WWE Raw Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From Aug. 17

WWE returned to Buffalo's KeyBank Center for the August 17 episode of Raw on Netflix.

The tournament to determine the No. 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship on September 14 in Mexico City continued, with AAA cruiserweight champion Rey Fenix battling El Fiscal and Dragon Lee squaring off with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

Who emerged victorious from those contests and what happened when The Usos and Jacob Fatu delivered Solo Sikoa to The Tribal Chief?

Find out in this recap, including grades and analysis for each of the night's matches and prominent segments.

Lineup

Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images

Announced in advance of Monday's show were:

• The Bloodline delivers Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns
• Intercontinental Championship Match: Chad Gable vs. Rey Mysterio
• No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal
• No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
• Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria

Stephanie Vaquer Kicks Off Raw

Cooper Neill/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Stephanie Vaquer lost to Liv Morgan (WrestleMania 42, April 18)

The Judgment Day's Roxanne Perez, women's intercontinental champion Raquel Rodriguez, and women's world champion Liv Morgan reminded Stephanie Vaquer and Becky Lynch that there is power in numbers to kick off Monday's show.

La Primera called out Morgan, who emerged from the back, flanked by her teammates. She said the criticisms facing her and her reign do not faze her because she is a champion for herself.

An unimpressed Vaquer reiterated her demand for Morgan to come to the ring. A three-on-one beatdown ensued until Lynch arrived to make the save. Together, they cleared the ring.

When tension between them reared its head, the heels again gained the upper hand, leaving both prospective No. 1 contenders lying.

This was a solid segment to kick off the night's show, intensifying the heat on the heels while telling the story of two babyfaces who may not be able to overcome the Judgment Day if they fail to find and act on common ground.

A three-way match is inevitable, presumably as soon as Money in the Bank in New Orleans on Oct. 10. Until then, the story is Vaquer and Lynch putting their own issues aside to combat a common enemy.

Grade

B+

Top Takeaways

• Vaquer's aura and in-ring ability has helped her forge a connection while her promos have continuously improved. That she is over to the extent that she is in a company that values the ability to talk as much as WWE does is a testament to the performer.
• Morgan is such a delightfully unlikable heel. Her ability to rub it in the audience's face, and do so gleefully, helps enhance her effectiveness in the role that much better.

Je'Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh

Cooper Neill/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Je'Von Evans defeated Ethan Page (Raw, August 3); JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio lost to Chad Gable and Penta (Raw, August 3)

In an impromptu match set up during the commercial break, Evans squared off with McDonagh in singles competition.

A showdown between two workhorses who have been responsible for some of the Raw brand's best in-ring outings over the last year, it saw The Irish Ace focus on the knee of his opponent, only for The Young OG to prove his resilience, stay in the fight, and finish off his opponent with the OG Cutter.

The celebration was cut short, though, as Big Cass attacked out of nowhere. As he made his way to the back, a defiant Evans asked the big man if that was all he had. Evans mounted one last offensive, but Cass again left him lying.

A solid match, coupled with some great fire from the babyface, made this an effective segment. At some point, though, we are going to need to see Cass back in the squared circle, where he will look to prove the growth he has made as a performer.

Result

Evans defeated McDonagh

Grade

B

Top Takeaways

• Edginess was one element missing from the fun-loving Evans and this may be the feud that draws that out of him. If so, its success will be about much more than who wins and loses the inevitable match between him and Cass.
• Those who paid attention to Cass' work as W. Morrissey in TNA and Big Bill in All Elite Wrestling will know he can hang with Evans if he is allowed to open up his in-ring performance and be more than a destructive force of nature.

No. 1 Contender's Tournament Match: Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal

Cooper Neill/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Rey Fenix defeated Noisy Boy (AAA, August 15); El Fiscal, Anubis, Arkangel Divino, and Ultimo Maldito lost to Los Vipers (AAA, July 31)

Lucha libre took center stage Monday night as AAA Cruiserweight Champion Fenix battled El Fiscal with the chance to advance in the tournament for a shot at Roman Reigns' World Heavyweight Championship on September 14 from Mexico City.

Fiscal overpowered Fenix at one point, gorilla pressing him and leaving him reeling. The cruiserweight champion fought his way back into the match, delivering a moonsault press from the top rope for a two-count.

Fiscal attempted a Tombstone, a move banned in Mexico but not in the United States, but Fenix escaped. The babyface ultimately delivered the Mexican Muscle Buster to secure the victory.

This was a slower-paced match than one might have expected. Still, it featured perfectly acceptable wrestling, highlighted the underutilized champion, and set him up to battle the winner of Dragon Lee and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., still to come later in the night.

Result

Fenix defeated El Fiscal

Grade

C+

Top Takeaways

• WWE did little to tell the audience who El Fiscal was, but the crowd was invested enough in Fenix that they were hanging on the action by the time the finish arrived.
• After the match, Lyra Valkyria cut another impassioned promo, this one on her opponent tonight, Sol Ruca. Her commitment to this new character has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria

Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Sol Ruca and Iyo Sky defeated The Judgment Day (Raw, August 10); Lyra Valkyria defeated Jaida Parker (Main Event, August 13)

Ruca returned to Women's Intercontinental Championship contention Monday night with a victory over Valkyria in a hotly contested match.

The NXT exports tested each other physically, with each scoring near-falls at different points in the match, including a top-rope leg drop from Valkyria.

Ruca absorbed and advanced, though, countering a Knightwing attempt, delivering a big DDT, and finishing her opponent off with a Sol Snatcher.

A very good, competitive matchup that highlighted Ruca's potential and Valkyria's strengths between the ropes, it also put over how coveted the IC title is.

This may have been Ruca's finest bout on the main roster, and considering some of the women she has already shared the ring with, including the greatest of all time in Becky Lynch, that is a huge testament to both women.

Result

Ruca defeated Valkyria

Grade

A

Top Takeaways

• The match was great and Ruca is probably the right choice to go over, but beating Valkyria after she just had a huge, career-defining performance and win over Bayley on Saturday Night's Main Event may have been the wrong call.
• Backstage, The Usos bragged to Jacob Fatu about doing what he could not by delivering Solo Sikoa to The OTC later tonight.

Bron Breakker Called Out Oba Femi

Cooper Neill/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Bron Breakker defeated Joe Hendry (Raw, August 3); Oba Femi defeated Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam, August 1)

What started as a backstage promo featuring The Vision's Austin Theory, Logan Paul, Maxxine Dupri, and Breakker gave way to the latter marching to the ring and calling out Femi.

Paul Heyman interrupted and begged the question: Who is the future of WWE?

The Ruler eventually joined the two in the squared circle, mocked Breakker, and reminded the fans that Brock Lesnar knows who it is. "If you have a problem with the answer, you can take it up with me. Any day. Any time," Femi told The Badass.

"You take one step closer to Oba Femi, you take a permanent step away from me," Heyman warned Breakker.

The indignant advocate said they do not set up impromptu matches to determine the future of the company. He said a Superstar knows the importance of the main event. He revealed he set up the match between the two dominant forces with Adam Pearce earlier in the day for September 6 at Sunday Night's Main Event in Atlanta.

The heels bailed from the ring, leaving Femi standing tall in the ring.

The mind games continue. Is Heyman with Breakker? Is he possibly aligned with Femi? Or is Heyman doing what he has done so many times in his career, playing both sides before revealing his choice at the right time?

While Heyman is as engaging and compelling a performer as there is in wrestling today, this should be all about Breakker and Femi.

Grade

B

Top Takeaways

• This feels like the perfect time to split Breakker from Heyman and The Vision. Whether that is the direction this is heading or not, it is a creative direction that should be considered. He is wasted otherwise.
• Femi mocked Breakker talking to Heyman and did a damn-near spot-on impersonation of the tag champion.

No. 1 Contender's Tournament Match: Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Dragon Lee defeated Dominik Mysterio (Raw, August 10); El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Galeno defeated Dinamico and Drago (AAA, July 25)

The Superstar once referred to as the future of Lucha Libre will have the chance to prove Rey Mysterio right as Dragon Lee withstood the challenge of El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. to advance in the tournament to crown a No. 1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship.

A tale of two matches, it started slow but picked up after the break, with the crowd invested in the action and hanging on every near-fall.

Ultimately, Lee delivered Operation Dragon to secure the win and set up what should be an action-packed showdown with Rey Fenix in the next round.

A good match in which Wagner Jr. shined in defeat, this was everything that the earlier lucha match was not.

Result

Lee defeated Wagner Jr.

Grade

B+

Top Takeaways

• Considering WWE's issues with age at the top of the company, it is astonishing that Lee has not been better positioned to be a star of the future. He has consistently delivered when given the opportunity, and at just 31, he has plenty of years left to excel.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Chad Gable

Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Ethan Page defeated Rey Mysterio (Raw, July 27); Chad Gable and Penta defeated The Judgment Day (Raw, August 3)

Gable successfully retained his Intercontinental Championship Monday night, outwrestling Hall of Famer Mysterio in a show-stealing contest.

This was a back-and-forth match that had the crowd popping over the possibility that Mysterio might turn back the clock, beat one of the best wrestlers in the world, and once again win singles gold.

Late, Mysterio delivered a 619, but Gable got the knees up on a splash. He applied the ankle lock, but his challenger escaped. More counters and reversals ensued before Gable rolled Mysterio up, grabbed his legs, and scored the pinfall victory.

The greatest luchador of all time saluted Gable, strapping the title around his waist in a sign of respect.

It should be no surprise to anyone that this match was as good as it was. Two of the best in the business, given time to work together and with established chemistry, delivered big time.

Result

Gable defeated Mysterio to retain his title

Grade

A+

Top Takeaways

• Mysterio continues to make the case for inclusion on "greatest of all time" lists, if he was not already on them.
• Gable is outstanding and might be the best pound-for-pound wrestler on the roster.

The Bloodline Delivers Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns

Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Jey Uso defeated Solo Sikoa (Raw, August 10)

The Usos and Jacob Fatu delivered Solo Sikoa to world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns, who wasted no time berating and belittling his former enforcer, complete with a video package reminding him that it was The Tribal Chief who defeated him in Tribal Combat in January 2025.

A few cheap shots left Sikoa lying before LA Knight hit the ring. He fought off the Bloodline until the numbers game proved too much, and Reigns rocked him with a Superman Punch.

With Jimmy and Jey holding Knight, Reigns told Sikoa to attack the Megastar. He feigned doing so, too, before driving his thumb into the Tribal Chief's throat to a huge ovation from the fans.

All while Fatu, who was reprimanded by Reigns, watched from the corner.

Knight and Sikoa stood tall to close out the show, the clear top two babyfaces on the Raw brand.

This was excellent. The crowd ate it up, delivering Sikoa the loudest pop of his career. That two guys have now convincingly gotten over on The Bloodline will propel the story forward, while Reigns has to deal with the reality of Fatu not assisting him.

Grade

A

Top Takeaways

• If Sikoa can continue to build on the momentum that his emerging personality has afforded him, he is a potential breakout star for the company as a top-tier babyface.
• Fatu was great here, listening to orders, but doing so in a way that was defiant. His dynamic within The Bloodline has been the saving grace of this incarnation of the group.

MVP and Overall Grade

Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images

MVP: Rey Mysterio

The timeless wonder continues to show an entire generation of fans that the hype surrounding him throughout his career is justified. One of the greatest wrestlers of all time, he showed out on Monday night against Chad Gable in a banger of a match.

Wins and losses mean nothing to his legacy at this point, especially when he is out there having great matches, keeping the crowd invested, and working at a high level.

On a night when Solo Sikoa and Lyra Valkyria made strong arguments for MVP consideration, it is one of the pro wrestling's greatest who surpasses them for that spot.

Overall Grade: A

A great show-closing angle that made a bigger star of Sikoa capped off a work-heavy episode of Raw. Strong in-ring content, including a TV Match of the Year contender between Mysterio and Gable, only accentuated the broadcast.

This was a focused show with a clear direction. In some ways, it felt like the 2024 broadcasts that Triple H and the creative team had earned rave reviews for.

There is no way to know if the company can build on this broadcast and pick up some momentum moving into what are typically the doldrums of the Fall and Winter in WWE, but this was a great start.