguez saving the day there for Liv Morgan,
but why wouldn't Kairi Sane capitalize on it?
[Michael] Well, she's going to now.
Liv Morgan's still down and out from the Riptide.
Kairi Sane is gonna go up to the top rope. Liv Morgan, no clue where she's at.
Insane Elbow by Kairi Sane! Kairi into the cover, hook of the leg.
Roxanne Perez stacks up Kairi Sane.
-Roxanne Perez steals it. -[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -["All Fall Down" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Roxanne Perez!
[Michael] Are you kidding me?
Roxanne Perez,
incredible 2025 continues
as she advances into the semifinals of the Queen of the Ring tournament.
[Wade] Astounding, calculating, devious,
and striking at the exact right time.
Shout-out to Raquel Rodriguez who inadvertently had the assist there.
[Michael] Well, in the end, Kairi Sane hit an Insane Elbow.
It looked like she was going to advance.
Roxanne Perez would save Liv Morgan, but then she'd take advantage.
She'd pin Sane, and steal the victory here tonight.
[Wade] Roxanne Perez continues
to have a massive amount of success in this year, one Insane Elbow.
And just when that connected,
it looked like Kairi Sane was going through, but…
Mind your time carefully, strike at the right moment,
and it's Roxanne Perez.
[Michael] And Wade, what we saw there was Roxanne Perez outside the ring,
clearly looking, clearly waiting for Kairi Sane
to hit the Insane Elbow, so she can capitalize.
Yeah, super smart. I mean, when you're that young,
and that new to this industry,
you shouldn't have those veteran instincts.
The fact that Roxanne Perez has them so early,
bodes incredibly well for her career and the rest of the tournament.
Quite the week here at WWE. At WrestleMania,
we made the announcement that WWE acquired the lucha libre promotion
from Mexico known as AAA.
The first big event was this past Saturday, Worlds Collide.
[upbeat Latin music playing]
[energetic hip-hop music playing]
[Michael] Well, ladies and gentlemen, she is the new…
The new Women's Intercontinental Champion.
Becky Lynch is here live.
Didn't look good with A-Town Down Under.
[music concludes]
["4X4" playing]
[Michael] Well, he's the World Heavyweight Champion.
"Main Event" Jey Uso focused and ready
for a massive championship defense tonight,
against the man who he tapped out
at WrestleMania to win his first World Championship.
That is that man, the determined, "Ring General" Gunther.
It is our main event for all the marbles, the World Title, live tonight.
Well, joining us tonight, Steve Gerben, John McKeever,
creators and stars of Netflix's Tires. Tires, also starring Shane Gillis,
is a hilarious workplace comedy about Will,
who is trying to save his family's struggling auto repair shop.
Tires returns to Netflix for a second season.
Glad to have those gentlemen here tonight. Pat McAfee is off this evening.
Wade Barrett from Friday Night SmackDown joining us here tonight.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, about to return to Monday Night Raw,
a Hall of Famer, from right here in Arizona.
[dramatic music playing]
[Bella] You walked into an evolution…
that my sister and I started.
I am the longest reigning Divas Champion.
[Michael] Her record setting, 301 days.
[Bella] I want you to take a look at what a real champion looks like.
[Michael] Nikki Bella is here!
The WWE Hall of Famer,
one of the most courageous women on the planet.
[Pat] Bella Army Rejoice!
[Wade] Nikki Bella is looking better than ever.
[Bella] They also call this the Bellalution.
[Michael] Nikki Bella is back!
[music concludes]
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -[overlapping chatter]
-It does feel like the old days. -[chuckles] I love this.
I love this so much.
-Well, Max, it's so nice to meet you. -So nice to meet you!
-Nattie, aw! -I love you!
[kisses] I love you. Let's catch up more later, okay?
-Text me in five minutes. -Okay, for sure.
Come on, Nat.
[Sane and Sky speaking in Japanese]
Are you okay?
Hi, Iyo, I just wanna introduce myself, I'm Nikki Bella.
Yeah, nice to meet you. And you know, I just wanna say,
I respect you so much, how you represent the women's division
and also how you represent yourself being the Women's World Champion.
Aw, thank you, Nikki. You paved the way for us.
-It's great to meet you. -Oh my gosh, you too.
-Thank you. Hope to see you later. -Oh, yeah.
-Yeah? Bye. -[chuckles]
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[Michael] Well, despite what you may think about her,
here comes another trailblazer in the women's division.
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the new
Women's Intercontinental Champion,
"The Man" Becky Lynch!
[Michael] We should preface it by saying it was a controversial victory
by Becky Lynch over Lyra Valkyria this past Saturday at Money in the Bank.
Becky with a handful of tights as she defeated Lyra.
And then that disgusting display of sportsmanship
after the match by Becky Lynch.
[Wade] What? What are you talking about?
First of all, there was no clear shot of this alleged handful of tights
that you keep banging on about.
All I saw was a quick pin from Becky Lynch to capture the gold.
And secondly, if there was a disgusting display of sportsmanship,
as you put it, it came from Lyra Valkyria,
the sore loser who jumped the champ post-match.
[Michael chuckling]
[crowd clamoring]
What, no, you deserve a chance?
Well, I don't need you to tell me that I deserve it because I know I do!
Now, I should be out here celebrating after my incredible victory on Saturday.
Because do you know how many opportunities there are for me
to celebrate something new
after everything that I've done in my career?
[crowd cheering]
After winning every other title multiple times.
Royal Rumble winner, Elimination Chamber winner,
first woman to win the main event of WrestleMania,
New York Times best-selling author.
And now, Intercontinental Women's Champion.
[crowd cheering]
So, this should be an opportunity to celebrate
because this title is meant to be about opportunities.
But the greatest opportunity this title ever got was when I won it.
When I got to look at it and say,
"Welcome to the big-time Intercontinental Championship."
"You have just become the greatest prize in all of wrestling,
simply because I am your owner."
I should be happy.
I should have spent the weekend celebrating with my hot husband
and my beautiful child.
But no.
But no, because of that disingenuous integrity-less,
shame to my hometown,
Bird Lady Lyra Valkyria ruined everything.
[crowd cheering]
She… she was so enraged when I won on Saturday.
So upset that I proved once and for all I am the better woman
that she raised my hand so aggressively,
so aggressively, even though, that was the deal.
That was the deal that she agreed to.
She raised it so aggressively, I thought she dislocated my shoulder.
[crowd booing, jeering]
And so, as the bigger person that I am,
I tried to extend an olive branch. I said, "Let's put this tiff behind us."
And I politely asked her to please help me now that you've hurt my shoulder,
please help me put this on my waist.
But she lost it. She went crazy. She tried to kill me.
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
And so, I'm gonna ask this crazy, Bird Lady to come out here
and to do two things. One, to apologize to me.
And two, to raise my hand again, but this time raise it right.
[Michael] Well, obviously Becky is a best-selling…
Come on, Lyra. Come on out here.
-…author of fiction. -Come on.
[Wade] All right, here we go.
Sour Grapes McGee is heading out here, the former champion.
Show a little grace for once in your life, will you, Valkyria?
You got that crazy look in your eyes again.
-["Triumph" playing] -[exclaims] Come on, you apologize to me.
You're gonna apologize to me, okay? You're gonna apologize.
-You're gonna-- -[Michael] Hey!
-Bayley! -[Wade] Oh, my God!
-[Michael] Bayley's here. -[Wade] Oh, no.
[Michael] Bayley ambushing Becky Lynch and taking it out on Lynch.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Bayley's lost her damn mind.
[Michael] Remember, Becky Lynch admitted to attacking Bayley,
before WrestleMania costing Bayley her opportunity…
-[Wade] Oh, God. -…to be in "The Show Of Shows."
[Wade] When it rains, it pours, doesn't it, Becky Lynch?
[Michael] And Bayley went for the Rose Plant,
and Becky Lynch able to escape and Becky in retreat from Bayley.
[Wade] Well, this was supposed to be a celebration
for the new Women's Intercontinental Champion.
And it's been ruined, first of all, by Lyra Valkyria,
and then even more so by Bayley.
[Michael] Well, listen, did you forget what Becky Lynch not only did to Lyra,
embarrassing and humiliating her this past Saturday at Money in the Bank.
But let's not forget what Becky did to Bayley.
She took her out of WrestleMania.
She admitted to attacking her, cost her a spot on "The Show of Shows."
-How could you defend that? -I'm not defending that.
But there is a time and a place to deal with issues like that.
-And what Bayley just did… -[laughs]
…was absolutely disgraceful.
-What the hell was that? -Oh, God, wait a second.
-[crowd cheering] -[exclaims]
Don't let nobody tell you that you don't matter.
[crowd cheering]
Don't let nobody tell you that your voice doesn't matter.
[crowd cheering]
They heard, they listened, they felt, and they understood.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
I am back because of y'all.
[crowd chanting "Truth"]
Y'all brought R-Truth back. We want truth.
Y'all got R-Truth. We won.
R-Truth is back for all of you.
[crowd cheering]
Every last one of you. But R-Truth is back.
I'm back for me too.
You see, not only did y'all bring truth back…
you got me.
Now, we all love R-Truth.
[crowd cheering]
I love R-Truth too.
But R-Truth can be too funny all the time.
R-Truth can be too nice and he's too forgiving.
-Not me. -[crowd cheering]
I wish you would.
I feel different.
I feel alive.
[crowd cheering]
And for any of you that thinks I'm a lie,
you think I'm some sideshow act?
[crowd screaming "No"]
-You think I'm a gimmick? -[crowd screaming "No"]
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
-Oh, my God. No. -[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Truth"]
R-Truth…
the truth has set me free.
[crowd cheering]
I am Ron Killings.
I am "The Truth," the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Now, put some respect on my name.
[crowd chanting "Truth"]
[crowd cheering]
-Hey, bro. You, good? -[McDonagh] Good to see you.
-What's up, pal? -Hey, I just wanted to ask you,
do you think it was a little bit strange
that you got put in the King of the Ring tournament?
Well, you know, you had your shot at Money in the Bank,
and that didn't work out.
Um. So, I didn't think you'd mind me representing The Judgment Day
in the King of the Ring tournament. Are you upset?
Upset? Of course I'm not upset, I'm rooting for you mate,
-you're gonna do great. -Cool.
-Yeah. -Why would he be upset?
You're gonna win the King of the Ring
and we're gonna go after the Tag Team titles, right?
Exactly, everything's working out perfectly.
-[chuckles] -Speaking of, congratulations,
-you've done great out there tonight. -Thank you, thank you.
Let her know, let her know.
-Good job. -Thank you.
Let her know, let her know.
Yeah, I watched, it was pretty good.
-Good job. -Thanks.
[crowd cheering]
What's everyone celebrating?
[smacks lips] I… I have a match.
Yeah, no one should be celebrating a thief.
Liv, I helped you out. I stopped Kairi from pinning you.
Is that what you did?
Congrats, then. [huffs]
Hey, uh, don't worry about her. She'd be fine.
Maybe you should go talk to Liv.
Yeah, I got a match, but I'm gonna-- I gotta go.
Or not. [chuckles]
["Zero Miedo" playing]
[Michael] Well, Roxanne, I guess, did prevent Kairi from pinning Liv.
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Alicia] The following Fatal 4-Way is a first-round match
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Introducing first, from Ecatepec, Mexico,
weighing in at 87 kilos, Penta!
[Michael] The man who has taken the world by storm, Penta, in a Fatal 4-Way
to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament.
Penta's live, next.
[music concludes]
-♪ No pain no gain ♪ -[energetic music playing]
[Vic] This is most of the WWE Universe's
first opportunity to get eyes on Mr. Iguana,
perhaps the most unique athlete in lucha libre today.
[crowd gasping]
[Vic] Mr. Iguana reminding the world
that he is an athlete to be taken seriously,
even if he does have an unusual relationship
with a stuffed animal.
-[music concludes] -[crowd chanting "Mr. Iguana"]
-[crowd barking] -Boys, the future I see…
we have hope.
Money in the Bank, King of the Ring.
This is an all-out assault on both
recognized world championships.
Whether we take those by victory or we take them by heist.
[crowd imitates barking]
Absolute power will be ours.
[imitates barking]
[Michael] Seth Rollins with his marching orders to Bron Breakker,
who will be a part of this Fatal 4-Way match tonight.
First round of the King of the Ring Tournament.
Dominik Mysterio and Penta
have had a history, and they're in the ring right now.
-[music concludes] -["World's Apart" playing]
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
[crowd] Let's go!
[Alicia] From Montreal, Quebec, Canada, weighing in at 212 pounds.
Sami Zayn!
[Michael] Sami Zayn looking to move one step further
in the King of the Ring Tournament.
[crowd chanting "Oh-oh-oh-oh"]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Well, following an eventful weekend
for both WWE and UFC,
get yourself a UFC 3:16 tee, available now on wweshop.com.
Can I get a "Hell yeah"?
You're supposed to go "Hell yeah."
[Wade] If Stone Cold had have said it and furnished me with one of his beers,
I would have absolutely hit a "Hell yeah" there.
You on the other hand, you don't deserve it.
[Michael] Had a couple of Stone Cold beers the other night.
[Wade] Yes, we did.
[music concludes]
["Breakk And Destroy" playing]
♪ Yaow! ♪
♪ But if I fade away, then that shall go ♪
[Alicia] Accompanied by WWE Hall of Famer,
"The Wise Man" Paul Heyman.
From Atlanta, Georgia, weighing in at 250 pounds,
Bron Breakker!
[Michael] So, for the 24th time,
we start a tournament to crown the King of the Ring.
The very first King of the Ring back in 1985,
none other than Don "The Rock" Muraco.
And this is what being King of the Ring, Wade, means for your career.
Ten winners have gone on to become world champions.
Twelve are now Hall of Famers.
Bret Hart won this King of the Ring Tournament
on two different occasions. And of course, Wade,
-you were once King of the Ring. -[bell ringing]
[Wade] Yeah, but I'll say this day and age, this current era,
the King and Queen of the Ring Tournament…
[Michael] Penta!
[Wade] …are even better because you get the added bonus
of that championship opportunity. What a deal-sweetener it really is.
The stakes right now cannot be higher.
-Qualify at all costs. -[Michael] Fatal 4-Way match,
first man to gain pinfall or submission will win this matchup.
No disqualification, no count out.
We saw Roxanne Perez advancing the Queen of the Ring earlier tonight.
There's the throw by Bron Breakker, who knows Sami Zayn very well.
They've battled three times for the Intercontinental title.
[Wade] That's ludicrous power, shouldn't be allowed.
But everything is ludicrous when it comes to Bron Breakker.
What a few days Bron Breakker has had. Rex Chopper, SmackDown, Rex Chopper…
[Michael] And he turns Dom inside out!
[Wade] And he's like a tornado in a cornfield already in this match.
[Michael] Yeah, what a pick for Seth Rollins
to have Bron Breakker join his team.
[crowd chanting "Penta"]
[Michael] We've seen Bron Breakker dominate
most of this Fatal 4-Way matchup.
Got a little cocky, and Sami Zayn made him pay,
and now, Penta starting to take control.
[Wade] Bron Breakker has his marching orders
from Seth Rollins. "Absolute power." That is what we are looking for.
Seth Rollins got a massive slice of that with a Money in the Bank briefcase,
and winning this tournament would certainly help
Bron Breakker's crew in the process.
[Michael] Well, Rollins made it clear that both recognized world titles,
are going to be the victim of an all-out assault
by Rollins and company, whether it be by victory or heist.
[Wade] Yeah, you can figure out the details later.
The key right now for Breakker and crew is to control all of the chess pieces.
Keep your options open, and win this tournament,
get the rights to that championship match as and when you feel like it.
And hopefully, Seth Rollins, for his piece,
-cashes in successfully too. -[Michael] Now, this is good strategy.
The three men, Penta, Dominik, and Sami Zayn,
seem to be directing-- Yes, they are,
directing their hostilities toward Bron Breakker.
And this is wise here, to try to take out the man who's been dominating the match.
-[Wade] And we saw it earlier with-- Ooh! -[Michael] Oh, Dominik from behind.
Sneaky Dominik Mysterio almost steals one.
[Wade] Well, sneaky is what you have to be here.
We saw it earlier with Rhea Ripley, everyone took her down,
and then the sneaky Roxanne Perez
perhaps charging Dominik…
charging "Dirty" Dom up with chicken tendies before this match.
[Michael] So, I wonder what Liv Morgan thinks about
Roxanne already rubbing off on Dom. Penta to the chest of Mysterio.
That's like caving in a bird's chest.
Cover, hook to the leg now, and a kick-out at two.
[crowd jeering]
[Wade] "Dirty" Dom clinging onto this matchup at this point.
All the momentum now in the favor of the luchador,
Penta, who took massive amounts of abuse just two days ago
in the Money in the Bank match.
[Michael] Sami looked like he was going for the Blue Thunder Bomb,
-and Penta able to block. -[Wade] I'll tell you right now,
we've seen very little of Sami Zayn so far in this match.
That might be about to change.
[Michael] Yeah, but let's not forget Sami's the one
who turned this match around when he took out Breakker.
-[crowd counting] -[Michael] Tornado DDT, cover,
Dominik saving the matchup.
[Wade] Yeah, and Sami Zayn also has those veteran wiles.
Knows not to burn himself out too easy in a matchup like this.
Save some energy for those latter stages.
Stay alert and make sure you can hit that fifth gear at the right time.
[Michael] And again, Dominik Mysterio, Bron Breakker,
along with Penta, were part of that Fatal 4-Way match
at WrestleMania where Dominik would swoop in and steal the victory,
pinning his Judgment Day buddy Finn Bálor to take the title from Bron Breakker.
And Breakker, now-- Look at the power!
I mean, talk about wrestling. Sami Zayn down on the mat.
And now the pound and ground from Bron Breakker,
who's ticked off now.
[Michael] Yeah, technique and power on a mean streak a mile wide.
Now, with the guidance of Paul Heyman, how can you possibly fail?
-You guys actually like this bum, huh? -[crowd jeering]
[Michael] And again, Breakker talking trash.
[Wade] Talk all the trash you want when you have so much power and leverage
over your opponent like Bron has over Sami Zayn right now.
[Heyman yelling]
[Michael] Ooh! Body shot by Breakker.
Breakker, former two-time Intercontinental Champion,
two-time NXT Champion. Again, we said it before,
man, what a steal for Seth Rollins to get his claws hooked into Bron Breakker
and bring him aboard. -[Wade] Strong pick right there.
[crowd chanting "Sami, Uso"]
[Wade] A thunder cloud that cannot be tracked,
and hits like a sledgehammer.
[Michael] Sami Zayn's slap, and now, forearms
having very little effect on Breakker
as the unpredictable badass has taken it to Sami Zayn here.
[Wade] Add granite jaw to all his other attributes
that seem to grow week by week.
[Michael] Breakker up over the top, lands on the floor.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Gotta move smart, move quickly when you're around Bron Breakker.
It might be the only advantage you can find over him.
[Michael] Sami Zayn top rope moonsault, Breakker's taken down.
-[crowd cheering] -[Wade] If we break it down,
perhaps somebody needs to start making things happen in the ring.
[Michael] And it may be Penta.
The high flying luchador takes out Sami Zayn.
[Wade] Three bodies down at ringside.
[Michael] Dominik, suicide dive, and turns it into a DDT on Penta.
Tremendous by Dominik.
Dominik may wanna turn around, and stop flexing.
Oh my goodness, he may break Dominik in half.
Leaping from the apron and now collapsing Dominik here.
Breakker, Dominik, Sami, Penta, everybody's down in the King of the Ring.
[crowd gasping, cheering]
[Michael] Bron Breakker's got Sami Zayn in trouble in the corner.
Dominik Mysterio trying to come to at ringside.
Penta trying to come to as well.
Fatal 4-Way match to determine who will get
to the semifinals of the King of the Ring tournament.
[Wade] And trading with Bron Breakker rarely works.
Somehow Sami Zayn came off the batter,
but of course, immediately there to pounce, "Dirty" Dom.
[Michael] And now Penta as well.
And Penta now with "Dirty" Dom up top…
-[Wade] Oh! -…running powerbomb.
[Michael] Breakker now up to the top,
McAfee will call this the Breakensteiner.
-[crowd cheering] -[Wade] What cannot Bron Breakker do?
He can do everything, moves like a cruiserweight…
hits like a breeze block.
I'm just looking at the skin of Bron Breakker,
-he hasn't even broken sweat here. -[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Michael] Paul Heyman barking orders to Breakker.
Remember, first man to gain pinfall or submission wins.
Already tonight in the Queen of the Ring side of things,
Roxanne Perez advanced to the semifinals.
[Michael] King of the Ring will be crowned in Riyadh at Night of Champions
in two weeks from Saturday.
And now, Penta with the forearms to Bron Breakker.
And Breakker with a knee. What a knee by Breakker!
The explosiveness of Bron Breakker. Penta caught him, though, with a kick.
-Uh-oh. -[Wade] Oh, man, that easy for Bron.
[Michael] Oh! And it turned it into a DDT, great counter by Penta.
[Wade] Nothing's easy with Penta, but there to pounce, it's "Dirty" Dom.
[Michael] Dominik trying to steal one, Breakker kicks out at two.
[Wade] How eerily similar was that to Roxanne Perez?
A little earlier, just waiting to pounce.
Didn't quite pay off this time.
[Michael] Man, what a feather in the cap of the Intercontinental Champion
if he had pinned Breakker there.
And now, Sami Zayn from behind, going for the Blue Thunder Bomb.
Dominik able to counter at least momentarily.
[Wade] That was blocked by "Dirty" Dom.
[Michael] And again, a block by Dom.
[Wade] Give him some flowers, Michael Cole.
[Michael] And now, went for a third time, Dominik with yet another counter.
And now, turns it into the first of perhaps Three Amigos.
An homage to the late, great Eddie Guerrero.
[Wade] Gotta finish strong here, Dom.
Gotta finish strong, two of the best Amigos ever.
We want three-- no.
-[Michael] Blue Thunder Bomb by Zayn. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Oh, and Dominik at two.
What action here tonight in the first round
of the King of the Ring Tournament.
[Wade] Sami Zayn so close here, not quite enough.
[Michael] We're sold out tonight in Phoenix, the PHX Arena.
Fourteen thousand three hundred and sixty-one WWE fans.
One of these men's advancing into the King of the Ring.
Sami going for the Helluva Kick, intercepted by Penta.
[screams]
[crowd chanting "Cero miedo"]
-[Michael] Sacrifice to Sami Zayn. -[Wade] Uh-oh.
Sami Zayn dislocated that shoulder in his Raw debut.
[Michael] And now, the Penta Driver.
-Penta Driver for the win. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Dominik looking to steal one.
-[referee] Shoulders down! -[Michael] Shoulders not down.
Great position there by our official Eddie Orengo.
[Wade] Over-rotation by "Dirty" Dom,
but that perhaps was the victory Dom was waiting for.
[Michael] Penta with a kick with a hamstring.
And now, Penta, face first off the sling blade.
And Penta about to wow him.
Mexican Destroyer. Dom's down, Penta into the cover.
-Hooks the inside leg, shoulders down-- -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Bron Breakker…
getting to Penta as Dominik kicked out, I believe.
[Wade] I mean, it's astounding that "Dirty" Dom wriggled
his way out of that one. Breakker was right there.
Need to actually replay to see if he actually broke the pin up,
but who cares right now? 'Cause back on the tear is Bron Breakker.
[Michael] Yeah, at this point, it doesn't matter.
Breakker is in control, he dumps Penta outside the ring.
And straps now down, and Bron Breakker's all business.
[Wade] Imagine fighting 20 minutes
and you see Bron Breakker starting to get warmed up like he is now.
[Michael] Penta turn around, Penta better turn around.
[Wade] We got a speed check coming our way.
[Michael] Bron Breakker with a spear.
-[Breakker screams] -[Wade] Twenty-three miles an hour.
-Hey… -[Michael] Hey!
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Blunt Force Trauma.
LA Knight is here. LA Knight takes out Breakker.
[Wade] LA Knight was Breakker's victim on SmackDown, and Money in the Bank.
[Michael] And now, Sami with the exploder suplex.
[Wade] Payback to Bron Breakker there.
-[Michael] Zayn into the corner. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Helluva Kick.
-Cover. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Sami Zayn's in the semifinals of the King of the Ring!
["Worlds Apart" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, Sami Zayn.
[Michael] Well, LA Knight was taken out on Friday on SmackDown
by Seth and company.
Took from the ramp again at Money in the Bank.
And tonight, a little bit of payback from LA Knight.
[Wade] Yeah! And no one can thank him more than Sami Zayn,
clearly had no clue what was going on on the outside.
[Michael] First the spear takes out Penta.
[Wade] Oh, so devastating.
Penta is done there, don't celebrate too soon.
Mistake by Bron Breakker and out of nowhere comes LA Knight.
And of course the veteran Sami Zayn with that Helluva Kick,
tight hook of the leg.
And now, our first man progressing in the King of the Ring tournament
-to the semifinals. -[Michael] Paul Heyman is beside himself
after the attack by LA Knight cost Bron Breakker.
So, the story now is Sami Zayn, who advances to the semifinals
in the King of the Ring tournament for the second time in his career.
[crowd singing "Oh whoa oh"]
I am here with AJ Styles.
And AJ, congratulations on that victory earlier.
Massive win for you over Chad Gable.
I can tell you're still fired up. So, talk to me. Tell me where you're at.
Here's the thing, I can't enjoy tonight
because I can't stop thinking about what happened last week.
Chad Gable, whether or not he has on a mask,
is one of the best in the business.
But last week, Seth Rollins had his lackey,
Paul Heyman, come and threaten me.
And we know "Dirty" Dom and The Judgement Day,
they're still running their mouth.
Listen, I don't care how they conduct their business.
But if you're gonna disrespect AJ Styles, I'm gonna punch you in the mouth.
If you don't believe me, go ask Gable.
Ah. On second thought… I think I'll go tell him myself.
Thanks so much.
You know, I was gonna send it back to the arena,
but I think there's a developing story over here, so follow me.
-He's holding me back, and I'm finally-- -Excuse me, guys.
Hey. Finally some good veterans around here.
-Yeah, there you go, Grayson. -We got you, man, every time.
Whoo! Here's Cathy with the good questions.
I was gonna ask you when you plan on defending your titles next
-and who against? -Well, well, hold on, Cathy.
We just successfully defended these titles two weeks ago.
And there are a lot of incredible teams here on Raw.
But in our opinion, they're all in the middle of the pack.
We're looking for that clear front runner, that number one contender.
We have way too much respect for these titles to defend them
-against just anybody, Cathy. -Mm-hmm.
'Cause y'all keep them in the driveway, we keep them in the garage.
See, we care about these titles,
unlike the champions before us and the champions before that.
-He could go on all day. -Yo, matter of fact,
you and everybody here should be thankful that you have champions like us
that actually elevate these titles to such a high pedestal.
So, instead of asking us these asinine questions every week,
Cathy, how about you,
everybody in this arena and everybody all over the world,
get down on your knees
and thank God for The New Day.
[crowd booing]
The better question is why do you keep deflecting them?
No more questions, Cathy, no more questions.
[Michael] That was a great question, Cathy.
-Nonetheless… -[crowd cheering]
-…the Hall of Famer is here. -["Flex" playing]
[Michael] Nikki Bella is back live on Netflix.
♪ You want to be a boss? Do it like I do ♪
♪ Uh I get that money, I'm a flex ♪
[music concludes]
Ladies and gentlemen, we look ahead to next week on Monday Night Raw,
live in Green Bay, Wisconsin. We'll have some more first round matchups
in the King and Queen of the Ring tournament,
and the return of a former multi-time women's champion.
[music concludes]
[dramatic music playing]
[Alicia] From Osaka, Japan!
[announcer] The Empress of Tomorrow!
[Asuka] No one is ready for…
-Asuka! -[announcer] Asuka!
[Michael] Won the first ever women's Royal Rumble match.
Miss Money in the Bank.
Former Raw Women's Champion, Women's Tag Team Champion,
-SmackDown Women's Champion. -[crowd cheering]
One of the most feared women in the business.
Awe-inspiring, hypnotic, and dangerous as the day is long.
You're not gonna find a smile
on the planet Earth as terrifying as that one.
Asuka may be the single most lethal woman in WWE these days.
[music concludes]
[upbeat music playing]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, next week on Monday Night Raw,
live from Green Bay, Wisconsin,
first round action continues with Fatal 4-Way matchups.
Asuka returns to the ring for the first time in over a year
as she's in a Fatal 4-Way for the Queen Of The Ring tournament.
Also, on the men's side of things, another first round Fatal 4-Way.
Sheamus, Rusev, and "Big" Bronson Reed.
Who will be the fourth member? That's up to general manager Adam Pearce.
He has a week to figure that out.
[music concludes]
["You Can Look But You Can't Touch" playing]
-[crowd cheering] -♪ You can look, but you can't touch ♪
♪ You keep dreaming on the stars above ♪
[Alicia] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome WWE Hall of Famer…
-Nikki Bella! -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] From right here in Arizona, Nikki Bella,
former two-time Divas Champion,
once held that title for over 300 days, which is a record for that championship.
Nikki returning to Monday Night Raw here live tonight.
[Wade] Man, have I missed this music.
Man, have I missed this woman.
Bella Army, we are eating good tonight.
Welcome back, Nikki Bella.
♪ 'Cause you can look, But you can't touch ♪
[Wade] I see you dancing, Michael Cole.
-♪ I can see that you want me so much ♪ -[music concludes]
Phoenix!
[crowd cheering]
Oh my gosh, it is so good, for one, to be back home.
Yes!
To be back in this ring, oh my goodness.
I just wanna say thank you to the WWE Universe.
Thank you to my Bella Army.
[crowd cheering]
I missed you guys.
I missed you, I missed you all a lot. I know, thank you.
So… Thank you.
So, I'm here to talk about something very, very special that's happening next month.
I think you all know what I'm about to talk about, right?
That's right, so it's been many years
but next month WWE is holding an all women premium live event
in Atlanta, WWE Evolution.
[crowd cheering]
Yes.
Now, I remember main eventing in the very first one
and it has been so incredible to see
where the women's division is at since then.
I mean the talent, the stars, you have Rhea Ripley,
Bianca Belair, Iyo Sky.
[crowd cheering]
And let's talk about these newcomers, Roxanne Perez,
Stephanie Vaquer, right?
Giulia. I mean, there is so much talent in that female locker room,
it is insane.
And I know that I could speak on behalf of all the women of the past,
but we couldn't be prouder.
We couldn't be more grateful where the women are at now
in this division, just so proud.
-["Liv Gone Mad" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Liv] Whoa, whoa, whoa! Cut my music! -[music concludes]
Cut my music!
Nikki, if you're talking about the best women in this division,
you better make sure you mention Liv Morgan!
[crowd cheering]
First of all, Liv, I didn't mean to. That was not intentional.
You didn't mean it like that. Well, too late
because I am the most talented woman in this division.
And I have proven it again and again and again.
I was Women's World Champion all of last year.
I am the first and only Women's Crown Jewel Champion
and I am breaking records as a Women's Tag Team Champion.
[crowd cheering]
But you know what, Nikki?
You're lucky.
You're lucky I wasn't around during your career
'cause I would have been champion and beaten you then too.
[crowd yelling]
But you know what, as I'm talking, I realize why you didn't mention me.
You didn't mention me because you're jealous of me.
[crowd yelling]
You're jealous of me because I have everything that you don't.
I have respect, I have a championship…
and I have a man.
-[laughs] -[crowd jeering]
[crowd yelling]
You know what, Liv? Hey, hey, you know, I get it, I get it.
You lost tonight, you're angry, I don't blame you.
Okay, it's a bad night for you, right?
But, you know, speaking of your man,
I'm just trying to figure out who he belongs to.
-[crowd gasps] [Nikki] Is it--
Is it you or Roxanne Perez? I'm confused.
-[crowd yelling] -[Michael laughs]
But you know what, Liv, if you could do me a favor,
can you congratulate her for me, for taking your title shot and your man?
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -[microphone thuds]
You know what, Nikki?
You can say whatever you want because I'm still a champion.
And all you'll ever be is a reality show diva.
-[crowd cheering] -[microphone thuds]
[Michael] Well, Nikki heard enough
and Liv though, hits her with the Oblivion.
You don't belong here anymore, Nikki! This is my division!
[Wade] That's called "an unwelcome back" from Liv Morgan.
["Liv Gone Mad" playing]
[Michael] Well, what I call it is "uncalled for."
I mean, Liv's under a lot of pressure and stress, obviously,
with everything that she's got going on.
But that is no way to interrupt and treat a Hall of Famer, Nikki Bella.
[Wade] Well, the ring is a dangerous place,
you come back to WWE, you can't just get a round of applause.
Expect some action, Nikki Bella.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, we kicked off the night tonight
with CM Punk interrupting John Cena's retirement tour.
[music concludes]
By my count, after tonight, you've got 18 dates left.
Of what little respect I had for you, I'll leave it up to you
as to which one of those dates I take this off your shoulder.
Match like this…
you're gonna follow me to Saudi Arabia…
[crowd cheering]
…and we're gonna do it at Night of Champions.
Ball's in your court, hero.
You want a title match, it's gonna be at Night of Champions.
What do you say?
[Michael] General manager, Adam Pearce, has made it official.
It'll take place two weeks from Saturday, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
at Night of Champions,
the renewal of a rivalry. These two last met 13 years ago.
John Cena, CM Punk.
Night of Champions for the undisputed WWE Championship.
["4X4" playing]
[Michael] Well, speaking of championship…
♪ Like a pro, not a rook' Bend your back, touch your toes ♪
♪ Hit a batch, take the sack Can you roll? ♪
♪ With my Xanax, I relax, take control ♪
♪ Rio, get 'em back, they too close… ♪
[Michael] Last week on Monday Night Raw, he got involved and,
-well, he paid for it by Seth and company. -[Wade] Yeah, it's about the…
exactly what you would expect, messing with the power trio of Seth,
Bronson Reed, and Bron Breakker.
Massive Tsunami, no one's ribs feel good after that.
Followed it up at SmackDown,
getting sucker punched by Logan Paul, and then AAed by John Cena.
This was just three days ago, last Friday, and a massive Frog Splash to boot.
And then 24 hours after this at Money in the Bank,
this devastating moonsault through our announce desk from Logan Paul.
Pretty much the worst prep week possible
ahead of tonight's showdown with Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship.
[Michael] Yeah, but that's just the past seven days, Wade.
Jey Uso's been going non-stop since he beat this man
back in April at WrestleMania.
[Wade] Welcome to being World Heavyweight Champion, Jey,
something this man knows a thing or two about.
["Prepare To Fight" playing]
[Michael] For "The Ring General" Gunther,
an opportunity to right what he believes is a wrong.
He lost to Uso at WrestleMania.
Gunther tonight hoping to regain his world heavyweight title.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[music concludes]
-["4X4" playing] -[Michael] We are sold out tonight.
Phoenix, Arizona, over 14,000 on hand as we prepare for our main event.
For the 21st time, this city has hosted Monday Night Raw,
and tonight, the World Heavyweight Championship is on the line.
Main Event, Jey Uso, defending the title
against the man that he beat at WrestleMania,
-"The Ring General" Gunther. -["Prepare to Fight" playing]
[Michael] He was the world champ for 259 days,
the Intercontinental Champion for 666 days,
the NXT UK champion for 870 days.
All this man knows how to do is win.
[music concludes]
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -Let's go!
Yeah!
Yeah! Uce! Uce!
-Uce! Hey! Hey! Hey! -[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
Hey, uce! Hey, uce! Please, please, hit my music!
-Oh, yeah! Uh-huh! Yeet! -[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
-["Main Event Ish" playing] -[Michael] Jey Uso with his son
supporting him here tonight.
Moments ago, Wade,
you probably gave me the best advice of my career.
[Wade] I've given you a lot of good advice, but yeah,
-that was particularly good. -[Michael] And Wade warned me…
perhaps I should not yeet with the world champion tonight
because of the man who's in the ring, Gunther,
and I'm going to heed that advice tonight.
[Wade] Just let the audience do it for you,
let them take all of the risk.
And this kind of buy-in from an audience is something you cannot manufacture.
They love this man, they believe in this man,
and they are gonna power this man to victory
with everything in their souls tonight.
Will it be successful? Will it be enough…
to overcome the surely broken body of the champ?
♪ Day one ish It's just me, Uce ♪
♪ Day one ish… ♪
[Wade] Keep that arm down, Michael Cole. I can see it twitching.
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up And knock 'em down like this ♪
-[crowd cheering] -♪ Aye, aye! ♪
♪ Main Event Jey Uso Is now in your city… ♪
[Michael] Meanwhile, the challenger, Gunther, seems extremely unfazed
in the ring as Jey Uso makes his way to ringside.
♪ Day one ish It's Jey, I line 'em all up… ♪
[Wade] I'll tell you, the quiet sting of failure
lingers longer than any punch or kick when it comes to The Ring General.
And he gets a chance to finally rid his body
of that sting right now.
Come on, champ, do it tonight.
Jey Uso cannot be anywhere near 100%.
I saw Jey earlier today, smile on his face,
said he was ready to go.
Said he's not gonna let anything get in the way of him holding on
to this World Heavyweight Championship tonight.
But, Wade, we showed just a small sample of what Jey Uso
and the punishment he's taken over the past couple of weeks here at WWE.
There's no way Jey is at 100% tonight.
[Wade] I agree with you completely.
Over that run from winning the Royal Rumble
all the way to WrestleMania,
Jey Uso had to develop an unbreakable spirit. He still has that.
What you cannot develop is an unbreakable body.
And I think half the job is already done for Gunther here.
That's the problem for Jey Uso tonight.
[Michael] You mentioned Gunther's relatively fresh.
He's only had one match since WrestleMania,
that was the battle against Pat McAfee, back at Backlash in May.
[Wade] The road to redemption since WrestleMania 41
has certainly not been straight for Gunther,
but it has been relentless.
And it's all been about tonight. Had that detour with McAfee.
But now, normal business is intended to resume here on Raw.
[Michael] Again, I love it. I love the enthusiasm.
I love the playing with the WWE fans here tonight.
But the bottom line is this, as all this is going on,
Gunther, the killer, the former champ, hasn't taken his eyes off Jey Uso.
[crowd cheers]
[Michael] Let's head up to the ring, and our ring announcer,
the great Alicia Taylor.
-[song concludes] -[bell rings]
The following contest scheduled for one fall is for
the World Heavyweight Championship!
[crowd cheers]
[Alicia] Introducing first, the challenger.
From Vienna, Austria,
weighing in at 250 pounds,
"The Ring General"
Gunther!
[crowd booing]
And his opponent.
From San Francisco, California,
weighing in at 242 pounds,
he is the World Heavyweight Champion,
-"Main Event" Jey Uso! -[crowd] Jey Uso!
-[Michael] This is the fifth time… -[crowd] Yeet!
…that Jey Uso and Gunther have gone one-on-one.
Gunther owns an edge of three to one.
He's also eliminated Jey Uso back in the Royal Rumble in 2024.
At WrestleMania, Jey Uso tapped out Gunther
to win his first ever World Championship.
It was the first time in almost four years since Gunther submitted in a matchup.
Tonight, Gunther, Uso, for the world title.
[Wade] The rematch the world has been salivating for.
Well, it's all ours tonight.
[Michael] And Uso and Gunther,
staring across the ring at one another. If you're the champion, Wade,
Jey Uso, how do you pull off what many would consider
-a miracle again tonight? -[crowd chanting "You tapped out"]
[Wade] Well, you've done it once before. You did it at WrestleMania.
You know you are capable of it, but does lightning really strike twice?
I'm not so sure.
And this is a even more motivated Gunther than he has been previously.
[Michael] Jey Uso going for the sleeper,
the choke that he got Gunther to tap out at WrestleMania.
[Wade] Yeah, and that's a big piece of the embarrassment for Gunther.
He was outclassed at WrestleMania by Jey Uso,
beaten with his own move.
[Michael] And tonight it's Jey Uso with the advantage,
the champion's advantage.
Again, sleeper locked into Gunther, who has to swing him away.
[Wade] Well, that perhaps was the best shot for Jey Uso,
trying to end this as quickly as possible.
-[Michael] Gunther has to regroup. -[crowd jeering]
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] Moments ago, Jey Uso was dominating this matchup,
but Gunther tried to turn it around quickly.
Jey, though, able to send him back to the center of the ring.
And now the champion, top rope, Jey Uso, cross body!
Here's the cover! Hook of the leg and a kick out.
And you see Jey Uso favoring his midsection
as he delivered that cross body, Wade.
And again, there's been a lot of rumors flying around
that we talked about this Saturday.
Internal injuries, rib injuries perhaps to Jey Uso
from the Tsunamis last week,
from the Asai Moonsault this past Saturday.
Do you see the smile on Gunther's face?
He realizes that there is a problem now with Uso,
-and can he take advantage? -[Wade] "I just ate your best shot, Jey,
and it hurt you more than it hurt me."
[Michael] And now Gunther realizing that he has an injured champion here.
And the big grin across the face of The Ring General,
who is now targeting the ribs of Uso, who has doubled over in pain.
[Wade] Well, Gunther has just gone from sluggish to savage
in the blink of an eye.
[Michael] I mean, Jey Uso was actually dominating
the start of this matchup.
Had Gunther all out of sorts, and there it is.
You see the heavily taped midsection of Jey Uso.
We talked about the Tsunami, we talked about the Asai Moonsault.
Obviously some serious injury issues for Jey Uso here,
and Gunther now,
like a shark to blood, attacking the champion.
[Wade] Well, the way this is going right now,
the only thing Jey Uso is gonna have around his waist when he leaves
is that bandage.
Certainly not the World Heavyweight Championship.
[Michael] Gunther looked like he has been presented a gift,
a massive gift.
And now stomping away again at the midsection of Uso.
[Wade] Just an injection of belief for The Ring General.
Whatever fragility there was in his ego has gone away now, it's galvanized.
[Michael] Well, Gunther had made a point over the past couple of weeks, and…
And a suplex again.
Gunther had made a point the past few weeks
that Jey Uso was wearing himself thin.
[Wade] I'll tell you right now, my opinion was, Michael,
that Jey Uso should absolutely have declined the tag match
at Money in the Bank. "Sorry, Cody, you're on your own."
[Michael] Yeah, but that's not what Jey Uso's all about.
[Wade] "I've gotta put the title first." Well, it's fine not being about that.
I would be about retaining my championship above and beyond anything else.
[Michael] And now ripping that protective tape away
from the midsection of Jey Uso, extremely vulnerable now in this match.
And things have become very dire for the World Champion,
as Gunther delivers a knee right to the ribs.
[Wade] Epic start from Jey Uso has now turned into a battle for survival,
and it's one Jey is losing dismally.
[Michael] This all began when Jey Uso hit a cross body on Gunther,
injuring his midsection.
Gunther realized that he was hurt, and now he has begun the attack.
[Wade] Yeah, Jey should have avoided that particular move like the plague.
But it's instinct, it's adrenaline,
it's staring across at Gunther and thinking,
"I better move quicker, he's gonna hit me."
And Jey hit a move he should never have pulled out with those damage ribs.
[crowd chanting "Let's go Uso"]
[Michael] WWE fans here in Phoenix tonight trying to rally the champion.
Jey sent across the ring.
Into the turnbuckle, again, doubling over in pain.
Gunther though, Uso able to sidestep,
Jey looking to rally, looking for the sleeper.
He knows he's gotta end this quick.
Uso trying to end it the way that he won at WrestleMania,
but Gunther makes it to the ropes. Jey Uso though,
nice German suplex by Jey.
[Wade] Oh. It's straight back to the ribs of Jey Uso.
That sleeper is about the best move he's got.
Very little rib impact when you're applying a sleeper,
but a German suplex, a splash, the amount of torque on your midsection.
[Michael] Well, if he delivers a spear, that's gonna jar him as well,
and that's what Jey's planning to do here.
Gunther though catches him, a sleeper of his own.
[Wade] Yeah, catches him in the sleeper, 'cause Jey just wasn't quick enough.
He hasn't got the power to accelerate.
[Michael] Ask Pat McAfee about that sleeper by Gunther.
[Michael] Jey Uso went for the suicide dive,
and Gunther caught him with the right hand
as Jey just collapses out to the apron.
[Wade] Well, maybe Gunther would have got him anyway, but I'm telling you,
-Jey Uso's speed is just a little off. -[grunts]
[Wade] He's got some power left in him.
[Michael] Yeah, Gunther now
headfirst into the steel post, and Gunther…
Oh, and a German suplex outside the ring on the floor.
[Wade] Yeah, a release German onto that lower back too.
It's all in the favor of Gunther now.
[pants]
[Michael] Here we are, World Heavyweight Championship,
Gunther and Uso.
Gunther dominating, Uso with injured ribs, looking to somehow rally in this match.
Block there.
[Wade] Jey really is clinging on here, I'm astounded
he even got Gunther halfway up, that's a massive frame.
[Michael] And look at Jey Uso, almost had him.
Gunther though, back lands on his knee.
A third time for Jey Uso,
-he's got Gunther in a Radical Suplex. -[Wade] Oh.
Jey with the landing, hurting his own ribs in the process again.
You're so limited in the offense you can throw without hurting those ribs.
And when instinct kicks in, and of course, against Gunther,
you don't get many options anyway. You have to take what's there.
-But it's backfired again for Jey Uso. -[crowd chanting "Uso"]
[Michael] And a problem, Wade, is a slow pace helps Gunther,
The Ring General.
Jey has to pick up the pace, but can he with the injured ribs?
[Wade] The longer it goes on, the more the swelling grows in those ribs.
-[Jey groans] -[Wade] The more painful it gets,
-the more your body seizes up… -[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
…and the more you need these people yeeting you to victory.
[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
[Michael] And now exchanging blows, center of the ring,
champion Uso, challenger Gunther.
And now Jey Uso starting to get the upper hand, right hand.
[Wade] He's turning around in a hurry.
[Michael] And Uso caught on it, on the shoulder,
dropping Gunther to the mat.
[Wade] Jey's not just surviving now, he's learning, he's adapting,
he's growing into this fight just when he really needed it.
[Michael] Yeah, but nobody home as Gunther was able to duck out of harm's way.
And again, the impact rattling the insides of Jey Uso.
And again, Gunther with a sleeper, the choke, trying to put Uso out here.
[Wade] And you know, Gunther really wants to win it with the move
Jey used to beat him at WrestleMania.
[Michael] Indeed, Gunther was embarrassed and humiliated
after tapping out to Jey Uso at WrestleMania,
would love to tap the champion tonight.
Jey Uso trying to drag Gunther over the top rope
and break this here, Gunther dumped to the floor.
[Wade] Desperation move from Jey Uso.
He is now blocking out the pain and hitting top speed.
[Michael] And now he hits the suicide dive, and down goes Gunther,
and Uso trying to rally now.
[Wade] Jey Uso's best hope at this point may well be a double count-out.
Neither man moving whatsoever. Jey can't even breathe down there.
[crowd member] Lets go, yeet!
[Michael] Again, you've had injured ribs in your career,
so difficult to catch your breath, especially so deep in the match.
[Wade] Yeah, you can't move, you can't twist, you can't inhale.
You certainly can't defend the World Heavyweight Championship
against "The Ring General" Gunther.
[Michael] Yeah, Gunther mentioned it before.
He's a machine, he's a Terminator,
takes all the emotion out of the matchup.
It's just kill or be killed when it comes to Gunther.
No mercy, no remorse, complete absence of malice.
[Wade] You wanna get to the top, your mind has to be
a compassion-free zone, and that is something Gunther excels at.
[Michael] Gunther top rope, Uso got his knees up.
Jey, spear!
-[Wade] Gotta kill it now, Jey. -[Michael] Got him in position.
Jey Uso going up top, looking to retain the championship.
Jey Uso now. Uso Splash!
-And Jey hooks the leg. -[crowd chanting] One, two…
[Michael] Gunther kicks out.
[Wade] Oh my.
Jey Uso out of nowhere connecting with the spear,
softening the big man up,
putting his own body on the line to hit the big one.
The splash, this is it. Uh-uh.
Not today, not against The Ring General.
And that might have been Jey Uso's final flurry gone up in smoke.
[Michael] I was gonna say, Wade, if you're Uso,
mentally, how do you cope with the fact
that you just hit him with your one-two, and he kicked out?
[Wade] It's utterly devastating at the best of times,
even more so when you doubt your body's own ability to cooperate
and hit something that big again in this match.
[Michael] Uso trying to drag himself back to his feet here.
Gunther as well, Uso measuring his man.
[Wade] Gunther unsighted and defenseless, pulling himself up in the corner.
[Michael] Gunther doesn't realize that Uso is set and ready to spring.
Oh, now he does, he turns Jey inside out.
[Wade] Absolutely baited Jey in,
he was fully aware what was going on there, Cole.
[Michael] And now Gunther went for the powerbomb,
Uso able to counter, hooks the leg to retain, a two and a half.
[Wade] So much resilience from Jey Uso.
[Michael] And a kick to Gunther. And now Gunther's in trouble.
And now Jey Uso back into the sleeper.
Jey Uso looking to take out Gunther.
Gunther turns it around, though. Oh, and a knee right to the spine.
[Wade] So well skilled,
technically, not more than five seconds in these sleepers, and Gunther--
[Michael] Oh, no, not the powerbomb, stacks him up.
Jey still has some life.
[crowd yelling]
[Wade] Now, Gunther perhaps starting to get frustrated.
He knows he's got a lame duck in the ring with him,
but he simply cannot put him to the sword.
[Michael] Yeah, valiant champion Jey Uso able to kick out of that powerbomb
despite the injured midsection.
Gunther, though, realizes Uso's wounded and he's waiting to take out his prey.
[Wade] Gunther is hurt,
and that is a testament to the job Jey Uso has already done this evening.
But it might be about to go downhill rapidly.
[Michael] Gunther with a spear. Gunther with a spear of his own,
-cover, hooks the leg, Jey still in it. -[crowd counting]
[Michael] Man, Gunther wanted to take out Jey with Jey's own move,
and somehow, Uso was able to kick out.
[Wade] First time in Gunther's career he's tried that. He tried it for a reason.
Message sent to a broken and battered Jey Uso.
[Michael] Yeah, but what a courageous title defense
tonight from "Main Event" Jey Uso.
[crowd member] Let's go, Uce!
[Wade] 2025 really has been the year of Jey Uso,
more momentum than anybody on the roster.
You might be about to hit a brick wall in the form of this big Austrian.
[Michael] Jey trying to somehow fight back up to his feet.
Gunther with a big right.
[Wade] I'll tell you, Cole, Gunther's not reinventing the wheel here.
It's all basic moves, clotheslines, big boots.
Where is it? Show it to me now.
[Wade] Gunther just hits them better than anyone else.
[Michael] And now just trash talking.
Jey Uso will not go away without a fight.
Still on his feet after a clothesline by Gunther and another one.
And Jey still fighting back,
digging down deep, showing some guts and heart tonight.
And the courageous champion now went for a sleeper.
[Wade] But again, Gunther out so quickly, and then one of his own.
You ain't getting out of this one. Oh, yes, you are.
[Michael] And Jey Uso driving Gunther face first into the turnbuckle.
Kick of his own.
Jey. Spear!
Does Jey have anything left?
[Wade] Well, it didn't work the first time.
Gunther's softened up for good now.
[Michael] Jey heading up top. Uso with an Uso Splash, nobody home.
Right to the bad ribs.
And that could prove costly for the champion.
[Wade] That was as close as you'll ever get to a scream
from Jey Uso, involuntary.
An outlet for this massive amount of pain. And oh my God, the hooks are in, Cole.
[Michael] Yeah, the constrictor-like maneuver here by Gunther.
Slick. Now he just puts the full weight of his body on top of Uso.
Look at how the arm has slipped underneath the chin into a choke
as Jey now tries to make it to the bottom rope.
That would force a break.
Can Jey hang on? Can Jey Uso hang on?
Gunther drags him back to the middle of the ring.
Gunther with a sleeper still applied.
[Wade] Again, no way out of this perhaps for Jey.
He's desperately scrambling with everything he's got.
Gunther. Oh! Got his tips on there!
[Michael] Yeah, but Gunther pulled him back to the center of the ring.
[Wade] Yeah, he didn't have a good grip on that rope,
certainly not good enough to break that hold.
[Michael] And again, now he just drags Uso back down to the ring.
Jey Uso center of the ring, could be fading.
Gunther's got his entire weight wrapped around the body of Jey Uso.
Jey trying to fight back, the champion trying to stay in this.
[Wade] This audience willing Jey back into this, "Do something, please."
[Michael] Jey Uso trying to fight out,
but his eyes look like they're beginning to roll into the back of his head.
Jey, does he have some fight left? Jey trying to stay in this.
Jey trying to fight back. Jey trying to make it to the ropes.
[Wade] All the while that carotid artery is being squeezed shut.
[Michael] Back to a vertical base for Uso,
but Gunther drags him back down to the mat again.
And that could be the last gasp for the World Heavyweight Champion.
Can Jey stay in it?
[Wade] Fading rapidly, the eyes of Jey. Oh!
[Michael] Yeah, but how smart is Gunther?
Oh, wait a minute, now Uso into the sleeper.
Uso with an opportunity.
Somehow staying in this.
[Wade] I don't know how Uso's got any power left in those limbs.
[Michael] All that adrenaline for the champion.
Gunther's now fading.
Shades of WrestleMania. Shades of WrestleMania.
Will The Ring General tap? Will Uso retain here?
Is Gunther gonna tap out again to "Main Event" Jey Uso?
[Wade] Squeezing his way out of there again.
[Michael] Gunther able to slip underneath, and now the well-placed elbows to Uso.
And now Gunther again wraps it in.
And Gunther now wrapped around the body of the champion.
Does Jey have anything left? Anything left?
[Wade] So much taken out of Jey. The eyes surely faded now.
Must be a million miles away from those ropes.
There's no fight left, Cole.
[Michael] Jey has nothing left in him and it doesn't appear.
Trying to somehow slip out of this sleeper by Gunther.
-Jey Uso's out. -[Wade] He's out, Cole.
[Michael] Jey Uso is out, I believe.
-He is out. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Gunther becomes the new world champion.
["Prepare to Fight" playing]
[Alicia] Here is your winner, and the new…
World Heavyweight Champion,
"The Ring General" Gunther!
[Michael] Well, the expression on the face of the new world champion says it all.
He knows he was in a fight tonight,
a massive fight with a very game and valiant, courageous Jey Uso.
But at the end of the day, Gunther is once again,
for the second time in his career, a World Heavyweight Champion.
[Wade] Jey Uso's just done too much over the last couple of months.
He's been one hell of a champion.
But I'll tell you, I don't care how good you are in this game,
even the very best taken out occasionally.
But the greats, they come back and they avenge their losses
with whatever it takes.
And it took everything but the kitchen sink from Gunther tonight
to prize Jey Uso's grip off the World Heavyweight Championship.
You do question what kind of fight would it have been
had Jey Uso really been rested at 100%.
But Gunther didn't care, and nor should he.
This was about the big one, this was about the gold,
this was about the World Heavyweight Championship,
and in that moment, a new champ was crowned.
[Michael] Gunther who prides himself in always carrying gold,
as Jey Uso and his son there at ringside.
It is once again the dawning of The Ring General's era.
Gunther is once again World Heavyweight Champion.
[yells indistinctly]