wrestling / TV Reports
Cook’s WWE Raw Review 9.15.25
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Hey kids! Steve Cook here with you for another edition of WWE Raw on Netflix! The Road to Wrestlepalooza is winding down, and tonight we’ll see most of the central figures of that show appearing to build up their matches. The Punks & the Rollins’ will be FACE TO FACE. John Cena will be in attendance! We’ll see them and so much more tonight in what promises to be a good time.
Cook’s WWE Raw Review 9.15.25
Then. Now. Forever. Together!
Penta is DRINKING COFFEE! Stephanie Vaquer is BRINGING THE CHILEAN HOTNESS! El Grande Americano is TWIDDLING HIS FINGERS! The Vision is WALKING!
Last Monday, the Usos had interactions with the Brons & LA Knight had issues with pretty much everybody.
The Usos walk into the building and LA Knight shoves Jey! Adam Pearce & officials break it up, and Pearce demands they meet in his office now or paychecks will be docked!
We see a mounted picture of John Cena next to a suite in the arena, and the Springfield fans chant for him. Cena’s music plays and the last time is now! Cena enters the ring and has Alicia Taylor do the over the top introduction. Cena says it’s an incredible night and he gets to be in Springfield, Massachusetts. He sees a lot of young fans tonight, they might not know this, but he used to play football up the road at Springfield College. The reason people might not know is he was an offensive lineman. Linemen get to have their ass kicked and come back tomorrow for more. Springfield College prepared him for life in WWE. His friends & family are here tonight. It’s his niece’s birthday so she couldn’t be here. They don’t even have a stage tonight because there’s people as far as the eye can see. He really needs this tonight, and he thanks Alicia for the introduction. He started that intro for one thing, but it evolved into something else, something for the fans to enjoy and share a final moment. He’s got a pretty tall hill to climb. “The Last Real Champion” is a phrase that means a lot to him, and on Saturday Brock Lesnar wants to end it. Brock is intimidating, controversial & damn near invincible. The fans are saying “Talk to Lesnar” (not really), so Cena will talk to him. He’s had matches with Brock before, some of the toughest challenges he’s ever faced. Why didn’t Cena say no when Lesnar challenged him? The fans tell Cena to whoop his ass. If Cena says no, he can keep his health, he can lean into some backstage politics and get a favor. The only person that would really be mad is Brock. It’d be smart, he’s only got 6 appearances left. Saying no is safe & easy. The fans thank Cena. Cena says that’s why he says yes. He’s the last real champion, and in all his days here, he’s fought all of his battles in the ring. Being the last real champion leaves this place better than he found it, doesn’t take his ball & go home & conducts themselves with hustle, loyalty & respect. They give all that they have. Cena admits that he’s afraid of Brock Lesnar and that he could fail. He won’t back down or give up. They will take the fight to the beast because that’s what we do. Cena tells Brock to listen to the energy of the people. Saturday will be the final showdown of two generational titans. Cena founded Suplex City by taking Brock’s best. As the fan’s sign says, Cena’s jorts are better than Lesnar’s jeans, and he’ll see Brock in Indianapolis.
Adam Pearce tells Jey Uso & LA Knight that Wrestlepalooza is this weekend and he can’t have this week go off the rails due to them. Knight wants a piece of Bron & Bronson. Who will be his partner? LA says it’ll be Jimmy Uso. Jey doesn’t like it, but LA says if they want peace he’ll make it happen. Jey says that Jimmy doesn’t even like him, and Adam says they’ll talk to Jimmy.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez (w/Raquel Rodriguez): Tieup, Lyra with an armdrag and they keep the tieup while rolling around. Lyra breaks it and they talk some trash. Lyra takes Roxanne down with a headlock, Roxanne headscissors out and works into La Magistral, bridges over for two. Lyra with a bridging cover of her own for two. Knee to Lyra’s gut, headlock, off the ropes, leapfrog, kick to Lyra’s back. Up & over in the corner, trip by Lyra, dropkick and a crossbody for two. Raquel manages to trip Lyra, but the referee sees it and ejects Raquel. Roxanne rolls Lyra up but the referee doesn’t see it and it only gets two. Lyra tosses Roxanne out of the ring and hits a dropkick through the ropes. Lyra goes up top, Roxanne yanks her by the leg to the mat! Roxanne clubbers away on Lyra on the mat and we go to commercial.
Lyra with a jackknife cover, Roxanne with a rollup. Lyra with a gutwrench sitout powerbomb for two. Lyra goes up top, Roxanne rolls out and then tries to suplex Lyra to the floor. Roxanne with a top rope rana, then a cartwheel into knees on Lyra’s back gets two. Crossface by Roxanne, Lyra lifts her out of it and hits the Nightwing for the three count!
Winner: Lyra Valkyria (6:03 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/4
It was a decent start to a match, hopefully we’ll get to see more in the future! This was more about the postmatch angle, which we’ll talk about now…
The fans woo as Lyra celebrates, but Raquel reappears and attacks Lyra in the aisle. Raquel takes Lyra back to the ring and hits a big boot. Roxanne with a kick and then Pop Rox! Bayley’s music hits! Bayley runs down in an AJ Lee shirt and attacks Raquel! Back suplex to Roxanne, then she counters a Raquel slam with a stunner! Raquel sent into the ringpost. Bayley to Belly on Roxanne! Lyra seems unsure about Bayley’s presence, Bayley runs outside and hugs Joe Tessitore & Corey Graves! Hug for Alicia Taylor! Hug for the referee! Hugs for fans! Hugs for everybody! Lyra seems confused as Bayley runs backstage. I for one am happy to see Bayley hugging people again, it just seems right. We’ll see how long it lasts.
Stephanie Vaquer & IYO SKY sign the contract for their match on Saturday, They respect each other and shake hands. Asuka & Kairi Sane appear and Asuka says no one is ready for IYO. Stephanie tells Asuka to get out of her face, and Asuka says that Stephanie will face Kairi tonight. Adam makes it official, and Kairi squares up at Stephanie before Asuka yells her name.
Jimmy & LA discuss tonight’s tag team match. Jimmy doesn’t think being his partner is the right play. LA says he didn’t try to screw him like Jey did, and Jimmy says he’s being put in a tough spot. Jimmy says he’ll get his at Wrestlepalooza, and LA will need to choose someone else tonight. Knight exits.
Penta vs. Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods & Grayson Waller: The cameraman signs the petition to ban the Mexican Destroyer, seems like a conflict of interest to me. The referee wisely stays out of it. Joe’s hand is used to sign the petition, whether it’ll hold up in court or not is yet to be seen. Penta chases Kofi around, then superkicks him out of the ring before diving onto him on the floor. Penta jumps up to springboard, but Kofi kicks him off the apron. Grayson gets chopped, Kofi PKs Penta down and then frog splashes him on the floor! We go to commercial!
Penta fights out of a hold, hits a rana on Kofi. Superkick in the corner, another kick, then the headstand basement dropkick. Cover gets 2. Big ol’ chop from Penta! Penta Driver is blocked, Kofi rips at the mask and hits the SOS for two. Kofi with a kick to a charging Penta, misses off the top and now they exchange kicks. Both men go down. Penta is first up, and Xavier gets up on the apron, Grayson from behind, but Penta kicks him out of the ring. Xavier gets knocked off the apron, and Penta hits a springboard Mexican Destroyer for the three count!
Winner: Penta (4:29 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/2
Another decent match with not much to it, but the work was good. That petition didn’t look like it had very many signatures.
Xavier might need more head surgery!
Jey talks on the phone to someone, Jimmy asks who but Jey says not to worry about it. Jey tells Jimmy he has to say no to LA Knight. Jey says that only family matters. Jimmy says that he already told LA no, but he’s not going to be taking orders from Jey like he’s one of his kids. The last time he checked, there wasn’t no ula fala around his neck! Jimmy storms off.
Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch are WALKING! They’ll go face to face with CM Punk & AJ Lee next.
We see Jey Uso throwing out the first pitch at the Red Sox game yesterday, As Bob Uecker would say…just a bit outside.
Jimmy walks up to LA Knight and tells him he’s in. LA says YEAH.
BURN IT DOWN! The fans sing as Seth Rollins walks into the arena. The Man Has Come Around, and Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring with Rollins. Seth was going to say the name of their stupid little town, but instead they want to chant for CM Punk, so he’ll ignore them. Instead, he’ll address the viewing audience on Netflix and welcome us to Monday Night Rollins. He’s a visionary, revolutionary, Seth Freakin Rollins. He has the honor & privilege of introducing our Women’s Intercontinental Champion, a New York Times Best Seller, WrestleMania Main Eventer, the best to ever do it, Big Time Becks, The Man, Becky Freakin Lynch. Show some respect! The fans don’t show respect, chanting for AJ Lee instead. Becky has a lot to say about her. She won’t talk about people behind their backs like CM Punk, she’ll say it to her face. LET’S LIGHT IT UP! AJ’s music hits, she & CM Punk head down to the ring. AJ skips, Punk does not. Punk says hello and introduces himself as AJ’s husband. He won’t waste everyone’s time with a longwinded introduction. The crowd chants “AJ’s Husband”. The fans know who they are. Punk starts with Becky. He made a career of telling people what they thought of them to their face. He’s overwhelmed at what to say about these goofs. Seth says the fans wouldn’t know style if it punched them in the face. Punk says they brag about being the best wrestling couple but they can’t get on the same page. We had to listen to two crappy songs, Punk had no problem coming out to AJ’s. They share a brain cell & a wardrobe, but can they share the spotlight? Will they be a happily married tag team or let their egos get in the say. Seth tells the quiet fans to shut up. CM Punk wants to talk about egos, he’s the most selfish human being Seth ever met. Becky says to show her hot husband some respect. They’re the human incarnation of herpes! Seth’s going to do something that hurts him and will make all the fans happy. He’s going to give CM Punk credit. AJ is the best decision Punk made in his entire life. The fans tell Seth that no one likes him, Becky says she does. Inserting AJ into this is a decision he will regret for the rest of his days. AJ says that was his mistake, she wouldn’t even be here if Seth didn’t use his wife as a human shield. Becky says nobody expected her to comeback. What Becky really can’t believe is how irresponsible Punk is. Punk cares about CM Punk, her husband’s championship, and his wife. Becky read AJ’s book, she has some notes, but wonders how she’s feeling physically. In her book, AJ talks about the damage that was done to her neck. Punk got into a blood feud over a bracelet, so how will he feel when she punches AJ’s face in. Becky is the greatest of all time, everyone says it, and AJ is a liability instead of an asset. AJ thanks Becky for reading her book, she didn’t read Becky’s. Becky made a good point though, AJ doesn’t know how her neck will hold up on Saturday. The fans sing for AJ. It’s been ten years since she took a bump in the ring, she doesn’t know what will happen on Saturday. AJ references Becky’s constipated looking face. AJ won two titles with a damaged neck. The fans chant for constipation, Seth says they’ve gone so far and I agree. AJ says she’s erratic and makes rash decisions. She’s a Puerto Rican from Jersey so sometimes she shanks a chick. Seth made a plan and used his wife as a backup plan, but you can’t plan for what you can’t predict. Seth says that he might not be able to predict AJ, but he can read Punk like a book. Seth says that Punk has a nasty habit of leaving when things let him down. When his wife rips AJ into shreds, she better hope that Punk doesn’t leave her too. AJ slaps Rollins! Seth never puts his hands on a lady, but he has someone who will. Seth motions for Becky to do something, Becky is reticent and they start arguing. Becky exits the ring as Seth continues yelling. Seth piefaces Punk and Punk chases him around the ring…Becky sneaks into the ring and hits the Manhandle Slam on AJ! Becky slaps Punk! The Punks fell for the ruse! Seth & Becky taunt them from the entranceway.
Joe & Corey talk about how Seth & Becky are on the same page. Joe puts Corey over for his call of Worlds Collide on Friday night, and we get a video package of that show. I reviewed it for this very website, it was fun! Much better than the 1 that the weirdo who rates all my reviews with a 1 gave it.
Byron Saxton is with Dirty Dom, who has both his titles with him. Byron brings up his relationship with El Grande Americano, Dom blows it off and says he’s the Mega Intercontinental Champion. We hear some commotion in the background, and the referees rush to where Penta is getting smacked with a chair by the New Day! The War Raiders arrive but the damage has been done.
Drake provides the theme for Wrestlepalooza. Are there any sketchy & questionable people that WWE won’t do business with?
Dragon Lee vs. El Grande Americano: Dragon attacks right away with a shotgun dropkick, and Americano replies with a kick of his own. Dragon vaults onto Americano’s shoulders and Americano hits a TKO for two. Regal Roll by Americano gets two. Running PK to Dragon. Strikes exchanged, Americano with a huge chop. Dragon Lee ranas Americano from the apron to the floor! Americano lies on the table, Lee dives onto him! They lay on the able as we go to commercial and the fans chant about religious excrement.
Americano going for the mask as we return, Lee hits a German suplex and kicks Americano. Chops are exchanged, somewhere Bret Hart cringes. Liger Bomb by Dragon gets two. Americano gets crotched on the top rope and ends up in the Tree of Woe so Dragon can hit the Ghetto Stomp for two. Lee goes for Americano’s mask, then Dos Americano kicks Lee from the apron! A Blockbuster gets two for Americano! Here comes AJ Styles! The announcers stooge off Dos under the ring. Styles tosses Dos over the barricade. Tres Americano appears and tornado DDTs Styles on the floor! Dos reappears and knocks Dragon off the top rope, and Americano locks in a straitjacket hold so Lee can submit.
Winner: El Grande Americano (7:11 shown via submission)
Match Rating: **1/2
Some good action here from these guys. I’m not really a huge fan of having so many Americanos running around but it’s probably leading to something. Hopefully it’s good!
The Americanos do the Spiderman point to each other.
Lyra overhears Bayley yelling at herself in her locker room and then knocks on the door. Bayley sits on the couch and Lyra thanks her for helping her with Judgment Day earlier after what she said to her. Bayley thanks Lyra for showing her that idiots still exist back there and tells her to stay out of her locker room. She could have been changing!
Rhea Ripley walks up to Stephanie Vaquer and tells her that she’ll be coming for the winner of her match on Saturday. Stephanie says she’s ready. Give me time and I’ll be ready too!
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Kairi Sane (w/Asuka): The women feel each other out to start. Stephanie works out of an armbar, they go to the mat. Stephanie headscissors out of a headlock and does one of her own that Kairi headscissors out of. Dropkick and a standoff. Kairi shakes hands, and Asuka yells for offense instead. Kairi with a flying headscissors & dropkick. Forearm to a seated Vaquer gets two. Kairi tries to powerbomb Stephanie off the apron, but Stephanie responds with a double stomp! We go to commercial!
Kairi whips Stephanie into the corner, Stephanie fights back and hits a dropkick. Meteora in the corner by Vaquer, she goes for the SVB but Kairi fights out and hits some axehandles. Big forearm by Kairi, she hits a Blockbuster to a seated Vaquer. Running forearm in the corner, Kairi goes up top, misses and Vaquer hits a DDT into a rollup for two. Stephanie goes for the Devil’s Kiss, but Kairi fights out. Kairi hits a DDT of her own and goes up top for the Insane Elbow. Stephanie gets up and smacks Kairi before following her up. Stephanie in the Tree of Woe, Ghetto Stomp by Kairi gets two. Sunset flip by Vaquer gets two, Kairi hits two spinning backfists, Stephanie blocks the third and headbutts Kairi into the corner. Dragonscrew by Stephanie, Asuka checks on Kairi on the floor. Stephanie goes up top, she crossbodies Kairi & Asuka! Back in the ring, Stephanie gives Kairi the Devil’s Kiss! SVB ends the match.
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer (9:26 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***1/4
This was a really fun match! I thought Kairi looked better here than she has since coming back, which makes sense because Stephanie is pretty awesome and deserves all the good things.
Asuka climbs on the apron and is ready to step in the ring when IYO’s music hits! IYO enters the ring and prevents Asuka from fighting with Stephanie. Stephanie & IYO face off after Asuka leaves, and they shake hands. Mutual respect!
Bronson Reed gives the Usos credit for being one of the best tag teams in the business until now. Seth Rollins’ vision has them looking at the lights. Tonight they’ll give them a taste of what will happen on Saturday. They’ll find out what happens when the dog is off the leash. Bron Breakker says the Usos are coming to an end and they’ll beat them at their own game. The vision doesn’t change for anyone at any time at any place.
IYO tells Asuka that she needs to do this by herself and win the title on Saturday on her own. Asuka is not pleased and storms off. She yells for Kairi, who stumbles off in quite an amount of pain.
Joe & Corey hype the events going down on Saturday.
The Judgment Day has some drinks in their hands. JD toasts Dirty Dom for his success. Finn says they should pump the brakes on the victory lap. Raquel & Roxanne had a rough night. They’ll take care of Lyra & Bayley. Finn yells at Dom about the involvement of El Grande Americano. JD says they want to know what he expects in return. Dom says he wants Dom’s respect because he’s the king of the luchadores. Is it so crazy? Finn says it is, and not to expect their help next time. Dom tells Roxanne & Raquel not to worry, and Rusev appears. He introduces himself as the next Intercontinental Champion and walks off. Looks like Dom has a new challenger.
LA Knight & Jimmy Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed: Jimmy & Bron start. Shoulderblock from Bron, dogs bark. Bron takes Jimmy down and shoulderblocks him in the corner. Jimmy with a big shot to the jaw, then a chop. Breakkerline from Bron. Tag to Bronson, headbutt to Jimmy. Jimmy slips out of a DVD and kicks Bronson. Arm wringer and a tag to Knight, who hits some Yeah punches. Vertical suplex doesn’t work, LA slips out of a Bronson attempt, Bronson misses in the corner and LA stomps a mudhole in him before hitting a hip attack. Jimmy with one of his own, they clothesline Bron over the top rope. We go to commercial!
Bronson tries to squeeze Jimmy’s head into oblivion. Jimmy gets sent to the mat and Bronson yanks him by the braids before smacking him. Tag to Bron, who back suplexes Jimmy before doing some pushups. LA takes offense to it and kicks at Bron. Jimmy headbutts Bron and tries to make the tag but Bron Northern Lights throws him. Tag to Bronson. LA doing a nice job working the apron. Bronson misses a butt splash and gets kicked. Jimmy up top, hits a Whisper in the Wind! Tags to LA & Bron, LA with some clotheslines, Bron misses in the corner and eats a neckbreaker. Bron stops the onslaught with a knee. Bronson gives the thumbs down, but LA blocks the Batista Bomb and hits some clotheslines. LA jumps onto Bronson’s shoulders, slips off and hits a reverse DDT. Megastar elbow by LA, Uso splash by Jimmy! Bron breaks up the pinfall. Cactus clothesline by LA to Bron. Jimmy sends Bronson outside and hits the tope suicida! Jimmy wants to do another one, but runs into Bronson’s forearm. Knight jumps off the steps and knocks Bronson down! Superkick & spear by Jimmy! Bron runs over LA on the outside, creates enough of a distraction for Jimmy so Bronson can hit him with the Jagged Edge and win the match.
Winner: Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed (9:29 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***
Bron & Bronson keep getting better as a team. I thought LA & Jimmy did a good job here, and kept things moving on towards Saturday.
Full speed spear by Bron on Jimmy! Jey Uso runs down with a chair and smacks Bron with it. Bronson punches the chair out of Jey’s hand, but Jey still has some Yeet punches for him. Jey takes the chair to Bronson’s gut & back, sending him outside. The crowd yeets as Jey checks on Jimmy. LA gets the chair behind Jey’s back! He thinks about using it, but tosses it down. Jey offers the handshake, LA takes it! Oh no, it was a ruse and LA hits the BFT on Jey! Didn’t somebody say something about not trusting anybody or something like that at some point? LA leaves the ring and our live event has ended. So long and good night!
