wrestling / TV Reports
Cook’s WWE Raw Review 10.26.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Hey kids! Steve Cook here with you for the latest edition of WWE Raw on Netflix! Tonight is supposed to be the return to the ring of everyone’s favorite Chilean Hotness, Stephanie Vaquer, but now word is coming out through social media that “questions have arisen regarding her medical availability.” This might not bode well for that #1 Contender’s Match she’s supposed to have with Becky Lynch. We’ll see about that, we’ll also see Bayley take on Lyra Valkyria in a No Disqualification Match, and Raquel Rodriguez will take on IYO SKY. There might be men on the show too, but we aren’t too concerned with it at the moment.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the 411Mania Wrestling Newsletter! Click here to do so, and then every Tuesday you’ll get some exclusive insight from your humble Chef on everything you need to know about the latest and greatest pro wrestling happenings! I guarantee it’ll be a good time, so make sure you check it out.
Cook’s WWE Raw Review 10.26.26
Then. Now. Forever. Together!
We’re in Fresno! Last week, Roman Reigns joined his Bloodline in battle with 946, we’ll look back tonight. Bayley is WALKING1 Lyra Valkyria is WALKING! Ethan Page is WALKING! IYO SKY is WALKING! Becky Lynch is WALKING! Joe Tessitore & Wade Barrett are our hosts.
Adam Pearce welcomes us to Monday Night Raw. He has to announce a change to the broadcast, as Stephanie Vaquer is not medically cleared to compete. He’s more disappointed than the fans are, but Becky Lynch is still here tonight and she’ll go one on one with Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship!
Sami Zayn emerges on the stage and interrupts Pearce. He flew here to take pictures backstage and do promotion, and his name’s still not on the format. He won’t do the same thing everyone does and complain about Roman Reigns’ part time schedule. Roman earned the right to skip Fresno, he wishes he was too, but he’s not. Sami says he’s invoking his privilege as WWE Champion to get his TV time right now, and he tells Adam to get the hell out of the ring. It’s his time! Adam leaves. Sami notes the crowd saying that he sucks. What’s crazy is you could be a WM main eventer, a Grand Slam winner and current WWE Champion and still be the most underrated wrestler in the world. Sami gave the fans too much credit, they can’t see the greatness in front of them. They have to be spoon fed all the time about how great people are. Guys like Trick Williams & CM Punk tell us they’re the best in the world. Roman Reigns demands that they acknowledge him. They go along with it, so there are things he could brag about and doesn’t. No one has done more with less than him, nobody has been buried deeper and gotten to the top. He doesn’t brag about the fact that the Bloodline was never as good as it was until he came around. His joining took the business to new heights. We’re watching on Netflix because of him. He’s the most versatile wrestler of all time, unless your name was Shawn, Eddie or Kurt you don’t belong in the same conversation with him. Maybe it’s time the fans acknowledge him. Roman’s wasting his time thinking about the 946, which will be a fatal mistake. The disrespect he faces from all the other WWE Superstars is ridiculous. Je’Von Evans came out and interrupted him before Money in the Bank! In what world-
Je’Von Evans comes out and asks for a yeah. Evans welcomes Sami to Raw and asks him to shut up. Sami said his name, he’s got his gear on, so whatever Sami has to say can be said to his face. Sami doesn’t owe Je’Von any respect, but will give it anyway because he’s the last real good guy. There is no world where Je’Von should be interrupting him, not now or ever. Evans wants to talk crazy. Sami says he’s the best here, and he criticizes Evans’ respect level. Sami’s trying to be one of the best and Evans says he is the best. Sami should stop talking before Evans gives them something to talk about. Sami doesn’t have to go to Crown Jewel with that title, Evans would love to take it and wrestle Roman. Sami’s disappointed in Evans, he reminded him a lot of Sami. Evans isn’t even close to being in Sami’s orbit. He can come back in 5-8 years, and maybe he’ll be half as good as Sami is, until then he doesn’t deserve to look Sami in the eye.
Sami leaves the ring, and Adam Pearce says Sami deserves more time & respect. Sami can face Evans for the Undisputed WWE Championship next!
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Je’Von Evans: Tie up into the ropes, Evans finally breaks the hold. They fight into the corner and Sami hits a couple of shoulderblocks. Sami with a big chop to Evans. Evans with a hip toss, cartwheel and moonsault for two. Sami stomps Evans down in the corner. Evans with a springboard rana for two. Evans with a chop, Sami answers with a clothesline for two. Sami stomps Evans down in the corner. Evans evades Sami and hits a dropkick. Sami goes outside, Evans dives onto him! Evans goes up top, Sami joins him and goes for a superplex. Sami gets knocked to the mat, but then he sends Evans to the floor. Evans’ face hits the apron and we go to commercial.
Sami punches Evans as we return. Evans fires back. Red Dot kick gets two on Sami! Evans blocks a suplex into the corner and rolls Sami up for two, but Sami hits the exploder in the other corner. Evans cuts off the Helluva Kick, goes up top and hits a frog splash for two. Sami rolls to the floor and walsk to the aisleway. Penta’s music hits, and Penta appears on stage with his pyro briefcase! He’s got a referee with him too! Evans hits a cutter on Sami in the ring for two! Penta is at ringside, but Bron Breakker jumps him from behind! Evans dives onto Breakker, then jumps up top. Sami evades and explodes Evans into the corner. Helluva Kick ends things for the champion.
Winner: Sami Zayn (10:18 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***1/4
Pretty good action here. There was never any doubt of who was winning here, Penta coming out with the briefcase was kinda cute but I’m hoping he doesn’t make this fake cash in thing a regular deal like everybody else does. Can’t he just be cool and stand around with the pyro briefcase?
Bron enters the ring. Sami exits and Bron attacks Evans some more. Penta back in the ring with a kick to Bron. Bronson Reed enters the ring and clotheslines Penta. Another clothesline, and Logan Paul is also here to watch. Bron hits the 23 mph spear on Evans, and Reed hits the TSUNAMI! 23 mph spear on Penta, then another TSUNAMI! Breakker, Reed & Paul stand over a fallen Penta.
Joe & Wade let us know that next week’s Raw will start at 6 PM Eastern!
We look back at the Bloodline colliding with 946 last week. We’ll hear from 946 later tonight! Becky Lynch is stretching backstage.
We look back at last Friday’s SmackDown, where Chelsea Green defended the WWE Women’s Championship against Roxanne Perez. Tiffany Stratton saved Chelsea from a postmatch beatdown and almost cashed in on Liv.
Back in the Judgment Day clubhouse, Liv is freaking out about her match tonight. Raquel will take care of IYO SKY and set the tone. Liv says that everyone is against her and she’ll beat Becky tonight.
We see a video chronicling the issues between Bayley & Lyra Valkyria.
The trainer says that Penta & Evans will be ok. Penta tells Adam Pearce that he & Evans want a tag team championship match with the Vision, Pearce books it for Crown Jewel.
No Disqualification Match: Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria: Kelani Jordan is at ringside so Joe & Wade can talk about NXT Halloween Havoc this Saturday. Bayley attacks right away, sends Lyra to the apron and drops her face first. Bayley slides some chairs into the ring, a broom & a kendo stick appear as well, and Bayley brings the Slim Jim table out from under the ring. Lyra crossbodies Bayley, then tosses her over the table. Lyra whips Bayley with a belt, then sends her into the steps. Bayley fights back by dropping Lyra on the steps, then she sits Lyra in a chair and jumps off the steps with a clothesline! Bayley tries to run the barricade but Lyra trips her up, then backbreaks Bayley off the apron. Bayley is sent into the steps again and covered for two in the ring. Lyra props the table against the announce desk, but Bayley dives into her and they crash through the table! We go to commercial!
Back in the ring, Lyra has the kendo stick and chokes Bayley with it. Bayley shakes her off but gets smacked down with the stick. Lyra goes up top, Bayley follows her with some forearms, then uses the stick to hit an Iconoclasm. Bayley with an elbow to the back of Lyra’s neck. Bayley hits Lyra with the stick, then takes her belt off and starts whipping Lyra. Bayley wraps the belt around Lyra’s wrist and takes her down. Bayley sets up a chair in the corner, but Lyra hits a kick. Bayley catches Lyra’s spinkick and suplexes her over. Bayley sunset bombs Lyra into the chair for two. Bayley uses the broom on Lyra, then finds another Slim Jim table. Bayley sets up the table but Lyra attacks and sends her back into the ring. Bayley slams Lyra on a chair, then goes up top and elbows a chair held up by Lyra! A gutwrench powerbomb on the chair gets two for Lyra. Lyra puts some chairs together and sets Bayley on them, but Lyra ends up moonsaulting through the chairs! Bayley to belly gets a two count. Bayley throws one chair out of the ring and sets up two others. Lyra Nightwings Bayley off the chairs, then goes for a bulldog choke. Bayley gets them to fall onto the floor. Lyra sent into the post, then a Bayley to belly on the floor. Bayley gets a trash can from under the ring. Lyra begs off and apologizes. Lyra tosses something into Bayley and cuts her off. Bayley placed on the trash can, Lyra on the apron, she jumps into a Bayley powerbomb through the trash can! Bayley sets the table up and puts Lyra on it. Bayley goes to the middle turnbuckle and elbowdrops Lyra through the table! Back into the ring, Bayley applies a crossface on Lyra utilizing the kendo stick to Lyra’s mouth! Lyra taps out!
Winner: Bayley (14:35 shown via submission)
Match Rating: ***
Joe Tess suggested this issue might be over, but I’m guessing it’s not unless they’ve completely given up on Lyra. Hope they haven’t, but it also wouldn’t be the most shocking thing of all time.
Bayley celebrates her big win over Lyra.
IYO SKY says Raquel talks and thinks she can do whatever she wants because she’s part of the Judgment Day. Last week she beat Raquel 1-2-3. This week it’ll be just them, and IYO will remind Raquel just who she is. Raquel will find out what happens when you disrespect IYO SKY.
We see a 946 video. Royce Keys claps to see the Bloodline back together. He’ll take on Solo Sikoa in Brooklyn and do exactly what he did to Jimmy & Jey. Ain’t nobody safe!
Non-Title Match: Raquel Rodriguez vs. IYO SKY: Raquel swings IYO across the ring a couple of times. IYO goes for a guillotine, Raquel powers out of it, IYO goes for a sleeper. IYO with some gymnastics, then a crossbody, Raquel rolls through, but IYO takes her down and kicks her outside. Tope suicida by SKY! A young fan helps her mount the barrier, then she crossbodies Raquel! Raquel fights back and drops IYO to the floor as we go to commercial.
Raquel with a backbreaker as we return, IYO slips out into a sleeper, Raquel tosses her off and misses an embowdrop. Raquel grabs IYO’s leg and gets kicked. IYO fights back and hits a dropkick. IYO misses in the corner, Raquel gets kicked and arm snapped in the corner. IYO up top, jumps into a goozle. IYO counters the chokeslam with a jawbreaker for two. IYO flips out of a backdrop and double stomps Raquel. IYO goes up top, Raquel evades the moonsault and hits a running crossbody for two. Fallaway slam by Raquel. IYO evades the Vader Bomb, hits a rana to Raquel, which sends Raquel into the corner but she blocks the meteora with a big boot for two. IYO ranas Raquel into the corner, goes up top and hits the missile dropkick. IYO does the crazy pose, then the Bullet Train Attack. IYO goes up top, moonsault gets nothing but knees! Raquel goes for the Tejana Bomb, but IYO rolls out of it and gets Raquel down for three!
Winner: IYO SKY (7:29 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **3/4
We’ve seen quite a few IYO/Raquel matches on this show through the years. I’d say this was a pretty standard one that didn’t really stand out but also wasn’t bad. I feel like Raquel holds on to the IC title a bit longer to establish herself further as a singles star.
Shockingly, Roxanne Perez attacks IYO from behind during the celebration. She holds IYO for a big boot from Raquel.
Solo Sikoa accepts Royce’s challenge and says he’s not safe from Solo. Royce will know that the Bloodline runs this place, and when they say something, they mean it. Roman Reigns & the Usos stand in the background content to let Solo speak.
Shiloh Hill is at ringside, he’ll be taking on Naraku tomorrow night on NXT.
“All Ego” Ethan Page & Big Cass vs. Chad Gable & Dragon Lee: We see clips of Ego & Cass attacking Gable, Lee & Rey Mysterio after their match last week. Gable & Page start. Gable gets out of an armbar and takes Ego down. Tag to Lee, Lee kicks Page’s arm. Ego sends Lee over and tags Cass. Cass clubs Lee down. Lee flips out of a double team and tags Gable. Gable off the top onto Ego & Cass. A suplex on Cass doesn’t work, but Cass ends up charging outside. Gable moonsaults Ego & Cass, then tosses Lee onto Cass & Ego. We go to commercial!
Cass splashes Gable in the corner and clotheslines him down. Page slams Gable for two. Cass gets put in a hanging armbar by Gable, Gable gets cut off from making the tag but he Angle Slams Ego. Cass cuts off the tag this time, Gable German suplexes him and finally tags Lee in. Lee knocks both Cass & Ego outside and tope suicidas them on opposite sides of the ring. Cass back in the ring, he gets DDTed by Lee. Page Egoplexes Gable on the floor, then Lee dropkicks him. Lee checks on Gable, who seems to be having some issues after that move. Lee jumps into a goozle, but rolls Cass up for two. Cass runs Lee over. Both Ego & Cass miss in the corner, Lee with some kicks and a DDT to Page, but Cass boots Lee down. Egoplex on Lee gets the three count.
Winners: Ethan Page & Big Cass (6:52 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **3/4
We’ll see what’s going on with Gable, hopefully it’s just a reason for him not to give Page a title shot right now and nothing serious. Page is the contender of note in the division and that match should get a big stage.
Gable is still down on the floor with officials checking on him as Page & Cass celebrate.
Becky Lynch notes that she & Stephanie will meet again, but tonight she’ll take back her title. Her & Liv have been doing this for years, and Liv knows she can’t beat Becky. Becky had hopes for Liv, she thought she could help the business instead of stunting it’s growth. The title deserves to be held by a fighting champion, and she’ll see Liv in the main event.
The World Tag Team Championship Match between the Vision & Penta/Je’Von has been made official. CATHY KELLEY is with the Vision and asks if Penta & Je’Von are legitimate threats. Logan Paul says Penta is even dumber then he looks. Bronson promises they’ll deliver Tsunami after spear, Bron says they accept the challenge.
Next Week: Brooklyn! 6 PM Eastern! Solo vs. Royce! John Cena returns to Raw!
Women’s World Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch: A rarity to see a Becky match without that corrupt Karr officiating, maybe she’s got a fighting chance here. Liv is making that face that we’ve seen a lot of champions about to lose their titles make, I’m not reading anything into it though. Alicia Taylor does the special in-ring introductions. Becky goes for the Manhandle, but Liv slips out and gets arm dragged instead. Some trips for near-falls, Becky matrixes out and arm drags Liv a couple of times. Liv with a knee to Becky, she goes for a sunset bomb to the floor, Becky breaks it up and hits a running forearm off the apron. We go to commercial!
Liv has Becky in a half crab while on the top rope, then she hits a facebuster off the middle rope for two. We see a clip of Becky getting tossed off the top rope during commercial. Liv goes for the three amigos, gets blocked on the third & Becky suplexes her over. Becky with a running throat thrust, sells her left leg and forearms Liv in the corner before hitting a Bexploder. A leg drop off the second rope gets two for Becky. Liv hits a springboard Codebreaker for two. Liv runs into an elbow in the corner, then Becky leg sweeps her off the middle rope for two as we go picture in picture.
Becky talks some stuff and punches away on Liv, Liv gets placed on the turnbuckle. They punch away at each other, Liv hits a powerbomb and covers for two before locking in the half crab. Becky powers out of it into a pin attempt, then Germans Liv over. Double underhook into a cross armbreaker by Becky, Liv gets out and hits a sling blade for two.
Liv goes up top, Becky meets her there. Becky hits a superplex and rolls through into a DDT for two. Liv rolls outside and Becky baseball slides into her before taking the lid off the announce desk. Liv bounces Becky’s head off the desk and places her on top of it. Liv joins her and tries to set her up, but Becky hits a Manhandle Slam on the desk! Becky rolls Liv back in the ring, but Liv keeps rolling back to the floor. Liv sends Becky into the steps, then hits a sunset flip on the floor! Both women get in the ring at nine. Liv says she’s better than Becky and they fire away on each other. Liv hits Oblivion out of nowhere, and Becky barely kicks out at two. Manhandle Slam gets two for Becky! Becky misses in the corner, Liv rolls her up for two but then gets locked in the Disarmer! Raquel & Roxanne run down to distract Becky, and that lets Liv get to the ropes. Becky gets dumped outside, Roxanne holds Becky for the big boot but Raquel kicks her down instead! Becky dives onto Raquel & Roxanne! Liv goes for Oblivion, Becky blocks and hits the Manhandle Slam! Roxanne & Raquel come in for the disqualification.
Winner: Becky Lynch (15:01 shown via disqualification)
Match Rating: ***1/2
Like the earlier title match, it didn’t seem like there was much of a chance of the challenger prevailing…up until around the end after they’d done enough to get people there. Becky shrugging off Liv’s Oblivion & hitting her move got a great pop, people bought it and that was the perfect time to end the match with the DQ. It’s really traditional wrestling, the way we liked it back in the day.
Raquel hits Becky with a Tejana Bomb, then Chelsea Green runs down to make the save! She sends Roxanne into the ringpost and attacks Chelsea, but Liv hits her with Oblivion. IYO SKY runs down and crossbodies Liv & Raquel! IYO hits a springboard moonsault on Raquel. Chelsea hits the Unprettier on Liv, then gets a shining wizard from Roxanne.
Tiffany Stratton comes down with the MITB briefcase and hits Liv with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever! She’s about to cash in, but Dominik Mysterio pulls Liv out of the ring! Joe Tess is beside himself and Tiffany stares Judgment Day down as our live event comes to an end. So long for now!
If you’d like to chime in with your own thoughts on tonight’s show, feel free to join your fellow 411 Maniacs down in the comment section! As the legendary Larry Csonka always said: Have fun and don’t be a dick. When I’m not here you can catch me on social media from time to time. To be honest, e-mail is a better option and you can reach me at [email protected]. I’ll be more likely to respond there.
