[epic music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[music concludes]
[dramatic music playing]
[Triple H] Let me welcome you to ESPN.
Let me welcome you to Wrestlepalooza.
What should fans be most excited about?
[Triple H] You can expect spectacle,
you can expect an event that's larger than life.
[Pat] And it's gonna be must watch. It's gonna be show stealing.
That fight will be taking place at the top of the show.
Kicking off the ESPN WWE era
will be John Cena versus Brock Lesnar.
I'm going Never Seen 17, give me John Cena.
[Michael] Brock Lesnar destroys, and I mean destroys, John Cena tonight.
The biggest show of the year has a huge fight feel to it.
I think people can expect one of the dopest shows on ESPN.
[Michael] Jey Uso questioning the count.
[Wade] Almost wiped out special guest ref LA Knight.
[Michael] Breakker buried both Usos!
The Vision does it again.
I don't wanna set too high an expectation,
but I think we all know you guys are gonna do something special.
[Wade] Both women throwing everything at this.
[Michael] Stephanie Vaquer wins the championship!
You and your wife Becky Lynch taking on CM Punk and his wife AJ Lee.
There's no way we lose this match.
It's been ten years.
I am unpredictable. I don't know what I'm gonna do.
[Michael] AJ turns it into a Black Widow. Tap-out. Tap-out.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Punk and AJ win!
If you have never tuned in to WWE before, this is the time to do it.
It is my esteemed honor to be able to induct you
in the Class of 2026
WWE Hall of Fame.
[crowd cheering]
You're at your best when you got hostility and animosity towards somebody.
I mean, when you got a little edge behind you…
Drew McIntyre, hit me with your best shot
and I'm gonna kick out.
Maybe his ego was bruised, I beat him up a little bit.
I don't care, all that matters is I've got the title match, it's on the ESPN.
And now Drew McIntyre can finally take his place at top of WWE.
[Michael] So close to winning the world title!
Cody fired up, Cross Rhodes!
-Cody retains! -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Cody Rhodes celebrates a new era, the ESPN era.
This was history tonight, guys, and it happened here in Indianapolis.
[crowd cheering]
[Triple H] As we move forward, champion versus champion,
to determine the Crown Jewel champion in Perth.
[music concludes]
["4X4" playing]
[Joe] That was Saturday night in Indy,
and this is The Vision, arriving here in Evansville.
Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch with titles in hand.
The Brons put a beating on the Usos.
"The Oracle" Paul Heyman moving ahead with the master plan.
They're all here for Raw.
As is the new Women's World Champion.
Stephanie Vaquer has made it to the top
and her father Héctor is beaming with pride.
We will hear from the incredibly impressive La Primera tonight.
And The New Day.
Of course, Grayson Waller is ever present by their side.
Last week, brutally attacking Penta.
Now they deal with Penta and The War Raiders in a six-man,
no disqualification match.
Plus, Bayley is here.
It's become a complicated recent journey for Bayley.
What's her mindset now? Bayley meets Roxanne Perez tonight.
And LA Knight is ready for battle.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Oh, as Dom is finding out just what Rusev is capable of.
And LA Knight doesn't seem to really care.
The Megastar has his own business to handle.
He's meeting Jey Uso inside the ropes.
As we are thrilled to be back in Evansville, Indiana,
with a big crowd that knows how much just changed at Wrestlepalooza.
Yet so much more to be determined here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] As we welcome you inside the Ford Center,
and this is Raw on Netflix.
[crowd cheering]
[music fades]
-["Kingdom" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Wrestling has more than one Royal family ♪
[crowd screaming, cheering]
-♪ Adrenaline, in my soul ♪ -[pyrotechnics explode]
♪ Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain Lights go up, I'm home ♪
-♪ Whoa! ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ And my father said When I was younger… ♪
[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
the Undisputed WWE Champion,
The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes!
[Joe] Wade, Cody showed up on a Wrestlepalooza post show.
We turned to him, we asked about the future.
It was at that very moment Seth Rollins' music hit
and an epic champ with champ face-off was on.
[Wade] Yes, indeed.
Saturday, October 11th, all the way from Perth, Australia.
As a consequence of success at Wrestlepalooza,
Cody Rhodes, next match of his set,
he will face the World Heavyweight Champion, Seth "Freakin" Rollins
for the Men's Crown Jewel Championship.
Who is the best of the best?
-♪ Whoa! ♪ -[crowd] ♪ Whoa! ♪
♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men… ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] On the heels of another title defense for Cody Rhodes
in this calendar year after winning the title back,
taking care of Drew McIntyre in Indy in a hard-fought battle.
♪ Now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams but not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me until the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom You tried to tell me what to do… ♪
-[song fades] -[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Cody"]
[crowd cheering]
So Evansville, Indiana!
[crowd cheering]
What do you wanna talk about?
[crowd cheering]
Well, we could talk about this right here.
This, the inaugural Crown Jewel Championship ring.
And as much as I love it, I've got nine other digits,
I would love to add one more.
Crown Jewel, Perth, Australia, the Undisputed WWE Champion.
[crowd cheering]
-Against the World Heavyweight-- -♪ Burn it down! ♪
-[crowd cheering] -["The Vision" playing]
[crowd chanting "Oh whoa oh"]
♪ Burn it down! ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Menacing look on the face of Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
whose Wrestlepalooza did not quite go the way
he wanted in mixed tag action.
[Joe] Well, all the dust has settled,
all the banter with that mixed tag team match has quieted,
and he can now focus on one thing, Wade,
and that is best versus best.
[crowd chanting "Oh whoa oh"]
♪ Burn it down! ♪
[Joe] That'll happen Saturday, October 11th,
from Perth, Western Australia.
[Wade] For now, at least, it appears Seth "Freakin" Rollins
is calling off the Dogs of War,
that Vision tag team that was successful Saturday night
against the Usos at Wrestlepalooza.
It appears Cody is a safe man, for now at least.
[Joe] Very few are around the Brons.
[song fades]
[crowd chanting "Oh whoa oh"]
[audience member] Burn it down!
[crowd barking]
[crowd chanting "Cody"]
You know, from the moment we both walked out of SummerSlam
as champions,
I had Crown Jewel circled on the calendar.
We both had some hoops to jump through to get to this point.
But here we are, champion versus champion,
Seth Rollins versus Cody Rhodes,
two of the best in the world in their prime,
one-on-one!
May the best man win.
And it should be that simple…
but it's not that simple.
Because it's you and me, and it's deeper than that,
and it's bigger than that.
Now I'm pretty good at reading people, Cody.
I know what all these people here tonight think about me.
[crowd jeering]
I know what the locker room thinks about me.
I know what the Internet thinks about me.
I know what everybody watching at home on Netflix thinks about me,
and I don't give a damn.
[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]
Because these people, they don't know what's good for them.
They don't have the right to make decisions.
[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]
Fortunately, it's not about him because he doesn't have a championship.
[crowd booing]
I know what that moron thinks of me.
What I need to know, what I want to know from you--
and I want the truth, Cody…
what do you think of me?
-[crowd clamoring] -[inaudible]
The truth, Cody, I want the truth. What do you think of me?
All right, you want the truth. What do I think of you?
Uh… I guess it's complicated, right?
And it shouldn't be complicated.
You've certainly, in recent memory, made some questionable choices.
One of them is standing right there.
Hello, Mr. Heyman.
[crowd booing]
But-- but Seth, what do I think of you?
Yeah.
You changed my life.
I came back at WrestleMania and maybe you did it indirectly,
but you had the courage to stand across from an opponent you didn't know.
You changed my life at Hell in a Cell, because without that low,
without that injury, I would not know what I was capable of doing.
And you changed my life again, and not just my life,
you changed my career
at WrestleMania XL when you were my shield.
You changed my career when you helped validate the Rhodes name
and finally get the WWE Championship in my family.
[crowd cheering]
Again, it shouldn't be complicated.
I just had your lovely wife on the podcast just the other day.
[crowd booing]
I…
Hey, I know it's sports entertainment and it's wrestling 101
for me to stand out here and run you down before Crown Jewel,
to exchange these barbs.
But a better question, Seth, is what do you think of you, right?
Because Seth Rollins on any given night is not just one of the best,
could be the absolute best.
But that Seth Rollins that I am talking about
is not hiding behind these three goons right here.
-[crowd booing] -I'm a goon? I'm a goon?
-I'm a goon? -You'll see what these goons can do.
-You'll see what happens. -I'm a goon?
So I'm not gonna sling mud with you here.
I'm just gonna go ahead and say it like it is.
So question for you.
We know we have our match.
We know you're champion, I'm champion, and another ring is on the line.
What can I do for you right now, Seth?
You wanna talk about that ring?
Before we talk about that ring, we need to talk about this watch.
That's right.
This is the watch that you gave me at WrestleMania XL.
I haven't worn it a single time since then
until tonight.
And I need to know Cody, was this real?
Was this a real gift, or was this a token gesture?
Because you are fantastic at saying all the right things about me,
glowing praise you heap on me when it suits you.
Because in your next breath,
you undermine every single thing that I stand for.
You stand here in this ring.
You go on interviews and you say with a straight face
that you are the right person
to lead this industry into the future.
[crowd cheering]
You say that you're the quarterback, you're QB1,
and there's nobody better suited for that job.
So if you really believe that, Cody, if you believe that in your core,
then what does that say about me?
The way I see it, there's only two possibilities, Cody.
Either you don't think I'm good enough…
or you just don't think I'm as good as you.
Those aren't goons, understand that?
I'm certainly not.
The Vision isn't just a group of people.
The Vision is an idea about what the future
of this industry looks like.
Listen to me. It's what the future of this industry looks like
and it runs through me.
I… I… I am the tip of that spear, not you!
[crowd booing]
So, you can be the quarterback, Cody,
but you will be my quarterback.
And if you don't agree with that… [chuckles]
…it doesn't matter.
Because in three weeks, Crown Jewel, the truth will come out
by any means necessary.
You will find out I am the creator.
I am the prime mover, Cody.
This is not a two-man show.
I'm the alpha.
You're the alpha?
A lot of questions here for me. I've just got two questions for you.
In the three matches that we've had, they have all been one-on-one.
At Crown Jewel, will that be the case?
And more importantly, in the three matches that we've had, Seth Rollins,
how many of those have you won?
-[mic thudding] -[crowd gasping, cheering]
[crowd chanting "Cody"]
[crowd barking]
[Joe] The Vision, the Brons stepping to Cody.
-And Seth waving them to clear the path. -After you, sir.
-[crowd cheering] -[crowd member] Come on, Cody!
["Kingdom" playing]
[Joe] Seth said, "I'm the alpha," Wade.
Cody reminded him, "Hey, we've danced this dance three times, my friend."
Put that record right out there.
Crown Jewel awaits.
♪ Adrenaline in my soul Every fight out of control… ♪
[Joe] It is coming your way Saturday, October 11th
from Perth, Western Australia.
Crown Jewel, best versus best, the Men's Crown Jewel Championship.
Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins.
Man, it's already built, isn't it? I'm ready for it right now.
You know what, Ousmane Dembélé
of Paris Saint-Germain just won the Ballon d'Or.
In the world of soccer, means you're the best on the planet.
Our Ballon d'Or is the Crown Jewel Championship.
And either way,
we have two amazing athletes in there, Cody and Seth.
We find out in under three weeks' time.
Now, Cody turned and called them the goons,
the other side of The Vision, they were successful this weekend
as the Brons defeated the Usos.
["4X4" playing]
-[music fades] -[crowd cheering]
Jey. What's up, man?
You all right?
Hey listen, what happened at Wrestlepalooza,
me and you losing to them fools, trash.
Trash, dawg. I know we can beat the Brons.
Matter of fact, I went to go talk to Adam Pearce to get a rematch,
and guess what he told me?
You made your own match, you versus LA Knight tonight.
[crowd cheering]
I did.
And you honestly think that's a good idea?
I mean, come on man, you over here busted up,
hurting, whatever y'all got going on, y'all gotta squash that--
Look, I said I did.
I ain't even had the time to wipe the blood off my Air Forces.
You wanna know what I think?
I think me and you would have won at Wrestlepalooza
if LA Knight wasn't the referee!
-Hey, wanna know what else I think? -What else?
I think The Vision would've took care of LA Knight last week
if you ain't never tagged with him, uce.
What, you trying to flip this on me now, uce, huh?
What, you trying to blame me, huh?
No.
All right, look, all I'm saying is we got a lot to handle.
We're gonna handle all that as soon as I body LA Knight.
Man, yeet.
[Joe] It is on tonight, Jey Uso and LA Knight.
[Wade] Criminations are always sky high after a loss,
even more so when you are the greatest tag team of all time,
the Usos.
Talking about great tag teams, here's another.
["New Day's World" playing]
♪ And New Day built the New Day name ♪
♪ It's New Day's time Will New Day stop? ♪
-♪ It's New Day's world ♪ -[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following is a six-man no disqualification tag team match.
Introducing first, at a combined weight of 621 pounds,
the team of Grayson Waller with Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston,
The New Day!
[Joe] The New Day, the former champs, Grayson Waller leading the way.
They can talk about-- complaining about banning
the Mexican Destroyer all they want.
Now, things got to get settled here.
A six-man, no DQ tag team match against Penta and The War Raiders
And that is next on Monday Night Raw on Netflix.
[music fades]
[Joe] You see Grayson Waller teaming up with The New Day,
second time that's been official in a match.
And it's everything that happened last week
that's brought about major emotions surrounding this.
[Wade] Yeah, Penta taking on Kofi Kingston,
and despite repeated outside interference,
it was the lucha superstar who prevailed
with a very much maligned Mexican Destroyer for the three-count.
However, story didn't end there because later in the evening,
The New Day and Waller got their revenge,
laying Penta out with a vicious sneak attack,
which has led us to tonight's no disqualification six-man showdown.
Signed into effect by that tyrant Adam Pearce.
-["Zero Miedo" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-Cero miedo! [grunts] -[crowd] Cero miedo!
Whoo!
[Joe] As cool as could be.
And as great an entrance as you'll ever see time and again.
Cero miedo. Penta.
[Wade] No fear whatsoever
and that approach comes in incredibly handy
in a no disqualification matchup where fear reigns supreme
and damage is inevitable.
[Joe] As he looks at the man who attacked him viciously a week ago.
[Wade] Might wanna pump those brakes until backup arrives.
["War" playing]
[Wade] Speak of the devils.
[Joe] And that's some big backup.
[crowd cheering]
-[Wade] Joe Tess, get ready. -[Joe] Bring it.
-[Wade] Because… -[Joe] What do you got, Wade?
[Wade] Raw is war!
[Lilian] Introducing their opponents, at a combined weight
of 789 pounds, the team of Penta
with Erik and Ivar, The War Raiders!
[Joe] The two-time World Tag Team Champions
with a pairing you see there that I don't know that anybody saw it coming,
-but is it good? -[bell ringing]
[Joe] And we are right after it. Remember, no disqualification,
six-man tag team and they are off and running.
[Wade] Very few rules in this one.
Someone's gonna get pinned or submitted, and aside from that, all bets are off.
[Joe] And they went running.
Woods, Kingston, and Grayson Waller wanted no part of that.
Oh! But they trip them up, well, at least two of the three,
because Big Ivar's holding his ground and dragging Woodsy right into the ring.
[Wade] Just a little too massive is Ivar, but make no mistake,
that man can move like a lightweight, but hit like a super heavyweight.
But those eyes have no protection from attacks from Xavier Woods,
all perfectly legal.
[Joe] Xavier Woods trying to get the best of the big man,
but he gets squashed in that corner.
And it's always so impressive to see the agility of Ivar.
[Erik] Come on.
[Wade] Major beef between these two tag teams.
We get the six-man part.
It was The New Day who took tag gold from The War Raiders at WrestleMania 41
and never gave The War Raiders a rematch. Wait a second!
[Joe] Oh man! With that black kendo stick.
[Wade] Painted black 'cause we are in mourning.
I guess you could call it "mourning wood."
[Joe] That's "mourning" with a U.
-Like sadness. -[Wade] That is correct.
Very PG, Joe Tess, don't get carried away here.
[Joe] Grayson Waller on the attack, but he eats a right hand from Erik.
-Slap to the back of the head. -Are you out of your mind?
[Wade] Oh!
[Joe] Kofi Kingston comes flying in from behind,
and now The New Day beating down.
[Wade] Attack after attack from behind.
Impossible to keep your wits about you and stare at every threat coming your way.
[Joe] Oh! Ivar right on time.
-[crowd chanting "Cero miedo"] -Erik! Penta!
[Joe] As he calls for Erik.
[crowd] Cero miedo.
[Joe] You know Penta loves to fly.
Oh! And how about a steppingstone topé
as that crossbody smash was in stereo.
Ivar one way, Penta flying, steppingstone style.
[crowd cheering, chanting "Penta"]
[Joe] No disqualification,
six-man tag team match here at the Ford Center
in Evansville, Indiana.
Penta and The War Raiders being beat down right now
by The New Day and Grayson Waller, as Penta is surrounded.
Remember, Big Ivar set up that table in the corner, and then all of a sudden,
The New Day and Waller went on the attack.
[Wade] Every day when I wake up, I thank God for The New Day.
-So should you, Joe Tess-- -[Joe] Oh man, did Penta send Big G.
He went flying.
[Wade] The problem with Penta, you can never count him out.
You can never take your eye off him. This man can attack from all angles.
He's done exactly that since debuting here on Raw.
[Joe] Now trying to attack from the apron, but he gets undercut by Woods,
who lays him out on top of that table.
No disqualification.
So much has gone down between these six men in recent weeks.
And would you look at Kofi Kingston.
[Wade] Kofi Kingston is high risk as they come,
I've eaten a lot of his offense. Oh my God!
[Joe] Kofi Kingston leg dropping through the table and through Penta.
[Wade] Thought to take out the entire field,
unfortunately, most of the field moved out of the way,
but poor Penta ate the brunt of that attack
and Kofi essentially took himself out in the process,
and finally, we get an attempt at victory here
and things suddenly looking bleak for "Big G Langston."
[Joe] Erik and Ivar taking advantage.
Did you just see that knee that they landed?
[Wade] Crumbling Grayson Waller and the Aussie is in big danger here,
but saved by his mentors, your boys, The New Day.
[Joe] Xavier Woods getting in there at the very last second,
and now Kofi and Woodsy going up top.
They've got Big Ivar in a compromised position.
And holding on to that kendo is Grayson Waller.
Erik gets the best of him with a headbutt.
[Wade] Swung for the fences and missed by a mile.
Simply too much left in the tank of Erik.
[Joe] They may regret this position. Look at the power!
-[crowd cheering] -[Joe] Can you believe the power?
[Wade] Effortlessly strolling around with two grown men.
Celebrating a little too hard in the process.
Oh God, the Beard of Prey.
[Joe] Three-hundred-plus pounds is lined up.
[Wade] This is utter lunacy.
[Joe] They're in the target zone!
Oh, and they just get out of the way!
[Wade] They had to get out of the way, it was game over had they not.
And Ivar went for broke, came up with snake eyes.
[Joe] As Woodsy holds him there
and Kofi with the running senton on the apron.
And now Big G, Grayson Waller looking to do more damage.
But Ivar stands up to it.
[crowd gasping, cheering]
[Wade] Normal bets are off when it comes to Ivar,
just too big, too strong, can absorb too much punishment.
But nobody, I repeat, nobody outsmarts Xavier Woods.
[Joe] Xavier Woods lining him up with the kendo,
but instead, he goes down hard.
The small of his back on the hardest part,
that edge of the apron.
Off the stairs, Kofi.
[Wade] Landed hard on the back, and indeed the knee of Erik,
bodies strewn everywhere you look.
[Joe] Everybody has taken damage,
but The New Day is here to recover as Penta is back on his feet.
Oh, he nearly went right through that table.
-Oh my, snapped in half! -[crowd cheering]
He returned the favor.
Kofi right through the table and it snapped in half in the corner.
[Wade] Incredible reflexes there from Penta,
first dodging out of the way, and then launching his own attack.
[Joe] Grayson Waller looking to meet Penta up in that corner,
beating him down with that kendo.
[Wade] Moments ago took that hard powerbomb on the apron.
We run this!
[Joe] Body shot just to fend him off for a moment.
Didn't do much.
And Waller's got him in position.
[Wade] Looking for the Spanish fly.
[Joe] Yeah, he's looking for the Spanish fly indeed.
Could Penta reverse things? No, from there, are you kidding me?
-Oh my! Avalanche Mexican Destroyer! -[crowd cheering]
[crowd counting]
-[cheering] -[bell ringing]
["Zero Miedo" playing]
[Lilian] Here are your winners, The War Raiders and Penta!
[Joe] Well, last week a springboard Mexican Destroyer,
tonight avalanche style, Wade.
[Wade] Might wanna put the exclamation point on this rivalry,
that is one way to do it. What an epic victory,
and I fear for the health of Grayson Waller.
But here's how we got there,
tantalizingly close, and then put through the table.
But Penta prevailed, and Kofi Kingston was down and out,
and this was the finishing piece of the puzzle.
Many believe it should be banned.
And after that, I would assume
that Grayson Waller's gonna be laid out for quite some time,
as heavy an impact on the neck as you can imagine.
And what a victory for this unlikely trio.
-Cero… -[crowd] Miedo!
[Joe] Unlikely, but so right together.
One, two…
[Joe] Penta and The War Raiders with the win.
Yeah!
[indistinct chatter]
Finn, Finn, Finn. [sighs] I'm glad I found you.
This-- This whole Rusev situation has gotten completely out of hand.
He's coming after my IC title.
What happened to Mr. I-got-everything-handled-all-by-myself?
[sighs] You know, last week, we all said some things we regret,
but at the end of the day, we're The Judgment Day.
We've gotta stick together, and he's coming after my championship.
Well, if you need some help, why don't you ask your new amigo,
El Grande Americano?
He's back in Mexico this week. What about you?
-What are you doing tonight? -Sorry, man. I'm busy.
JD. Psst. [whispers] Come here.
-What are you doing tonight? -I'm busy.
[groans]
Look, I know he wasn't gonna help me, but I know I can count on you. Come on.
Hang on. You said you didn't need any help last week.
-That's what you said, right? -Allegedly, but, you know, come on.
-My muchacho. -Don't muchacho me.
-Come on. -JD. You need to help Dom.
-Yeah, you need to help me. -Why?
Because we're a team, we're The Judgment Day,
and he's asking you for help, so you need to help him.
-Please. I don't ask for much. -Come on.
[sighs] Fine.
I'll do it, but I'm not doing it for you, Dominik.
I'm doing it for The Judgment Day, all right?
Don't do it for me, for The Judgment Day.
Yeah. For The Judgment Day.
All right, well, I'll go talk to Pearce and get it sorted.
Brother, don't even worry about it. It's already been taken care of.
Pearce made it official. You, Rusev, tonight.
[speaks Spanish]
-Yeah, we need to go. -We gotta go.
She's gotta go get ready for her match with Bayley.
-So, JD, good luck tonight, brother. -Good luck, guys.
Take care of business for The Judgment Day.
For The Judgment Day. That's what I like to hear.
This worked out great.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa. -Whoo! What's up?
Let me clear the air after last week, okay?
I should not have walked into your room.
I should've just waited for you to say come in,
-instead I walked straight in. -No, I-- I wanted to find you
because I wanna talk to you about last week.
I mean, that was awesome!
First of all, you won a big match. Take that, Judgment Day!
Second of all, I got to return. The crowd went crazy.
It was so much fun and it was just-- it was really good to see you again.
-What? -Huh?
I said it was so good to see you,
and I was wondering if you would like to be in my corner tonight.
In your corner? Are you joking with me?
What?
You screamed at me and called me an idiot.
[laughs] What? You're--
You're joking. [laughs]
You're kind of weird,
and I don't know what's going on with you, but I like it, I like it.
And look, I just wanted, you know, because I have Roxanne tonight,
and you know Raquel's gonna be out there,
and after, you know, I came out and helped you,
I was just thinking that maybe you can do this.
So you're not mad at me. Hang on. Even if you are mad at me,
we're supposed to be keeping our distance, remember?
Oh-- Okay. [sighs]
If it really means something to you,
and it would really help you be the best version of you
-out there tonight… -Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!
It would mean everything to me. It would help me.
I know I would get energy from you.
I know I'd wanna impress you, so I definitely wanna be out there.
-I definitely, I would love for you-- -Okay.
But-- Sorry.
-I'll do it. -Really? Really?
You can't take-- No take backs. No take backs. No take--
All right, now give me some. Wait, hold up. [grunts] See you out there.
What?
-[crowd screaming, cheering] -[energetic hip-hop music playing]
[Joe] Stephanie Vaquer is coming our way. The new Women's World Champ joins us next.
[music fades]
[energetic hip-hop music playing]
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me
in welcoming the brand-new
-Women's World Champion… -[crowd cheering]
…La Primera, Stephanie Vaquer.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
-[explosion] -["Bury Me" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] The first South American-born female champion in WWE history.
What a show she put on the other night. Wade, I'll tell you, WWE Español Digital,
they were with her all day and night in Indianapolis on Saturday.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Such an emotional night at Wrestlepalooza.
And this woman, we have only just scratched the surface
of what she is capable of.
And she is already at the top of the mountain here in this industry.
We are witnessing the evolution of what it means
to be the absolute best female Superstar on the planet
before our very eyes. What an era to be experiencing.
-[music fades] -[crowd cheering, applauding]
[crowd chanting "You deserve it"]
You do deserve it.
Stephanie, I think I could speak on behalf of everyone here tonight
in Evansville when I say congratulations.
[crowd cheering]
Gracias. Thank you so much.
This… this is the dream of my life.
And many times I felt impossible.
But I worked for it, I sacrificed for it,
and I made it.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
I beat one of the best on the planet, Iyo Sky.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
And I learned to be strong and never give up
because I had the best example, my hero, my dad.
[crowd cheering]
[in Spanish] I can proudly say
that I am the first Latin American WWE Women's World Champion,
and this belt represents years of sacrifice.
[in English] This championship represent the motivation
and support you have all given me.
[crowd cheering]
And every single of you celebrate with me at Wrestlepalooza.
And every single you cry with me.
I need to say thank you.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
My fire will keep making history,
and nobody, I say nobody, can stop me.
[in Spanish] Because I am La Primera.
The WWE Women's World Champion.
[crowd cheering]
And your road as champion starts hot because this Friday on SmackDown,
Tiffany Stratton defends her WWE Women's Championship
in a Triple Threat versus Nia Jax and Jade Cargill.
Which means, Stephanie, at Crown Jewel, the winner of that match
will face you for the Crown Jewel Women's Championship.
-I will be there. -[Pearce] I know you will.
Ladies and gentlemen, one more time
for the brand-new Women's World Champion,
La Primera, Stephanie Vaquer!
[fireworks exploding]
-[crowd cheering] -["Bury Me" playing]
[Joe] Did she ever earn it, Wade. Defeating Iyo Sky at Wrestlepalooza.
The career path she has been on has been so impressive.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] We talked about the Men's Crown Jewel Championship match
a little earlier.
Cody and Seth colliding for that one.
We know 50% of the women's Crown Jewel Championship match,
of course, Stephanie Vaquer.
We will find out her opponent this Friday on SmackDown.
Can Tiffany Stratton successfully defend against Nia Jax and Jade Cargill?
What a matchup that's gonna be.
And it sounds like Stephanie Vaquer will be in attendance. Why?
Because if you're a champion in WWE, celebrations are short.
Prep begins now for Stephanie Vaquer.
I don't care who she faces out of that trio,
it is gonna be one hell of a match at Crown Jewel.
Yeah, and there's her father, Héctor, over here, proud as could be.
Hey, let's turn our attention to what millions
and millions are buzzing about that happened Saturday night
and it's Brock Lesnar's destruction of John Cena.
Eight minutes and fifty seconds, that's all it was,
but it was a string of F5s that went on and on.
And a statement made by Lesnar that this version is seemingly stronger,
is unapologetically as dangerous as we've ever seen him.
[music fades]
-[dramatic music playing] -Brock Lesnar wants to end the tour early.
I'll do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen.
I'm gonna retire John Cena however I wanna do it.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd counting]
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Brock Lesnar is back
in peak condition.
[music concludes]
-Hey, bonita. -[Bella] Hey!
Oh, mamacita. Congratulations.
-Thank you so much. Muchas gracias. -Of course, you're gonna be-- Oh, hey.
-[crowd screaming, cheering] -Congratulations, Stephanie.
-Thank you. -But like I said,
-I'm still coming for that championship. -Mami, I'm ready.
-Good. -Ooh!
[speaking Japanese]
Iyo should be a champion. You don't deserve to be a champion.
Actually she does and she's gonna be an amazing champion.
Anytime you want to fight,
I will prove to you why I am the champion.
[speaking Japanese]
You know what, Asuka?
Out of respect for Iyo, I've been trying my best to stay out of your way,
but I'm so sick and tired of your attitude.
[scoffs]
I'm sick of you, Rhea, and you better stay away from Iyo,
or I will show you why you are not ready for Asuka.
-[laughs] -[chuckles] "I'm not ready." Oh.
See, the funny thing is I am ready, Asuka. So, why don't we settle this in the ring?
-Tonight. -[crowd cheering, applauding]
You're on.
-Rhea, I'm so sorry. -[Asuka yells in Japanese]
[Wade] Oh my God. I hope that gets main--
That's a WrestleMania main event if we get that tonight.
-Do your thing, Adam Pearce. -["Role Model" playing]
[Joe] Somebody hit Pearce now, urgent.
-♪ Role Model ♪ -[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, being accompanied by Lyra Valkyria,
from San Jose, California, Bayley!
[Joe] So, last week, you know,
everybody ringside was being hugged by Bayley.
Lyra at the time was confused like all of us. And now, here they are.
Great to see Lyra helping out Bayley.
[Wade] I want a hug, Bayley. Come over here!
[Joe] You missed that hug last week.
[Wade] She's heading our way though.
[Joe] She's up against Roxanne Perez when we come back.
[music fades]
[Joe] We're here in Evansville for Monday Night Raw,
and everybody just heard what happened
between Asuka and Rhea Ripley. Asuka saying, "You're not ready for me."
Rhea says, "I've been ready, and I'll be ready for later tonight."
We are hoping that Asuka and Rhea Ripley becomes a reality.
That would be incredible. And right now, this is Roxanne Perez.
As you see Raquel Rodriguez. And, Wade, last week, they crossed paths
with what took place with Lyra Valkyria and Bayley.
[Wade] Right. Victory with a Nightwing over Roxanne Perez
for Lyra Valkyria. But post-match,
Raquel Rodriguez jumped Valkyria.
Things were looking bleak until the shocking return of Bayley.
Took down The Judgment Day one by one.
Looking back to her absolute best, and she needed to be
to avoid that kind of collision.
And then, to the shock of everyone in attendance,
we got a little old school hugging spree.
[yells] What's up?
[Wade] Everyone in attendance,
-even Big Joe Tess got a hug! -[crowd cheering]
-[Joe laughs] -Thank you for helping me out there.
Thank you for showing me that idiots still exist back here!
Did you even care for me to say, "Yeah, please come in."
Just don't. Stay out of my locker room, idiot!
[Wade] Lyra Valkyria's bemused as the rest of us.
[bell ringing]
[Joe] We've seen the other side of Bayley's internal conflict now
for the better part of a few weeks.
And it was a harsh reality after she was hugging everybody.
Came out, by the way, so joyful in the last few minutes.
We were away in commercial break, she was coming over,
she was hugging everybody ringside, she was hugging you.
[Wade] I got a hug, Joe, can you believe it?
[Joe] You did get a hug, of course, that after all the buzz
that was made between Asuka and Rhea Ripley backstage.
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -[both grunt]
-[Wade] Bayley is not necessarily… -[Joe] Oh, this is the word here!
This is what we've been waiting for.
It is now being made official.
We will have Rhea Ripley and Asuka later tonight,
and I'm being told that is the main event tonight.
Can you believe this?
PLE-level main event of former champions Rhea Ripley and Asuka.
It is boiled over. Rhea has lost patience.
Asuka put it out there, Rhea said, "I'm ready right now tonight."
It is happening in our main event, Rhea Ripley and Asuka, Wade.
[Wade] God, that is a WrestleMania-caliber main event.
We're getting a freebie here tonight in Evansville, but let's focus back
on the match now 'cause these two are going hammer and tongs.
Bayley, who's been out of action for a little while,
looking real crisp as she returns
-against the youngster, Roxanne Perez. -[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Joe] By the way, you were not around last week, a well-deserved vacation.
But I wanted to ask you what has been your take on all of a sudden
-what we're seeing out of Bayley? -[Wade] I like it. You know what?
-Bayley… -[referee counting]
[Wade] …has not necessarily had the greatest of 2025.
She's lost a lot more than she has won.
And sometimes when you get in a career funk like that,
you gotta make some changes and maybe go back
to what took you to the top in the first place.
And in Bayley's case,
it was this upbeat, somewhat naive hugger.
Looks like it's working thus far in this match anyway for Bayley.
[Joe] Out on the floor now, as you see Bayley looking to line up,
Roxanne is trying to come through there.
Instead she gets driven into the barrier so hard,
right to lower back on the edge of the ringside barrier.
[Wade] Roxanne Perez is so nimble. 2025 has been a massive growth phase
in the career of Perez, never turning down any fight.
[Joe] As Bayley back in the ring and rallying.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Wade] Perez is actually tied with LA Knight
for the most number of matches of any Superstar in WWE in 2025.
But most of them against top caliber competitors such as Bayley.
How can you not get better under those circumstances?
[Joe] Yeah, her 38th televised match this calendar year
as Bayley looks to get her in position.
But how quickly Roxanne Perez is able to escape.
[overlapping chatter]
[Wade] Well, that distraction from Raquel on the outside
opened a massive window for Perez.
And the nimble Perez immediately pounced and attacking the knee of The Role Model.
[Joe] What a compromised position for Bayley
as she's just pressing all her weight and getting the extra leverage
-of that top rope as well. -[crowd jeering]
[Wade] That's a perfect example of how calculating and manipulating
The Judgment Day really are.
[crowd chanting "Let's go, Bayley"]
[Joe] Roxanne Perez in control at this juncture here in Evansville.
[Joe] Here in Evansville, Bayley is fighting through the pain
to rally back against Roxanne Perez.
And you can see how affected she is
with the damage that's been done to the left leg.
Now up on the second rope delivering the elbow.
-That flying elbow drop… -[crowd counting]
[Joe] …and into the cover as Roxanne is able to survive.
But for such a long stretch in the middle of this match,
it was the left knee that was the target.
[Wade] Yeah, which is why it's so shocking that Bayley has been able
to turn it around and hit offense like that.
Now, Bayley, of course, has been out a little while.
And when you are the victim of some sustained offense from your opponent,
that can really take you down with ease when you're fresh back into the ring.
And now, living dangerously perhaps is Bayley with an option to go up top,
and waiting to capitalize and pounce is the slightly sharper Roxanne Perez.
[Joe] And you can see that hesitation.
Not being sturdy with that left leg had cost Bayley
and Perez able to get an offensive attack off of it.
-[Wade] This is superb from Roxanne Perez. -[Joe] Oh!
[Wade] Absolutely no letup whatsoever, and it could be a victory here.
[Joe] It could be, she hooks the leg. Looking to beat Bayley right here,
and Bayley able to get that left shoulder up.
[Wade] Roxanne Perez has absolutely no right
being as good as she is this early in her career.
No right being as mean as this either.
Hair. Watch it, come on now.
[Joe] Especially a nasty edge against the veteran Bayley
as she spins with the kick.
-And now Perez is back on the go. -[Wade] Trying for that Pop Rox.
[Joe] She was looking for Pop Rox, her signature move.
Now looking to try to roll her through. Bayley misses, and there is the roll up.
[referee counting]
[Wade] So fast is Roxanne Perez,
but not fast enough to dodge that strike right to the jaw.
Completely crumbling at the feet of Bayley.
[Joe] Really good way just to neutralize her,
drive that right hand in and just changed the tone of this match to this point.
[Wade] Once again, how quick was Roxanne Perez
to follow Bayley up on the ropes there? And Bayley just wasn't ready for it.
I don't think many people are, the speed of Roxanne Perez,
this diminutive attacker that she is,
proving pivotal several times in this matchup.
And rolling to the outside, trying to get a breather now is Bayley.
[Joe] See Raquel Rodriguez.
On the outside, of course, always there to support Roxanne Perez.
Here comes-- Oh, but she eats a right hand.
Bayley was aware enough,
and now still with that damaged leg, is on the attack.
-As Perez looking for Pop Rox again. -[crowd groans]
[Wade] Connected on the floor,
and Bayley might be completely wiped out after that one.
-[Joe] Right on the floor. -Four!
[Wade] The referee's count already up to a four,
and this is a dangerous moment now for Bayley
-who is not stirring at all. -Six!
[Joe] She is not stirring at all, trying to beat this count, Wade.
[Wade] The celebrations have already started
-for Raquel on the outside. -Eight!
-[Joe] And keep in mind the bad leg. -Nine!
[Wade] Just in at nine.
[Joe] Barely with that damaged left leg that Roxanne--
Raquel Rodriguez now pulls Bayley as the referee's turned
and delivers a huge kick. Here's Lyra.
[Wade] This is breaking down in a bad way.
Lyra Valkyria in those massive Spice Girls shoes,
still nowhere near the size of the massive Raquel Rodriguez.
[Joe] Oh, she's got Lyra up, looking to post her,
but instead Lyra sends her right into the post.
-And here goes Roxanne out to the floor. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Quickly wiping out Lyra Valkyria.
A couple of shots to the jaw for good measure.
-What Lyra's done, Raquel has done. -Two!
[Wade] We're truly down to one-on-one now.
[Joe] Viciously beating her down and look at the reaction by Bayley.
[Wade] The distraction of Roxanne Perez,
and coming out of loop, however, is Bayley.
[Joe] Look at Bayley, ripping her up into the ring.
[Wade] Something has absolutely snapped inside Bayley.
[Joe] She saw Lyra being beaten down on the floor.
-[crowd cheering] -[inaudible]
[Joe] And a total change by Bayley.
-Bayley to Belly! -[crowd cheering]
-[Joe] The big knee. She is on fire. -[Wade] Now hitting top gear, Joe Tess.
[Joe] Rose Plant by Bayley.
[crowd counting]
-[bell ringing] -[Joe] It all just clicked
-in a violent way. -["Role Model" playing]
[Lilian] Here is your winner, Bayley!
[Wade] Well, a major victory on return
against Roxanne Perez and finally a little catharsis for Bayley.
[Joe] Lyra came to her aid, but then took damage herself.
And she asked for Lyra to be by her side tonight.
[Wade] That's why you need backup in this game.
And tonight, Lyra Valkyria was the ultimate backup.
Big win for Bayley.
[Joe] Look at how excited Lyra is for her.
-[crowd cheering] -[inaudible]
[Wade] And the hugs are back. Oh!
-[crowd gasps] -[music stops]
Think you can touch me?
[yelling] With your stupid ass outfit? Think you can touch me? You know who I am?
[crowd booing]
Stay out of it!
-[Joe] I'm baffled. -[Wade] It's Jekyll and Hyde, isn't it?
[yelling] You what? You what, idiot? This is my match!
[crowd booing]
[crowd cheering]
-Hey, J Slim. -[barks] What up, baby?
-How are you, bud? -I'm good, uce, how you doing?
-Good, good, good. -First off,
congratulations at Wrestlepalooza, man.
-Yeah, thank you very much. -Big W.
-Yeah, Big W, how are you feeling? -Yeah. I'm good, man.
We didn't win, but, you know, I'm good.
-You all right? -Hell yeah.
Hey… how's your brother?
Man, you know him. He's all in his head right now.
He's not even listening to me, so…
maybe he'll listen to you.
[sighs] I mean, yeah, yeah, I'll talk to Jey.
-Please. -I'll see what I can do.
-Thank you. -Thank you, uce.
[Joe] Yeah, a lot to consider when it comes to Jey Uso for Jimmy.
["Irish Ace" playing]
[Wade] And here is a man who has drawn a short straw this evening,
in my opinion, stepping up to protect his buddy, Dom,
who was getting bullied a little earlier by Rusev
-when we kicked the show off. -[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following contest is set for one fall.
Introducing first, being accompanied by the Intercontinental
and AAA Mega Champion,
"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland,
weighing in at 195 pounds,
he is one half of the World Tag Team Champions,
JD McDonagh!
[Joe] Wade, the relationships within The Judgment Day are very unique.
No better example than this, as you see "Dirty" Dom.
JD's been pulled into the mix to help him out, and what a challenge.
He's going up against Rusev. JD McDonagh against Rusev.
That is next, Raw on Netflix.
[music fades]
-[Rhodes] Yeet Man. -[chuckles softly]
-What up, Cody? -How are you, sir?
-[Jey] My man. -Hello, yeet.
Hey, uh, I spoke to your brother.
-I spoke to Jimmy. -Yeah.
He seemed a little worried about you. You okay?
Man, don't even worry about that, man. Big Jim always tripping me. I'm good.
-Okay? -I'm good, I promise.
Well, I mean, if you weren't good, I've been there.
I mean, it's highs and lows. It's wins and losses.
And when that happens, sometimes people isolate themselves and lash out.
I mean, I've been on the biggest stage of them all
and I've failed more than once.
But the point is you have your family, you have your fans,
you have your friends, and, uh…
we believe in you.
Appreciate that, uce. Thank you for the words, man.
But don't worry, man.
I'm gonna find my way back to the top, Cody.
-Yeet, uce. -Yeet.
-[crowd cheering] -["I Am The Tempest" playing]
[Joe] Remember, it's Jey Uso against LA Knight coming up here
at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana,
And also, it was just announced, Rhea Ripley against Asuka.
Well, there is the double champion leaning back, has that AAA belt…
-[bell ringing] -…of course, has the IC title.
And he's looking at the man inside the ropes.
Who is the number one contender?
[Wade] JD McDonagh has been staring
daggers at "Dirty" Dom since we got out here.
Clearly unhappy that Dom went to Adam Pearce
and organized this match on JD McDonagh's behalf
without apparently speaking to JD McDonagh first.
I would not, for the life of me,
wanna get in there with this brute that is Rusev.
[Joe] But also, Wade, your take on the circumstances,
because, I mean, JD, along with Finn, have been questioning "Dirty" Dom lately,
as Dom's been leaning on a Grande Americano,
seemingly more so than his own Judgment Day brethren,
and then tonight, he offers up JD as the solution to his Rusev problem?
[Wade] Well, that's certainly not gonna help things, is it?
It's split loyalties, perhaps, on behalf of "Dirty" Dom Mysterio, and--
It's coming for you.
[Wade] Rusev bellowing to the Intercontinental champ,
"I'm gonna get done with JD McDonagh, and then I'm coming for you, Dom."
[Joe] And look at the power display he's putting on, and with every one
of these big moves he puts forth on JD, he stares over at Dominik.
-[Wade] Such an intimidator is Rusev… -You see that?
You see that, boy?
…of a human being, combination of size and aggression that is rarely matched.
And it's been so effective in the early goings here
against poor JD McDonagh.
-C'mon, c'mon. Back it off. Back it off. -[grunts]
[Joe] JD McDonagh, of course, one half of the World Tag Team Champions,
Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh able to secure gold.
-Come on, boy. -[Wade] I mean, if I was JD McDonagh,
I would have feigned some sort of injury.
I'd have figured a way out of this match.
I don't wanna get in there with Rusev whatsoever.
Hops out here, trying to defend Judgement Day pride.
-[Joe] And he… -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] And that's the point, Joe,
-if you get that reaction from anyone… -[Joe] This reaction.
…you take a free shot, run.
[Joe] And that's exactly what he's gonna do.
That is exactly what he's gonna do.
[Wade] JD McDonagh is fast too, one of the fastest in the locker room.
Look at the speed.
[Joe] Oh, man, his heels nearly scraped to the top of the Ford Center.
[Wade] Well, the mistake was he ran and then he ran back in the ring.
I'd have kept running all the way through to guerrilla, out to my car,
and then straight to the airport.
Because when you don't, you get launched skyward like that,
and that was even worse.
Just dumped to the outside,
turned inside out and immediately Rusev turns
and stares daggers at the Intercontinental champ
who put JD McDonagh in this predicament.
[Joe] And look at Dom as if he was checking on JD,
but the next thing you know, he's got Rusev stalking.
[Wade] Stalking is the word, stalking his prey, stalking his victim.
Sending an example here to "Dirty" Dom Mysterio.
This is gonna be you next, young man.
[Joe] JD coming right back, and that was really smart
to just blast those steel steps right into that midsection of Rusev.
Whatever it takes to survive the beating he was taking.
[Wade] Boot to the spine simply wasn't enough to drop Rusev,
-but this-- -[Joe] Oh! Right into the post.
[Wade] Skull into steel, there's only ever gonna be one winner,
and that might have been the only thing that could stop Rusev in his tracks.
[Joe] I'd give JD some credit because Rusev came out like a bull here.
And now springboarding the moonsault to the outside, JD McDonagh,
exactly what he needed.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Joe] It has been an ultra-physical match between Rusev and JD McDonagh
as "Dirty" Dom looks on.
Remember, Rusev, the number one contender for that Intercontinental title.
We wanna remind you what took place within the last half an hour here
as Rhea Ripley and Asuka exchanged words backstage.
Rhea says, "Back off, Asuka." Asuka says, "You're not ready for me."
Well, guess what? They're ready for each other.
It is official. They will be going at it tonight.
Rhea Ripley and Asuka's coming up in our main event, Wade.
[Wade] What a dream matchup main event we're getting there.
No one expected that tonight.
But what we did expect was this to be an absolute nightmare for JD McDonagh.
But somehow, despite the beating, Rusev has given him.
-McDonagh's back on top, wow. -[crowd cheering]
[Joe] And mainly because he was chopping at the left leg of Rusev.
And with that, he's been able to mount a comeback.
Can McDonagh see it through against Rusev?
-That big running knee. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] McDonagh's so durable, I don't know how he's managed this.
[Joe] Rusev just grits him.
After just a count of one, just throwing him off.
[Wade] I'll tell you this right now,
JD McDonagh can absorb punishment like no other.
And when he gets the upper hand, he is like a tiger.
He's been brilliant so far,
but brilliant might not get it done against this big Bulgarian.
[Joe] You see him standing up to the striking attack,
as Rusev before powering. Oh.
-JD, able to counter the attack. -[crowd cheering]
[Wade] McDonagh so cunning, so wily,
knows exactly how to use his opponent's strengths against him.
[Joe] And then his big weapon, that head,
as JD McDonagh goes up top.
[Wade] Welts all over the body, but still an aerial master.
[Joe] Is he ever! Hooking the leg, for the win!
And Rusev with the kick-out.
[Wade] JD McDonagh absolutely rolling in this one.
Look at this corkscrew plancha to the inside.
Landing flush on the sternum of Rusev and that damage exacerbated
by this picture perfect moonsault.
Add to the fact we are deep into this match
and JD McDonagh's body has been put through the wringer,
yet he can still operate at such a high level, that is stunning.
[Joe] There are few who go higher or arch better on that moonsault
than JD McDonagh, but now he needs to keep the momentum against the big man.
[Wade] Intercontinental champ, "Dirty" Dom getting a worm's eye view
of what surely awaits him from Rusev when they eventually collide.
[Joe] Dom has been very, very cautious around Rusev.
Rusev was right in his face as the night started,
when we got on the air, letting him know what he's in store for.
This kind of power.
Just rag dolling McDonough and slamming him down
-and glaring now is Rusev. -[Wade] Getting that second wind,
which may be more terrifying than the first,
'cause we're lining up for something deadly here.
Don't turn around, JD, it will not be good.
-[Joe] Nope, you know it. -[Wade] Machka Kick connects.
[Joe] And that Machka Kick now puts him in position.
Game over!
[Joe] For the Accolade.
[Wade] And no way back from here, Joe Tess, cranked up
middle of the ring, sheer agony. Ex-- Oh, wait up.
[Joe] Well, Dom is… is Dom considering?
Come on, Dom!
[Joe] He's backing off as the Accolade is locked in and Dom is…
-is paralyzed on the apron. -[bell ringing]
[Wade] Well, you have an oath in The Judgment Day.
[Joe] He's not releasing it, Wade. He's not releasing it.
Oh, Finn Bálor! Finn Bálor comes in to help out and drops the elbow.
-[crowd cheering] -[overlapping arguing]
[Wade] Well, if Bálor hadn't done it,
I'm pretty sure "Dirty" Dom was not going to.
So, JD McDonagh
might wanna thank his lucky stars for his tag partner.
[Joe] Now, all of a sudden, Dom's now helping out.
Hey, what's your problem, huh?
[Joe] Dom was frozen in fear,
he was paralyzed, and it took Finn Bálor to come down.
Hey, when you're out here, you're supposed to help, all right?
-I did help him. -You had a clear shot.
-Stop fighting! -I helped him. Are you okay?
All right, I helped you, you help us.
["I Am The Tempest" playing]
[Joe] And it's Dom who put JD in that spot too.
[Wade] They will not be having beers in the clubhouse tonight,
it would appear.
[overlapping arguing]
[Joe] Tea's getting hot in there.
-Asuka, you don't need to do this. -[crowd cheering]
The match is happening. I need to teach Rhea respect.
I don't want the advice from someone who lost.
[speaking Japanese]
[in English] So, I will.
Kairi, please talk to Asuka.
Asuka is why we are here.
We must listen to…
-[Asuka] Kairi! -[groans]
I'm backstage with LA Knight, LA this past weekend at Wrestlepalooza.
You were the special guest referee between The Usos and The Visions,
Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.
I was curious if you think that your unique referee style,
maybe played a role in the seemingly lingering tension
-between you and Jey Uso. -My God, are you wordy?
-Will you let me talk to you? Yeah. -[crowd] Yeah!
Here's the thing, whatever happened on Saturday,
Jey comes in here all hot. And I just gotta think to myself,
should this guy be worrying about being so hot at me?
Or should he maybe worry about his health a little bit?
I gotta be honest, the only reason
things went down the way they did on Saturday
I was trying to make sure Jey was okay, you saw what happened to him.
I'm over here making sure, "Are you good?" "Are you good to go?"
He shoves me out of the way,
eats a spear through the table, and the rest is history.
So, I tell you what, now he comes in here all hot at me,
and my man, I do not wanna hurt you.
I'm not trying to hurt you, but if you make me, I damn sure will,
because you talk about bodying me.
But you've got to make sure you don't brain yourself,
'cause that's exactly what you did on the weekend.
And if you don't do it tonight, that's okay, 'cause I'll do it for you.
Little BFT for your troubles with everybody saying,
-LA Knight, yeah. -[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
-[crowd chanting "Yeet"] -Hey, uce. Please, hit my music!
Oh yeah! Uh-uh! Yeet!
-["Main Event Ish" playing] -♪ Uso! ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Aye, aye Main event Jey Uso is now in your city! ♪
♪ It's just me, Uce Day one ish ♪
♪ It's Jey, I line 'em all up and knock 'em down like this ♪
[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
[yells]
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] This next match is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from San Francisco, California,
weighing in at 242 pounds
"Main Event" Jey Uso!
♪ It's just me, Uce Day one ish ♪
[Joe] There are yeets in Evansville.
[Wade] You have two options in life, Joe Tess.
You either yeet or retreat.
And I think we know exactly which one Jey Uso
-is going to choose every single week. -[Joe] An interesting night for Jey.
A night that has his own little brother questioning
where Jey's head is at. Had Cody Rhodes talk to him about it all.
But in the end, he will have this in front of him,
dealing with a very angry LA Knight.
On a night where it is yeet versus yeah.
And that is coming your way next.
I got the rhythm now, Joe.
[music fades]
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[Joe] Jey Uso had to get stitched up
after Saturday night's bloody battle with The Vision.
There was the steel chair,
the double-spear smash through a table, the Tsunami.
[Wade] A whole bunch of stitches in the head of Jey Uso,
but the fact that he does not want a day off
straight back to the fight is part of why audiences like this one
-in Evansville go bananas for him. -["Welcome to LA" playing]
[Wade] And they also go bananas for his opponent.
[crowd cheering]
[Lilian] And his opponent, from Los Angeles, California,
weighing in at 240 pounds
-LA Knight! -[crowd] Yeah!
[Joe] Wade, The Megastar is back to doing what he does best.
His usefulness as a referee was, let's just say, questionable at best.
I think I'd be generous if I described it as applying weak enforcement
-of the rules the other night in Indy. -[Wade] Well, he was self-adventured.
He was going to be flimsy with the rule book,
-and I don't think the rule book existed. -[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
[Joe] I don't think there was one.
[Wade] Aside from the pin right at the end.
I mean, it wasn't supposed to be a no disqualification match,
-but LA Knight felt it. -[bell ringing]
[music concludes]
[Joe] I mean, this is exactly what you would expect
-based on everything we have seen. -[crowd chanting "Yeet"]
[Joe] Of course, Jey describing the fact
that he had issues with LA Knight on Saturday night.
I mean, these two have had issues for a bit.
Remember September 8th, when Uso speared LA Knight?
And then September 15th BFT receipt, retaliation from LA.
[Wade] It's more hard to believe they were tagging just a few weeks ago…
Oh! Doesn't look like they're gonna be tagging again anytime soon.
There's some real bad blood between these two
that turned toxic at Wrestlepalooza.
[Joe] Listen, we have broadcast a lot of Jey Uso matches.
Is it me or is there a different edge to him early on?
[Wade] Yeah, there's definitely a different side.
I think it's been coming out over the past few weeks for Jey Uso.
-You gotta remember. -Huh? Huh?
[Wade] Earlier this year, Jey Uso was a guy chasing a dream,
trying to get to the World Heavyweight Championship.
-He got there-- -[Joe] Man, man, that didn't take long.
[Wade] Once you get to the top of the mountain
and you're liking up there,
you're really irritated when you're no longer there.
I think that's part of trying to BFT right off the bat there.
[Joe] Yeah, that jumping neckbreaker really changed things.
[Wade] Part of this attitude change for Jey Uso is exactly that.
-Uce's going to watch out here. -[Joe] He just got out of the way.
Oh, the clothesline right on the floor.
Both men down.
[crowd clamoring, applauding]
[Joe] Here we are, Jey Uso and LA Knight as Jey goes into the cover.
Jey's brother, Jimmy, has had such concern with Jey lately,
he thought perhaps they were on their way
to prioritizing a rematch with The Vision, with the Brons,
but it was Jey who said, "No, LA Knight
is what I'm asking for, is what I want tonight,"
and that's what he gets, and LA Knight has been fired up
for this one as he delivers a right hand to Jey.
[Wade] It's so difficult to focus on The Vision when you have the specter
of LA Knight lurking everywhere you go.
You've got to deal with one problem before you face the next one.
And tonight is the night that Jey Uso needs
to deal with the LA Knight problem.
[Joe] And look at Knight.
That quickness to get up to the top rope to the superplex.
[Wade] Heavy landing for Jey Uso,
but also a heavy one from the top for the guy who executed the move.
LA Knight unable to make the cover after sustaining that attack
on "Main Event" Jey Uso.
[crowd clapping rhythmically]
[Joe] See the medical tape on that forehead
near the hairline of Jey Uso.
The brutality, what he went through on Saturday night,
the war scars of this business.
[crowd] Yeet! Yeah! Yeet!
[Joe] "Yeah," and "Yeet," back and forth, toeing the line,
-center of the ring. -[crowd] Yeah! Yeah! Oh, yeah! Yeet!
[Joe] Parries the punch, delivers right hands of his own.
[crowd cheering] Yeet!
[Joe] Was looking for a little extra something.
Oh, BFT attempt by The Megastar.
[Wade] Both Superstars tapping into the roar of this crowd.
[Joe] Look at LA Knight!
-Into the cover to put Jey away. -[crowd counting]
[Wade] Man, burning hammer connected with Jey Uso,
and Jey Uso just about enough to kick out.
This is a move rarely seen from LA Knight,
-but executed spot on there. -[crowd counting]
[Wade] And Jey Uso right on the top of his head.
[crowd chanting "This is awesome"]
[Joe] Two times he's attempted the BFT,
couldn't connect with that burning hammer, has done damage here.
[Wade] He's looking for it again, there's a roll up by Uso.
Handful of tights too,
trying everything he can to put away The Megastar,
but it's not working. Oh!
[Joe] But this time hanging on to the top rope
and able to deny the jumping neckbreaker.
[Wade] Great reflexes there from Jey Uso, had the move well scouted.
[Joe] Out onto the floor!
[Wade] Man, these guys have not slowed down since the word
"Go" and these are two big athletes.
[Joe] And it mirrors the intensity and it mirrors the emotions
of everything they have had for each other in recent weeks.
Super kick by Uso, straight into the cover off of that.
And it's not gonna be enough.
[Wade] Somebody has to run out of gas soon.
The way these two have been going,
hundred miles an hour from the second the bell rang,
both tanks have to be running dry now.
Neither men able to even stand at present,
completely spent, motivated by hatred for their opponent.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] You can see LA Knight trying to get to his feet.
Jey came charging in, was denied.
And again, LA Knight, as he delivers that DDT.
And he finds the energy off of that offensive weaponry.
[Wade] If you're a betting man, all your money is on…
[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!
[Joe] His signature jump up elbow, the leaping elbow from LA Knight.
He's feeling it, Wade.
[Wade] Shrugged it all off, turned himself back
into that perpetual motion machine. Lined up for the--
-[Joe] Oh! The Vision is here. -[crowd cheering, applauding]
The Vision is here to be dealt with.
[Wade] The Vision who hate both men in this matchup.
There were numerous issues over the past few weeks,
and LA Knight just beating them both to the punch.
-Keep your eyes open, LA Knight. -[Joe] Spear!
He was fighting off Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed,
turns around, eats the spear, and now Uso Splash.
[crowd cheering, applauding]
-[crowd counting] -[Joe] Shoulders down!
-Jey capitalizes on it! -[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -["Main Event Ish" playing]
[Alicia] The winner of this match, Jey Uso!
[Wade] Well, that was one hell of a battle, Joe Tess,
but inadvertently assisting Jey Uso
with that victory were The Vision, who completely distracted LA Knight,
and LA Knight paid the price there.
And Jey Uso has nothing to do with LA Knight from here on.
You're on your own now, pal.
[Joe] Breakker and "Big" Bronson Reed came on the attack.
LA Knight fought them off.
Hey, come help me, man. They're about to kill him.
Help him. Help him.
[Joe] Jimmy's saying we gotta do something about this and Jey walks off.
[Wade] Jey's made it quite clear he wants nothing to do with LA Knight
or anyone who's not blood.
But Jimmy Uso clearly still has a heart and is out here to try
and protect his fallen friend, LA Knight.
[Joe] And Jimmy comes in with the chair to fend off.
No, no, no, no!
-No, no, no, no! -[Wade] Might not be enough
against these two lunatics.
No, no, no, no! No, no, no, no!
No, no, no, no!
[Wade] Barking demands at Bron Breakker and finally gets through.
I'll say this, Jimmy Uso is one brave, selfless man but that's not gonna help
the relationship between Brother Jey.
Who's been adamant they've gotta have each other's backs and nobody else's.
[Joe] Bron Breakker.
The Badass as the Oracle pulls him down, it took a while to tame Bron Breakker.
[Wade] That's fine, The Vision of course, in a rematch with The Usos.
Next week a rematch from their match at Wrestlepalooza,
thrown into disarray by special guest ref LA Knight.
[crowd chanting "OTC"]
[Lynch] You know what? You know what? I think it's fake.
I don't think he even got you a real one because that's what Cody Rhodes is like.
Fake. He's fake. He's phony.
He's trying to curry favor with everybody, especially you.
Because he knows that may piss you off. Just like them Usos
out there with their stupid little four letters, one word,
one syllable, one brain cell. And they're disrespecting our voice.
And you got Cody Rhodes out there talking about me saying,
"You're a lovely wife, you're lovely--"
There's lots of things you can say about me, okay?
You can say that I'm dangerous, you can say that I am intelligent,
you can say that I am the greatest female wrestler of all time.
Because I am, and it's not just me saying it, okay?
Yeah, other people say it, Sports Illustrated says it,
the Bleacher Report says it, ESPN says it.
And this crowd,
this crowd are just there along with every word.
They're not fans, they are thieves.
They are thieves and they are trying to steal everything
that we have done, everything that we have built.
And if we allow them, they will do that.
We've been too lenient, okay?
Because there's important people that haven't been here,
that haven't done what we have done, like CM Punk, like AJ Lee,
like Cody freaking Rhodes. So you know what I'm gonna do?
I'm gonna make an example.
Yup, that's what we're gonna do.
-[Sky] Rhea. -[crowd cheering, applauding]
Iyo, are we even allowed to be around each other?
Rhea, this is important.
Look, okay, I'm really sorry about Wrestlepalooza.
Thank you. Rhea, I need you to call off the match.
Iyo, I'm sick of Asuka being disrespectful.
Look, I'm really sorry but the match, it has to happen.
Look, think of it this way.
Maybe Asuka and I, we can beat the respect into each other,
kind of like what we did.
Fine.
Iyo, just please be careful around Asuka.
Wait, what do you mean? Asuka is family.
[hesitates] I get it, Asuka is family,
and that's why it hurts even more when you can't trust your own family.
Iyo , please, believe me, I know all about it.
Then you know I wouldn't be here without Asuka.
I can trust her. Can I trust you?
Iyo, that's… that's not what I meant.
[suspenseful music playing]
[music fades]
-[crowd cheering] -[uplifting music playing]
[Undertaker] Steph, is that seat open?
We have known each other for quite a long time.
Are you ready?
-[crowd cheering, applauding] -Whoo!
It is my esteemed honor…
to be able to induct you
as the first member in the Class of 2026
WWE Hall of Fame!
[Michael] Everything that she has done for all of us here in WWE over the years,
the leadership she's provided, getting in the ring,
putting her body on the line.
Such a powerful role model for young women around the world.
So well-deserved. I'm so happy and proud of her.
[Michael] Always there for everybody.
Stephanie McMahon deservedly be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
[Triple H] Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Stephanie McMahon!
[energetic hip-hop music playing]
We extend our congratulations to Stephanie.
It'll be a great celebration in 2026.
Triple H summed it up well the other night on the post show
when he recognized her for the role that she played with young women.
And listen, keep in mind, as a performer and as an executive waypoint.
Yeah, I mean,
Stephanie McMahon has a long history of being an incredible entertainer
on camera,
but more importantly to guys like me and indeed you, Joe Tess,
I know you agree, behind the scenes, always a beloved figure.
Congratulations, Stephanie McMahon, on your 2026 WWE Hall of Fame induction.
Hey, want to remind you,
we will have a special start time again next week for Raw on Netflix.
We'll be in Raleigh, North Carolina, 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific.
And let's remind you what is coming your way.
-["4X4" playing] -[Joe] We just saw Rusev
and "Dirty" Dom ringside.
There's no more running,
there's no more avoiding Rusev for "Dirty" Dom.
The number one contender Rusev who took care of JD McDonagh tonight,
now the Intercontinental Championship match that he wants
and happens in North Carolina.
[Wade] Well, "Dirty" Dom might need another doctor's note next week
we'll see what he can pull off, but there's also the temperamental Bayley,
who pulled out a major dub versus Roxanne Perez earlier tonight.
Now, she gets to compete
against Roxanne's powerhouse tag partner Raquel, next week on Raw
from Rally, North Carolina.
[Joe] And we get the Wrestlepalooza rematch, and it is official.
That it is a Tag Team Tornado match
with the Usos against The Vision's Brons.
What a showdown coming your way, raw on Netflix next Monday.
-[song concludes] -[contemplative music playing]
[narrator] The roots of lucha libre run far and wide.
And while there are many influential families,
none paved the way more for its global popularity
like Los Americanos.
-[music concludes] -[upbeat music playing]
[narrator] With these triumphant returns,
the trio are poised for a reign of supremacy
unlike the world has ever witnessed.
Many believed they were gone forever, relics of old,
like Guadalupe caracara.
But they have been restored, rejuvenated,
stronger than ever, cunning, unyielding.
Enigmatic.
Nature itself is healing as the dynasty of El Grande Americano grows in power
and takes its rightful place on the throne of WWE.
Long live lucha libre.
Long live the dominion of El Grande Americano.
[music concludes]
-[Dupri] …training harder than ever. -I see it.
Two sessions a day, blood, sweat, tears, crazy bruising.
I know that whoever you give me, I can handle my own out there.
-I'm confident. -Listen, I believe you,
and I believe that you believe what you're saying.
The tenacity is off the charts,
but you know this women's division right now
is the most competitive it's ever been.
How about this? You keep doing what you're doing.
Give me some time. Let me find the right opportunity for you,
and then I'll let you handle the rest.
-Thank you. -All right.
-You won't regret this. -I know I won't. Thank you.
[crowd cheering]
-Adam. -[Pearce] AJ.
These Americanos are starting to piss me off.
And you know how petty I am.
[chuckles] I will go to great lengths to hurt somebody.
I know you will.
[in Spanish] Actually, it's garbage.
[in English] And it's a disgrace for me
and for all the luchadores in this business.
-Okay. -That's right. Every time
we go to the ring, there's another freaking Americano down there.
-I know. [sighs] -How many are there?
You know what, Pearce?
We want those [inaudible] in the ring next week.
-Which two? Which two? -You sign them, you pick them.
-Whichever. -Tell you what,
I'll talk to the Americanos, but consider the tag match official.
Awesome. Heck, yeah. Got it, baby.
Uh-oh, maybe we don't sign any more Americanos,
at least for a week or two.
[Lee] Right.
[Joe] Well, next week just got even better.
Styles and Dragon Lee, the Americanos.
["The Future" playing]
♪ From far and wide And light years away… ♪
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, being accompanied by Kairi Sane,
from Osaka, Japan,
representing The Kabuki Warriors, Asuka!
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Asuka, who has been displaying overwhelming controlling behavior lately.
Now, she has to try to control… Mami.
Rhea Ripley, after what went down backstage earlier tonight.
This is our incredible main event that has developed.
[Wade] Yeah, I'm still blown away we're getting this.
We came here tonight, Joe Tess,
didn't quite know what we were gonna get him for a main event.
[chuckles] We're getting this? Asuka, Rhea Ripley for free tonight? Wow.
[Joe] PLE-level action in a matchup
right in front of us here in Evansville, Indiana.
[Wade] And I'll say this for Asuka, you say it's a domineering personality.
Usually Asuka is right,
Asuka offered to help Iyo Sky defeat Stephanie Vaquer at Wrestlepalooza,
an offer that was turned down by Sky.
And, Iyo, how did that work out for you?
[Joe] It was a thrilling match, it was highly competitive.
Iyo wanted to do it on her own.
Iyo then had a conversation earlier with Rhea,
asking her that this match doesn't happen.
Of course, Iyo, with great respect for Asuka,
for everything she has done in her career.
-But Iyo has lost patience. -[song concludes]
["Demon in Your Dreams" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ …I eat, sleep, bleed The demons in your dreams ♪
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪
♪ Look at my eyes, look a, look alive… ♪
[Lilian] And her opponent, from Adelaide, South Australia,
Rhea Ripley!
[Wade] Joe, I thought we peaked at Wrestlepalooza.
-I really did. -[Joe] Yeah.
[Wade] Vaquer, Sky, doesn't get any better than that, does it?
But two days later, the hits just keep coming.
[Joe] Yeah, you see all those phones out for a moment like this.
Rhea Ripley and all the intensity she brings.
We've seen it time and again.
Of course, fighting for the Women's World Title
in that thrilling Triple Threat at SummerSlam when Naomi retained.
Showing admiration and support for Iyo Sky,
but things took a turn tonight.
Asuka pushed too hard, too far…
and there's no turning back. Rhea Ripley is ready.
[Wade] The unadulterated face of women's wrestling in 2025
with or without the gold, arguably the face of wrestling itself.
-Rhea "Bloody" Ripley! -[Joe] The three-time World Champion.
♪ …I eat, sleep, bleed The demons in your dreams ♪
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪
[song concludes]
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] First time these two have gone one-on-one
-since December of '22. -[bell ringing]
-[crowd chanting "Mami"] -[Joe] And it is on,
the unexpected main event that has this place roaring.
We are underway with Rhea Ripley and Asuka.
[Wade] Big "Mami" chants, not a seat was used for her entire entrance,
boy, does the world love Rhea "Bloody" Ripley.
[Joe] Asuka's right on the attack.
That striking combination from Asuka.
She's immediately going to the back of the left leg.
[Wade] I had my stats guy pull something up.
These two have competed several times in the past,
but to be clear, one-on-one.
[Joe] Oh. Pinning combination from Asuka.
[Wade] Asuka has never defeated Rhea Ripley,
so it needed a hot start from Asuka.
But it didn't work, and immediately, Mami's on top.
[Joe] Yeah, two times they met for the WWE.
Excuse me, three times they've met.
Ripley, two, and one of those was a no contest,
but to your point,
Ripley has gotten the best of her with those title matches.
-[crowd cheering] -[crowd member] Come on, Rhea!
[Joe] The Empress of Tomorrow has been in control.
Asuka taking advantage of Rhea Ripley early on
as Rhea looks to turn things around.
But you see how affected she was with the beating she took moments ago.
-[Wade] Welcome to the Asuka Show. -[crowd chanting "Mami"]
It has been pure Empress of Tomorrow from the word "go" in this one.
And struggling to really get a foothold in it has been Rhea Ripley.
And when was the last time you could say that? Oh!
[Joe] Oh! That dragon screw right through the ropes, Wade.
And that right leg taking damage.
[Wade] But what a smart move there by Asuka,
the bigger, more powerful superstar, take her off her feet,
shred some ligaments.
Suddenly she ain't so big and scary.
[Joe] Look at her just talking right to her face,
a reminder of what is coming your way on Friday Night SmackDown.
So much to be determined with Tiffany Stratton,
Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax.
Who will face Stephanie Vaquer at Crown Jewel
for the Women's Championship?
That's only two and a half weeks away, but Friday's gonna determine so much.
[Wade] Who's her opponent?
Stephanie has said she will be in attendance this Friday at SmackDown
for that massive Triple Threat matchup.
But talk about massive,
we got a massive match on our hands right now.
And Rhea Ripley is suddenly moving through the gears.
[Joe] Look at the speed, look at the power,
look at the brutality as she would say.
[Wade] And a tap knee, ripcord kick to the jaw.
[Joe] Oh! And that dropkick!
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Rhea Ripley's awoken and so has this audience.
[Joe] Rhea Ripley bridging, arching,
and that right shoulder getting up by Asuka.
[Wade] And Rhea Ripley is so well-rounded.
Used to be, in everyone's estimation, a power wrestler.
Now, she has it all, the technique too.
-And of course, durability for days. -[crowd chanting "Mami"]
[Wade] Some wrath living inside her body
that takes her to places most women will never reach.
[Joe] Trying to set up the Razor's Edge there.
Oh! And right back to that leg is Asuka. Such a veteran move of awareness by Asuka.
-One, two-- -[crowd counting]
-[referee] Two! -[Joe] And able to kick out is Rhea.
[Wade] I mean, this has been a 90% Asuka dominating this matchup.
And that literally never happens to Rhea Ripley.
And at this point in the match with a damaged wheel,
starting to question her own abilities, must be Rhea Ripley.
[Joe] By the way, you see that headline across the bottom of your screen
moments ago with Jey Uso getting the best of LA Knight.
And then The Vision coming in to attack,
and it was Jimmy Uso who came to there defense.
We will have a rematch of that Wrestlepalooza tag team match
next week on Raw, and it's a tornado tag team match.
[Wade] Ripley's having a fight for her life here,
and it's a fight she appears to be losing.
Asuka just has all the answers.
[Joe] That kick right to the midsection, and now working that leg again.
[Wade] Best striker in the women's division is Asuka.
-[crowd applauding] -[Joe] And then switched by Rhea,
trying to get the best in position herself.
Back and forth they go, who will get the leverage they need?
Ripley holds on to that rope and then comes in with the big boot.
Just on time is Rhea Ripley when she needed it.
[Wade] That limb length.
-Shortcut to success. -[crowd gasping]
[Joe] To the floor she goes and Asuka took all that damage.
Turning point for Rhea Ripley.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Asuka has just countered moments ago
against Rhea Ripley with that ankle lock, Wade.
[Wade] Well, that is how dangerous Asuka really is, a technical wizard.
And when it looked like it was turning into the Rhea Ripley show,
just like that, Asuka grabbed control.
[Joe] Back and forth they have gone.
[Wade] Swinging all over the place,
two women at the very top of this industry.
[Joe] Two women who knows.
You know what it's like to hold that gold.
Four times a world champion is Asuka, three times Rhea Ripley.
They have gone back and forth in recent weeks.
And Rhea's patience was tested with the way Asuka was managing
and handling things with Iyo Sky. Tonight it went too far.
[Wade] Asuka may well have burned herself out
in the early goings of this one.
Almost a rope-a-dope strategy from Rhea Ripley.
[Joe] Rhea's up top, superplexed.
Did you hear and see the impact that both took?
[Wade] Yeah, that is not a common move for Rhea Ripley.
She landed very high on the neck and shoulders.
She's grabbing the spine up at the moment. Watch the landing of Ripley.
You don't wanna land quite as high on the back as she did there.
But of course, Asuka taking an even worse landing on that one.
[Joe] Just the way that rotation was,
and you saw the upper back of Rhea Ripley crashing down.
So, both of the competitors are looking to rally up here.
[Wade] Talked about a little earlier, that shot to the knee of Ripley earlier
has clearly thrown her off the game slightly.
And she's struggling to get back to a regular form ever since.
[Joe] It is that left leg that Asuka was targeting
throughout the middle of this match.
As they trade in the center of the ring, strike after strike.
[Wade] Don't wanna trade with a bigger,
stronger superstar like Ripley, but you do.
[Joe] Look at this, look at this by Asuka.
[Wade] Look, it's a flash pin.
[Joe] Able to miss with a kick, just get away from it.
Both of them trying to bring their best in that spinning elbow.
[Wade] Connects to the skull of Asuka, but Asuka shaking off,
maybe the glancing blow more than anything,
-that one certainly was not. -[crowd gasping]
[Joe] This is good stuff here,
as Rhea Ripley has Asuka in position.
-Razor's Edge, every bit of it. -[crowd cheering]
Mami on the attack, Wade.
[Wade] Shouts out Damian Priest, the Terror Twins.
[Joe] To put it away, and Asuka survives and gets that left shoulder up.
[Wade] There's a lot of offense now being absorbed by Asuka.
Another look at this Razor's Edge, straight from Damian Priest's playbook.
Following up with that, just a shining wizard right to the jaw.
But Asuka equal to it, but for how much longer?
[Joe] And look at Rhea just dragging Asuka back up.
[Wade] Grabbing whatever she can, and here we go, Joe Tess.
Panic stations for Asuka, understandably so.
[Joe] She was thinking Riptide, but instead, you gotta be so careful
when she locks it in. Asuka in position.
[Wade] Torquing that shoulder, trying to snap the arm with the arm bar.
Fully extended now, the right arm of Rhea Ripley
now trying to block just in time.
[Joe] How can she power up out of this arm bar
and she somehow is able to turn things around
and roll through and escape out the side door.
[Wade] Ripley's arm, almost snap on the shoulder.
Taking all the damage of that post…
-[crowd gasping] -…and the KO kick right to the temple.
[Joe] Lateral press doesn't hook the leg and Rhea survives it.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] These two women are absolutely spent.
They have thrown everything at each other.
[crowd chanting "Mami"]
[Joe] Asuka draped over Rhea, they are exhausted.
Two titans of this women's division giving everything they have here on Raw.
[Wade] Completely partisan crowd, totally in favor of Rhea Ripley.
But right now that is not helping at all.
[Joe] As Asuka holds her head in place and delivers right kick after right kick
and comes back for more, but Rhea catches it.
[Wade] Rhea takes six kicks to the jaw and come back with this.
[Joe] And that spinning elbow, and again in the spinning kick,
and now the striking attack of Asuka.
[Wade] Picking up the pace at the right moment with that,
Oh! Terrible landing there for Asuka.
[Joe] Rhea Ripley is down and out on the floor
after absorbing so much punishment.
[Wade] Asuka clearly said that Kairi Sane take a shot
behind the referee's back, she did not do it.
[Joe] She wouldn't follow orders earlier either.
[Wade] Kairi Sane suddenly seems petrified of violence.
You're in the wrong industry if that's your--
[Joe] Uh-oh! She's coming our way.
Slamming her head in the front of this reinforced announce desk.
[overlapping arguing in Japanese]
[Wade] Bellowing at her. "Help me out here, will you please?"
I'm assuming that's what Asuka was saying.
[Joe] That is the order and running elbow from Asuka.
Oh! Rhea followed her.
She went straight back and a big right forearm came with it.
And now Rhea looking to find something,
but instead it's Asuka locking her up again.
[Wade] Going back to the ankle and knee.
She was attacking it a little earlier this evening.
And straight back at it, trying to hyper extend that knee,
snap it back the wrong way. Now transitioning into an ankle lock.
-[crowd chanting "Rhea"] -[Joe] She put this on earlier today.
She had worked on that knee much earlier in the match,
and now that ankle lock is set in.
[Wade] Right here, Rhea Ripley screaming in agony.
Certainly heard it there.
And the end could be nigh for Rhea Ripley.
-[crowd booing] -[Joe] This has turned into all Asuka now.
The Empress of Tomorrow lining her up.
-[crowd cheering] -[Joe] Oh my! Oh my Rhea!
Just when she needed it most, Wade.
[Wade] This is such incredible action. Take a look at this.
First of all, Ripley beating Asuka to the punch.
Then the ankle lock applied turned into a German suplex.
And when it looked like Ripley was toast, never write Mami off.
With one good leg, a pinpoint dropkick to a flying Empress of Tomorrow.
-[crowd chanting "This is awesome"] -[Joe] That dropkick by Rhea Ripley,
you see the orders being given out by Asuka again.
[Wade] I don't think Kairi Sane is capable of executing these orders.
That's the issue we've had thus far in the match.
Kairi's thinking about it here though, isn't she?
She's climbing up onto the apron right next to Rhea.
[Wade] Just do it, Kairi.
-[Joe] Oh! Rhea catches it. -[Wade] Look a bit too low.
[Joe] Oh! The Empress Impact backfires, roll up by Rhea.
-roll up by Rhea. -[crowd counting]
-[Joe] Rhea wins it, Rhea wins it. -[bell ringing]
-["Demon In Your Dreams" playing] -[Lilian] Here is your winner,
Rhea Ripley!
-[Wade] A kabuki collision there. -[Joe] Oh! The Mist!
-[Wade] Poison Mist in the eyes! -[Joe] The Mist is in the eyes, Wade!
Rhea gets misted.
[Wade] Sometimes when you win, really you lose.
And losing her eyesight is Rhea Ripley.
[Joe] Now, Asuka is pointing to Kairi and saying, "Now do it."
As Rhea's been blinded here, and Kairi is on the attack.
And now they both are just beating down on a helpless,
-misted Rhea Ripley. -["Tokyo Shock" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Iyo Sky.
[Wade] Long time friend of the Kabuki Warriors,
though they're having tensions right now.
[overlapping arguing in Japanese]
[Joe] Pleading with Asuka not to do this.
[crowd chanting "Iyo"]
[Joe] It looks like potentially a resolution is met.
Hugging it out in the middle of the ring.
[Wade] Went back, and finally someone was able to talk some sense
into Asuka and indeed Kairi Sane.
-The damage clearly done already-- -[Joe] Oh!
-A spinning strike as Asuka turns on Iyo. -[crowd booing]
[Joe] Now, she's ordering Kairi as well.
[indistinct chatter]
[Joe] To attack, and she is!
Kairi is attacking Iyo Sky.
[Wade] Asuka has been at loggerheads with Iyo Sky for weeks now.
Came to a boil after that loss at Wrestlepalooza.
[Joe] Oh! This is… this is horrible to see.
The respect and the trust is long gone as Rhea Ripley is blinded
from the mist in the eye. Oh!
And now Kairi, another liner up, Rhea's trying to get back to her feet.
-[Wade] Rhea can't see a thing. -[Joe] She can't see a thing.
Empress Impact as Rhea can't see and Iyo's being beaten down.
[Wade] As vicious as you like,
the Kabuki Warriors taking whatever they want tonight.
[Joe] And Iyo is just so compromised being held up here.
As Kairi…
is just delivering on these brutal orders--
Insane Elbow right across the upper body of Iyo.
[Wade] Rip the bandaid off, Asuka got her wish.
-[crowd booing] -[Joe] Can you believe this?
And this scene we're witnessing.
[coughs] Iyo! Iyo!
-[referee] Come on. Let's go. -[coughs, groans]