WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before SNME, Evolution
Ahead of a packed weekend of professional wrestling that includes the latest Saturday Night's Main Event and the return of all-women's premium live event Evolution, WWE Raw hit the Netflix airwaves with a card headlined by Seth Rollins squaring off with Penta in a first-time showdown.
Who emerged victorious from that battle and what did it mean for Rollins ahead of his matchup with LA Knight Saturday in Atlanta?
Find out with this recap of the July 7 broadcast, which also saw the latest from the women's division ahead of its big night on Sunday.
Match Card
1 of 11
Announced in advance of Monday's show at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island:
* Penta vs. Seth Rollins
* Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
* Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed
* Kairi Sane vs. Roxanne Perez
* Becky Lynch promo
Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman Kick Off Raw
2 of 11
Seth Rollins and his still-unnamed faction of Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker opened Monday's show. Promos from the latter two set the stage for their matches with Sami Zayn and Jey Uso, while Rollins yielded his mic time to his Oracle.
Heyman promised that the empire was striking back against its enemies, beginning Monday and ending Saturday in Atlanta at SNME, when The Visionary defeats LA Knight.
The segment was a fairly standard one that introduced the night's matches, gave Breakker and Reed mic time and planted the seeds for the inevitable return of Roman Reigns through one subtle tease and a blatant address from Heyman.
This was fine for what it was as a table-setter.
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* The facial expressions on Rollins and Heyman's faces during Breakker's promo will be internet memes before the end of the night.
* Between Rollins extending his hand for the mic at the start of the segment to Heyman claiming Reigns will not step up to his faction, it's clear The OTC is on his way back, presumably in time for SummerSlam and a date with The Visionary.
Kairi Sane vs. Roxanne Perez
3 of 11
Backstage in the Judgment Day's lair, Roxanne Perez revealed a memorial to Liv Morgan, to which Raquel Rodriguez said: "Y'all, she's alive."
Elsewhere, Dominik Mysterio found a cake from AJ Styles, who popped up from the corner, reiterating he has his eyes on the intercontinental champion.
Back in the ring, Perez sought to maintain her recent winning ways and prove her value to The Judgment Day, battling the woman who injured Morgan, Kairi Sane.
Perez expertly targeted the arm of her opponent, looking to take away her dangerous spinning back fist. Every time The Pirate Princess mounted a comeback, The Prodigy went right back to that injured limb.
When Sane built momentum late in the match, though, it proved to be too much for her opponent. The 2017 Mae Young Classic winner overcame attempted interference from Rodriguez, wiping her out at ringside, and pinning Perez's shoulders to the mat with a backslide for the win.
After the match, Asuka made the save during a two-on-one beatdown, rescuing Sane and standing tall to close out the segment.
And with that, we likely have the third and final challenging team for Evolution.
The reunited Kabuki Warriors joining Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, as well as NXT's Sol Ruca and Zaria, in facing Perez and Rodriguez makes sense and that tandem's presence will only make the match better.
As for this contest, it was unsurprisingly good based on the talent involved. Perez eating another loss was probably unnecessary, but it set up the post-match events so it's forgivable.
Result
Sane defeated Perez
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Perez is already one of the best wrestlers in the women's division on the main roster, as evidenced by the strength of her matches against Superstars of all styles, sizes and backgrounds.
* This is the most over Sane has been with an audience since her return, proof that keeping her on television, via matches or vignettes, is working.
* There is an argument to be made that Sane vs. Perez was a singles match for Evolution based on the idea of The Prodigy proving herself against the woman who hurt Morgan. Instead, we get the tag match, which at least gets more talent on the PLE.
Sami Zayn's Full Slate, New Challengers for Tag Team Gold and Nikki Bella Returns
4 of 11
Backstage, Jackie Redmond caught up with Sami Zayn, who said his plate is too full and life is too busy to be worried about Karrion Kross and the rib injury he dealt him a week ago.
This drew the ire of Scarlett, who looked none too pleased about her man being pushed aside.
Elsewhere, Ivy Nile and The Creed Brothers asked Adam Pearce about the return of El Grande Americano on Monday's show. From there, Nile expressed her desire to be in the Battle Royal at Evolution. and the Raw general manager granted that wish.
Asuka and Kairi Sane barged in and Pearce suggested the return of The Kabuki Warriors at Evolution as they challenge for the women's tag team titles, an announcement set up by the segment that preceded it.
Finally, Nikki Bella cut a promo about the importance of Evolution, a PLE she championed and headlined at the inaugural event in 2019. She announced her entry into the Battle Royal for a shot at either the Women's World Championship or WWE Women's Championship at Clash in Paris.
Top Moments and Takeaways
* The mid-commercial promo from The New Day, mourning their tag team title loss from last week, was brilliant.
* You know watching the Bella promo that she genuinely believes the words she is saying, but the delivery comes across too unnatural, something that has always plagued her performance on the mic. With that said, expect her to be one of the favorites to win the Battle Royal Sunday.
Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
5 of 11
As Zayn made his way to the ring, Kross attacked and left him a beaten and battered mess in the aisle way.
Despite insistence from medics and Pearce, Zayn refused to miss the match and made his way to the ring.
It did not bode well for him as he squared off with the unstoppable force that is Breakker, who poked, prodded and toyed with his prey early.
An explosive clothesline from Zayn drew a big reaction and teased the unthinkable before The Badass unloaded with his Super Spear around the ring and then added another inside the squared circle for the win.
This was a great example of how to add heat to Kross by way of a sneak attack (despite the crowd's clear desire to see more of him) and build sympathy for the gutsy babyface who refuses to quit.
Zayn is spread too thin, his body is suffering and it's costing him victories. Will the issues with Kross, the intensifying rivalry with Rollins and Co. and his desire to be champion ultimately force him to the dark side?
It has been the question hovering over Zayn's story for the better part of the last six months.
Result
Breakker defeated Zayn
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* No one shows babyface fire in wrestling today like Zayn. His timing is impeccable, which pops the crowd at precisely the right time.
* Ditto Breakker's understanding of when to uncork his explosive intensity.
* Much like Bret Hart a generation before him, no one takes a believable, sympathetic ass-kicking like Zayn.
Becky Lynch Promo
6 of 11
Ahead of Evolution and her defense of the Women's Intercontinental Championship against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria in a Triple Threat, Becky Lynch took to the squared circle and took exception to that idea.
Both challengers interrupted in short order and wasted little time taking shots at each other, egged on by The Man. Valkyria promised to end both and take the IC title, while Bayley expressed her need for the gold.
A brawl broke out and Valkyria laid out both of her former partners, standing tall and establishing momentum ahead of Sunday's match.
That contest is going to be one of the best on the entire Evolution card, if not the best. With that said, this did little to advance this story and essentially repeated what we already knew.
Valkyria getting the spotlight at the end when she is most likely to eat the pinfall in Atlanta was the right call, though. Keeping her at the forefront and not letting her slink into the background will be key coming out of the event.
Grade
C+, mostly for Lynch's antagonistic ways
Top Moments and Takeaways
* "I have to rescue that title from two massive disappointments," Valkyria said of Bayley and Lynch, who had let her down as friends, partners and mentors.
* "You raised her hand like a little b---h!" Bayley said, referencing Valkyria adhering to the stipulation of her loss to Lynch at Money in the Bank.
Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed
7 of 11
Beating Jey Uso was not something Bronson Reed was interested in Monday night. Instead, he devastated Uso, bringing an electric match to a sudden end by launching a steel chair at his opponent and drawing a disqualification.
After the bell, Reed brutalized the former world champion, delivering multiple Tsunamis and leaving him in need of assistance to the back.
This was another instance of the heel faction's dominating night. It started with words of warning and then they made good on it. Breakker put Zayn out indefinitely and Uso could not leave under his own volition.
The heels are rolling, but the fans will only tolerate it as long as there is an indication there are babyfaces waiting in the wings ready to topple them eventually.
CM Punk and Roman Reigns figure to be them, but this is a prime opportunity to create a new star or at least a new main event attraction. Hopefully, Triple H and his team realize as much.
Result
Uso defeated Reed via disqualification
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Interesting line from Michael Cole on commentary: Reed has never been in a match with Uso he has won. That did not change here.
* Losing the world title did nothing to hurt Uso, who is still clearly a megastar and someone the crowd treats as such.
Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky Hype and Dragon Lee vs. El Grande Americano
8 of 11
It took over 90 minutes, but we finally got our first hype for the de facto main event of Evolution: Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky for the Women's World Championship.
This included the champion's unblemished record against Mami, via a tightly produced video package.
Back in the arena, as Cole and Corey Graves bantered about his identity, El Grande Americano returned to the squared circle for a match with Dragon Lee.
A solid, back-and-forth bout was done a disservice by the commentary team and its focus on the identity of the star-spangled heel. Late in the match, Lee launched himself over the rope at Americano and appeared to have momentum on his side.
That is, until Americano loaded his mask up and leveled his opponent with a headbutt to score the win.
This incarnation of the heel—clearly Ludwig Kaiser under the mask—will take some time to get used to in that his style does not immediately mesh with luchadors the way Chad Gable's did.
With that said, the comedic value of the uptight, egotistical bad guy formerly of Imperium parading around in a mask may be even greater than that of Gable.
Result
Americano defeated Lee
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Americano suddenly speaking Spanish with a German accent is funny.
* Why isn't Lee on television every week having great matches against this talented Raw roster?
Goldberg Interrupts Gunther
9 of 11
Days before he defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Goldberg, Gunther took to the squared circle to address the Hall of Famer.
His promo was short-lived, though, as the veteran interrupted, driving a sports car into the parking lot and stalking into the arena.
Coming face to face with The Ring General, he knocked the microphone from his hand and then knocked him to the mat. The WCW icon set up for a Spear, but Gunther bailed out of the ring as Da Man stood tall.
This was short, sweet and did nothing to ruin the aura or intrigue of Goldberg's last contest, so this was a huge success in that regard...even if the final match in the career of one of the stars of the Monday Night Wars should feel like a bigger deal than it does.
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* The crowd is going to be red-hot in Atlanta. They blew the roof off here and Providence isn't Goldberg's hometown.
* Gunther may well earn "miracle worker" status come Saturday night.
Penta vs. Seth Rollins
10 of 11
For the first time ever, Seth Rollins and Penta squared off against each other.
An intensely competitive match saw The Visionary and El Zero Miedo go move for move, scoring near-falls and false finishes along the way.
Late in the match, Penta rolled, building momentum off a Mexican Destroyer that came from out of nowhere to stun his opponent.
However, a well-timed, most definitely not accidental headbutt to the nether regions, stunned Penta and allowed Rollins to deliver a Stomp for the win.
After the match, Heyman called for Breakker and Reed, only for LA Knight to come from out of nowhere and deliver Blunt Force Trauma to Rollins, leaving The Visionary lying ahead of their match at Saturday Night's Main Event.
The match was predictably strong, even if the finish left plenty to be desired, and the crowd was red hot. The fans were right there along with the wrestlers, who took them on a roller-coaster ride, culminating in the heel snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Knight looked like a massive star as he stood amid the cheering fans and will be greeted as such in Atlanta this weekend. How he is booked coming out of SNME will prove whether it was for naught.
Result
Rollins defeated Penta
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
* The physicality of the match was shown in the welts across Rollins' back and the cut above his eye.
* Much like the opening segment, Rollins and Heyman's facial expressions were the star here. The concern and disbelief they flashed when Penta kicked out of a frog splash went a long way in helping to put over his toughness and stature as a main event star.
* The buckle bomb from Rollins directly into the Mexican Destroyer by Penta was a fantastic transitional spot.
Overall Grade
11 of 11
There should have been two creative goals heading into this show: Promote Saturday Night's Main Event and hype the life out of Evolution, the second all-women's PLE in WWE history.
It did neither particularly well.
As good as the show was, it failed to make either of those shows feel like must-watch viewing. Instead it played the long game with the Rollins heel faction, bordering on overexposing it with the vast number of segments it appeared on over the course of two-and-a-half hours.
Evolution was still treated like an afterthought, with Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky being afforded a video package and minimal attention paid to other rivalries that will culminate on the show.
The Rollins-Knight match on Saturday Night's Main Event benefited from the closing segment, but not nearly enough to boost the show's overall grade.
Grade: C+, mostly for all of the positives outside of the subpar build to this weekend's big WWE shows.
