WWE RAW Live Coverage - May 26th, 2025
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The New Day defend title against War Raiders and Creed Brothers
After repeatedly claiming to be the world's greatest tag team, World Tag Team Champions The New Day will defend their title against The War Raiders and The Creed Brothers in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match. Who will walk out of Tampa as the World Tag Team Champions?
:raw:
The show opens with clips from Saturday Night's Main Event.
We then see Jey Uso walking backstage, Lyra Valkyria, Sami Zayn, Finn Bαlor & JD McDonagh are also shown arriving.
Michael Cole and Pat McAfee then greet audiences at home as Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman all make their way to the ring.
Heyman introduces himself and says it's time to see who the players are without the benefit of a scorecard. He gives gracious introductions to Breakker and Reed as he hypes them up, then demands that fans thank Rollins for making sacrifices for them in leading the charge to change the professional wrestling business. Heyman demands that fans acknowledge Rollins, then hands the microphone over to him.
Rollins says this is his vision and the way forward, then says the way to secure the future of the professional wrestling business is through total domination and power. He says he did exactly what he said he would do at WrestleMania 41, then asks if the live crowd is questioning his integrity after they sang his song during his entrance. He says the live crowd doesn't know right from left and what's good for them as they tell him he's a bad guy with their boos, then says he's the only person who's capable of leading WWE into the future and wielding the power to do so.
Rollins says that power comes through championships, then says he'd be World Heavyweight Champion right now if it wasn't for Sami Zayn and CM Punk. He says Punk found out at Saturday Night's Main Event what happens when you underestimate him whilst gesturing towards Reed, then says Zayn will find out that same thing in their Money In The Bank Qualifier later tonight. He looks up at the Money In The Bank briefcases suspended around the ring as he says that it can give him the power to win a title, then vows to win the briefcase.
Penta then makes his way out to the ring. Chad Gable and Dragon Lee follow.
Men's Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Penta vs. Dragon Lee vs. Chad Gable
The bell rings and Penta wastes no time going after Gable. Penta and Lee then begin arguing over who gets to fire off stomps on Gable, but decide to work together and dump Gable out of the ring over the top rope. Penta sends Lee crashing onto the apron, but Lee responds with a hurricanrana that sends him crashing into the corner of the ring.
Gable slides back inside, but Lee whips him into the corner and delivers a dropkick to him. He hits a second dropkick on Penta, but Gable catches Lee with a suplex and delivers a German suplex to Penta. Gable then pulls Lee off the apron and into the ring over the top with a belly-to-belly suplex before he dumps him out of the ring. Penta rocks Gable with a kick to his face, then gets Lee up on his spine and grabs Gable. He sends both men crashing into the mat, then flies over the top rope to level both Gable and Lee on the outside.
Gable ties Penta to the bottom rope using his mask, then fires off stomps on him. He then ties Lee to the bottom rope using his mask and fires off stomps on both Penta and Lee. Gable takes notice of El Hijo del Vikingo in the crowd and fires off a series of right hands on him, then dumps Penta back into the ring.
Gable delivers a chop to Penta, but Penta responds with an overhand chop of his own to Gable. Lee superkicks Gable, but Penta superkicks Lee. Lee takes Penta down with a reverse hurricanrana and lands a sit-out powerbomb on Gable, then goes for a pin but Gable kicks out.
Gable lands a double German suplex on both Lee and Penta, then connects with a moonsault on Penta off the ropes and goes for a pin. Penta kicks out, but Gable delivers a belly-to-belly suplex on Lee and ascends up the ropes. Vikingo rocks Gable with an enzuigiri to trip him off, and Lee delivers a double stomp to Gable off the top as he's draped by his knees. Penta then catches Lee with a Mexican Destroyer and lands the Penta Driver on Gable for the win.
Winner: Penta
The Judgement Day is backstage in their clubhouse. Roxanne Perez comes in and offers Dominik Mysterio some nuggets and starts massaging his shoulders. Liv Morgan comes in and Perez goes to introduce herself but Morgan tells her to shhh. Morgan asks what's been going on, and then says Raquel Rodriguez has been telling her what's going on and she'll address that stuff later. Morgan and Rodriguez leave and Carlito tells Mysterio to not eat Perez' nuggets.
Natalya, Maxxine Dupri and Akira Tozawa are hanging out backstage prepping Tozawa for his upcoming match. We also see Rusev strutting around backstage.
A Memorial Day video narrated by Cody Rhodes plays paying tribute to the veterans.
Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri then make their way to the ring. Rusev follows.
Rusev vs. Akira Tozawa (w/ Maxxine Dupri)
The bell rings and Tozawa goes straight after Rusev. He fires off strikes on him and lands a missile dropkick off the top rope, but Rusev runs over Tozawa with a clothesline. He follows it up with a kick and cinches in The Accolade for the win.
Winner: Rusev
After the match, Rusev doesn't let go of the hold and Sheamus comes out to make the save. Rusev lets go of the hold and Sheamus gets in the ring and they stare each other down. Rusev walks away and leaves the ring, while eyes are still locked on Sheamus.
Cathy Kelley talks to Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer and they plug their Netflix shows. Kreischer quickly leaves after plugging his show. As Segura is talking Kreischer marks out over The War Raiders.
Sami Zayn is pissed backstage and Uso asks him why he's pissed and what he would have done. It would have been 1 on 3 - Uso tells Zayn to win his Qualifier and that Uso has Zayn's back.
New Day then makes their way out to the ring. American Made and The War Raiders follow.
:worldtag:
WWE Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match: The New Day (c) vs. The War Raiders vs. The Creed Brothers
The bell rings and everyone begins brawling with one another. Erik fires off right hands on Xavier Woods in the corner, then lands a bodyslam on him before helping Ivar dump Kofi Kingston onto Woods, Julius Creed, and Brutus Creed on the outside. Erik then bodyslams Ivar off the apron and on top of New Day and American Made on the outside. He dumps Kofi Kingston in the ring, then ascends to the top rope. Woods grabs onto Ivar's leg to keep him from climbing, and New Day continues double remaining with American Made on The War Raiders.
Julius connects with a sliding clothesline on Erik before Kingston tags in and fires off clotheslines on Erik's chest in the center of the ring. Woods tags in and exchanges forearms with Erik, then levels him and tags Kingston back in. Kingston continues wearing down Erik, then tags out to Woods. Woods lands a double stomp on Erik's spine off the top rope as Erik is draped through the middle rope.
Ivar and Julius tag in, and Ivar levels Julius, Woods, Kingston, and Brutus. Brutus fires off a shoulder on Erik's midsection and brawls with him on the ropes, but Erik sends Brutus crashing into the mat. Julius delivers a superplex to Erik, but Woods catches him with an elbow. Ivar then delivers a splash to Woods and goes for a pin, but American Made breaks the fall.
American Made levels Erik with a double shoulder tackle, but Ivar takes down both Julius and Brutus. Ivar then levels Woods with a leg lariat, and The War Raiders look to double team on Woods. Julius tags himself in, and Brutus delivers the Brutus Ball to Erik off the top rope on the outside. Kingston looks to land a tope suicida on Ivar, but Ivar catches him and sends him crashing into the ring skirt screen. He lands a crossbody on Erik, but Julius dropkicks Ivar off the ropes. Woods takes advantage and rolls up Julius with a handful of his singlet for the win.
Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: The New Day
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez walk by Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane. Morgan makes fun of Sane for not qualifying for MitB. Sane suggests they have a match tonight.
Jey Uso then makes his way to the ring.
Jey says it's been a busy week and everyone is after him, then says Logan Paul got yeeted on at Saturday Night's Main Event and John Cena will get yeeted on at WWE Money In The Bank in his and Cody Rhodes' tag team match against them.
GUNTHER's music hits, and he makes his way out. He congratulates Jey on 15 years in WWE and his first successful World Heavyweight Championship defense at Saturday Night's Main Event, then says this one comes from a personal place. GUNTHER tells Jey that he's been World Heavyweight Champion longer than he expected, then says he can see that Jey is trying his hardest to be captain of the ship on "Raw" whilst still being there for his friends when they need him. He says those are great qualities for a human being, but terrible qualities for a champion. He says Jey didn't know better because unlike him, being World Heavyweight Champion doesn't come naturally to Jey. He says being a great champion isn't about being there for everyone else, and says when he was World Heavyweight Champion, the only person he cared about was himself. GUNTHER tells Jey that he's planning on taking back the World Heavyweight Champion from him in two weeks time.
Jey asks GUNTHER if he's done, then says he's tired of everyone saying his days as World Heavyweight Champion are numbered and using the excuse of the title for turning their back on their friends and family. He says his friends and family fight for him, then says he's fighting for the support of the fans at the end of the day and will make GUNTHER tap out in two weeks ago.
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez then make their way down to the ring. Kairi Sane follows.
Kairi Sane vs. Liv Morgan (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Morgan fires off stomps on Sane in the corner, then sends her crashing into the top turnbuckle face first and rains down right hands on her. Sane fires off right hands and left hands on Morgan in the corner, then whips her into the opposite corner and looks to fly off the top rope. Morgan moves out of the way, but Sane connects with a hurricanrana on Morgan and sends her crashing into the ring apron.
Sane looks to land a kick on Morgan, but Morgan moves out of the way and Sane hits the ring post instead. Morgan then delivers a powerbomb to Sane off the ring apron and sends her crashing into the barricade midsection first before dumping her back in the ring and going for a pin. Sane kicks out, but Morgan continues to wear her down and lands a dropkick on her spine. She follows it up with a Codebreaker, but Sane catches Morgan with a spear.
Sane sends Morgan crashing into the mat twice and connects with a sliding forearm on her in the corner, then ascends to the top rope and levels Morgan with a right hand. She goes for a pin but Morgan kicks out. Morgan then looks to land an enzuigiri on Sane, but Sane moves out of the way to avoid it and wrenches back with a Texas Cloverleaf on Morgan.
Morgan lands a Codebreaker on Sane off the middle rope and goes for a pin, but Sane kicks out. Morgan then sets up for Oblivion on Sane, but Sane sees her coming and levels her with a forearm. Sane then sends Morgan crashing into the mat with an Alabama Slam and ascends to the top rope, but Roxanne Perez appears out of nowhere and pushes her off as Rodriguez distracts the referee.
Rodriguez gets in Perez's face on the outside, and Morgan looks to land Oblivion on Sane. Sane sees Morgan coming and lands Oblivion on her for the win.
Winner: Kairi Sane
After the match, Morgan sends daggers at Perez as Rodriguez consoles Morgan. Both Morgan and Rodriguez glare at Perez from the ring.
A video promo for Rhea Ripley plays where she talks about coming out victorious at Money in the Bank.
Lyra Valkyria walks backstage and we find out she's going to be live next.
Backstage, Liv Morgan argues with Roxanne Perez while the rest of The Judgement Day stand around. She tells Rodriguez that Rodriguez is the veteran and she should have done better. Morgan and Dominik Mysterio leave as Rodriguez is shocked and in disbelief as she said it was Perez' fault.
Lyra Valkyria makes her way down to the ring.
Valkyria says she wished she had another challenger for the Women's Intercontinental Championship, but Becky Lynch managed to get herself yet another rematch. She says she always felt a sense of satisfaction beating anyone who's she's defeated, but that didn't go for Lynch because she acted like she had already dethroned Valkyria as Women's Intercontinental Champion. She says it's personal between her and Lynch after Lynch got into her fiance's face, then vows to hurt Lynch at Money In The Bank and hurt her ego.
Lynch's music hits, and she makes her way out. She says she should be onto bigger and better things after she sent Valkyria to the hospital, then accuses Valkyria of being the one to make things personal between them. She says Valkyria could've let everything go, then says she's the best thing to ever happen to Valkyria. Valkyria tells Lynch that isn't the flex she thinks that it is, then says people talk about her because she's beaten Lynch.
Lynch says if Valkyria is so confident, then she will never challenge Valkyria for the Women's Intercontinental Championship again if Valkyria can beat her one more time. Valkyria agrees, but Lynch says Valkyria didn't let her finish. She says when Valkyria took the NXT Women's Championship from her, she graciously raised Valkyria's hand. She says when she wins the Women's Intercontinental Championship at Money In The Bank, then Valkyria has to raise her hand. Valkyria agrees to Lynch's full conditions.
Backstage, Karrion Kross and Scarlett approach Sami Zayn. Kross points out the mess Zayn is in for not taking Rollins' offer. Kross tells Zayn he won't win the title.
Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman then make their way out to the ring. Finn Balor and Sami Zayn follow.
Men's Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Seth Rollins w/Paul Heyman vs. Sami Zayn vs. Finn Bαlor
The bell rings and Zayn clotheslines Rollins out of the ring. Balor sends him crashing into the top turnbuckle face first, but Zayn delivers a top suicida to Rollins and brawls with him up the entrance ramp. Balor dumps Zayn back into the ring and fiers off right hands and chops on him before Rollins rains down right hands on Zayn. Balor fires off chops on Rollins, then lands a double DDT on him and Zayn. He pins Rollins and Zayn, but both men kick out.
Rollins jams his boot into Balor in the corner and fires off right hands on Zayn, but Balor sends Rollins crashing into the mat with a Russian Leg Sweep. Balor fires off stomps on Rollins using the ropes for assistance, but Zayn lands a vertical suplex on Balor and fires off right hands on Rollins. He connects with a moonsault on Balor and Rollins off the top rope on the outside.
Rollins delivers a Falcon Arrow to Zayn back in the ring and goes for a pin, but Zayn kicks out. Zayn then delivers a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to Rollins and pins him, but Balor breaks the fall. Balor levels Rollins with a Sling Blade and dropkicks Zayn into the corner, then ascends to the top rope.
Zayn trips Balor on the ropes, then connects with a superplex on him. Rollins immediately follows it up with a splash to Zayn off the top rope, but Zayn then looks to take flight off the top rope. Rollins intercepts Zayn with a thrust kick to his midsection, then fires off stomps on Zayn in the corner.
Rollins and Balor drag Zayn up the ropes, but Zayn fights them off and sends them crashing into the mat. Rollins sets up for a Pedigree on Zayn, but Zayn sends Rollins crashing out of the ring with a back body drop. Balor then rolls up Zayn, but Zayn kicks out and Rollins is waiting with a Pedigree for him. Rollins then goes for a pin of his own, but Zayn kicks out once again.
Zayn sends Rollins crashing into the mat with a Blue Thunder Bomb and goes for a pin, but Rollins manages to kick out. Zayn then delivers an Exploder to Rollins in the corner, but Balor sets up for a Cup De Grace on him. Zayn avoids it and delivers a Helluva Kick to Rollins, then goes for a pin.
Bron Breakker pulls Zayn out of the ring to break the fall and Bronson Reed joins him, but Jey Uso appears out of nowhere and delivers a crossbody to Reed off the barricade. He rocks Reed and Breakker with superkicks, but Breakker spears Jey. Amidst the chaos, Dominik Mysterio runs down to the ring and slides a chair inside for Balor. Before Balor can pick up the chair, Rollins uses it to deliver a Curb Stomp to Balor for the win.
Winner: Seth Rollins
After the match, Rollins orders Reed and Breakker to continue beating down Jey. CM Punk's music hits, and Breakker, Heyman, and Reed head up the entrance ramp to await his arrival. Punk sneaks up behind Rollins and delivers a GTS to him. He retreats through the crowd immediately afterwards and stands tall as the show goes off the air.
