WWE Monday Night RAW continues its European Summer Tour today with another special afternoon broadcast, this time live from the Accor Arena in Paris, France. The show will stream worldwide on Netflix at 2 p.m. EST as WWE moves deeper into the road to Night of Champions on June 27th. After last week’s episode in Turin successfully handled the immediate fallout from Clash in Italy, the red brand has another loaded card built around the King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments, two Intercontinental Championship matches and several stories that are beginning to overlap in interesting ways. Seth Rollins, Je’Von Evans, Ricky Saints and Talla Tonga will collide for the right to move one step closer to a potential World Championship match at SummerSlam. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan will enter the Queen of the Ring Tournament against Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss and Chelsea Green. Penta will defend the Intercontinental Championship against Rey Mysterio, while Sol Ruca will put the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line against Lyra Valkyria in her first title defense. Last week’s episode proved that WWE can still deliver a strong three-hour RAW when the show has a clear direction. Today’s episode must continue that momentum without allowing the tournament matches to overshadow the stories surrounding them.
Here is everything advertised for today’s show
- Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Ricky Saints vs. Talla Tonga (King of the Ring First Round Fatal 4-Way Match)
- Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green (Queen of the Ring First Round Fatal 4-Way Match)
- Penta (c) vs WWE & AAA Hall of Famer & AAA General Manager Rey Mysterio (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
- Sol Ruca (c) vs Lyra Valkyria (WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship)
Last week’s RAW opened with the correct story. Roman Reigns walked into the Inalpi Arena in Turin as the World Heavyweight Champion after defeating Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat at Clash in Italy. The stipulation forced Fatu to acknowledge Reigns as his Tribal Chief, but WWE understood that simply having Jacob kneel was not enough. The segment needed tension. It needed discomfort. It needed to leave fans wondering whether Roman had truly strengthened his family or created another problem that will eventually explode in his face.
Roman entered alongside Jimmy and Jey Uso to an enormous reaction from the Italian crowd. The international atmosphere made the entire presentation feel bigger. Roman did not have to overexplain anything. He declared that it was “Acknowledgment Day” and waited for Jacob to make his decision. Fatu eventually arrived and made it clear that he had not forgotten the circumstances. He lost to Roman, not Jey Uso. He remained defiant toward Jey, but he also kept his word. Jacob dropped to one knee, raised his hand and acknowledged Reigns as his Tribal Chief.
It was a strong piece of storytelling because Jacob did not suddenly become submissive. He remained Jacob Fatu. He followed through on the promise he made before Tribal Combat, but the resentment never disappeared. Roman embracing him and telling him that he loved him added another layer to the story. Jimmy treated the moment as a warning to the rest of the roster. Jey looked far less comfortable. The Bloodline may be reunited on paper, but it does not feel stable. That is exactly why the story still works.
Later in the show, Roman told Jey that he needed to level up and pursue the WWE Championship. That brief interaction mattered. Jey has spent years attempting to establish himself outside of Roman’s shadow, only for Roman to return and begin directing traffic again. Jacob has no love for Jey. Jey does not appear convinced that Roman’s version of family unity will last. Jimmy is happy to stand beside Roman and celebrate the reunion. Every member of the group is operating from a slightly different emotional position.
WWE does not need another endless Bloodline cycle where the same arguments are repeated for months. The story has already consumed a significant portion of the company’s television time over the last several years. However, the current version has enough unresolved tension to justify its existence. Jacob acknowledging Roman was not the ending. It was the beginning of the next phase.
LA Knight also found his way into the story last week by confronting RAW General Manager Adam Pearce backstage. Knight accused Pearce of helping Roman regain control of RAW and essentially allowing The Bloodline to operate without consequences. The conspiracy angle is deliberately exaggerated, but it gives Knight something useful to do while the King of the Ring Tournament unfolds. Knight is scheduled to compete in another first-round Fatal 4-Way Match against Jey Uso, Royce Keys and Finn Bálor. That match has not been announced for today, but Knight’s growing frustration with Pearce and Roman gives his tournament path more purpose than simply advancing through a bracket.
The first King of the Ring Tournament match last week featured Oba Femi, Penta, Carmelo Hayes and Solo Sikoa. It was the correct way to reintroduce Oba after his loss to Brock Lesnar at Clash in Italy. Lesnar needed seven F-5s to keep him down, which protected Oba even in defeat. RAW reinforced that message by allowing Femi to overpower three established opponents and survive interference from Talla Tonga.
Penta and Carmelo Hayes brought the speed. Solo attempted to turn the match into a physical fight. Talla tried to shift the balance in Solo’s favor from the outside. Oba eventually removed the interference, planted Solo with the Fall From Grace and advanced to the semifinals. After the match, he reminded Lesnar that their rivalry is tied at one victory apiece.
That was the correct follow-up. Oba should not have returned from Clash in Italy looking diminished. He should not have spent weeks trying to rebuild momentum against lower-card opponents. WWE immediately reminded the audience that he remains one of the most dangerous wrestlers on the roster. His semifinal match against Dominik Mysterio is already official after Dom defeated Bron Breakker, Trick Williams and Damian Priest on SmackDown. The contrast between Oba’s overwhelming power and Dominik’s willingness to take any shortcut available makes that one of the most intriguing matches in the tournament.
Sol Ruca also appeared last week after defeating Becky Lynch at Clash in Italy to become the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion. The Italian crowd gave her a strong reaction as she thanked the fans and promised to become a fighting champion. It was a standard babyface championship promo, but it served its purpose. Sol looked genuinely happy, the crowd treated her victory like a meaningful accomplishment and WWE placed her in front of the audience instead of allowing the moment to disappear after the premium live event.
Lyra Valkyria later interrupted a backstage interview involving Bayley and made it clear that she wanted a championship match. Sol accepted immediately. Adam Pearce has now made the match official for today.
The decision to move directly into Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria makes sense. Sol needs credible opponents if WWE wants the Women’s Intercontinental Championship to feel important, and Lyra is a former champion who can give her a strong match. The concern is that the rivalry has barely had time to breathe. A title defense is valuable, but the division still needs stories that extend beyond someone walking into a backstage interview and asking for a match. Today’s bout should be more than an athletic showcase. WWE needs to begin defining what kind of champion Sol will become and whether Lyra’s frustration is the start of a deeper character shift.
Penta’s next championship defense was also set in motion last week. Rey Mysterio teamed with Dragon Lee to defeat Ethan Page and Rusev after Dragon Lee neutralized Rusev at ringside and Rey hit Page with the 619. The match was enjoyable, but it was clearly designed to move Rey into the Intercontinental Championship picture. Adam Pearce later spoke with Penta and confirmed that a title match against Mysterio would be arranged.
That match will take place today.
Penta vs. Rey Mysterio does not require an overly complicated story. Rey remains one of the most respected wrestlers in WWE history. Penta has worked hard to establish the Intercontinental Championship as a meaningful part of RAW. Their styles are compatible, the Paris crowd should be invested and the title gives the match immediate stakes. The challenge for WWE is making sure the bout does not feel like another exhibition match placed on television simply because it will be good. Penta needs consistent rivalries alongside his strong matches. Rey needs to show that his championship pursuit has a purpose beyond being a respected veteran receiving another opportunity.
The Queen of the Ring Tournament also began last week with IYO SKY facing Roxanne Perez, Giulia and Lash Legend. The match gave all four women opportunities to stand out without overstaying its welcome. Lash used her size to control stretches of the match. Roxanne attempted to pick her spots and manipulate the chaos. Giulia brought a level of physicality that made every exchange feel important. IYO remained the most complete wrestler in the match and ultimately hit Giulia with Over the Moonsault to advance.
IYO winning was the correct choice. She remains one of the strongest in-ring performers in WWE, and a semifinal match against Raquel Rodriguez gives the tournament another compelling stylistic contrast. It also creates a possible path toward future tension with Rhea Ripley. WWE does not need to force that story immediately, but IYO winning the Queen of the Ring Tournament would place her back into a major championship position heading into SummerSlam.
The women’s tournament also continued on SmackDown when Raquel defeated Bayley, Jacy Jayne and Kiana James. That result created an interesting problem inside Liv Morgan’s orbit. Liv appeared backstage last week after Roxanne lost and spoke confidently about winning the tournament alongside Dominik Mysterio. She barely acknowledged that Raquel was also competing. It was a small moment, but it should not be ignored. Raquel has spent too much time standing beside Liv without receiving enough individual development. Advancing to the semifinals gives WWE an opportunity to explore whether that partnership is as balanced as Liv believes it is.
Liv will have her own difficult assignment today against Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss and Chelsea Green.
This is the strongest women’s match advertised for RAW. Liv is the Women’s World Champion, but she still needs a substantial direction after WrestleMania. Becky is entering the tournament after losing the Women’s Intercontinental Championship to Sol Ruca at Clash in Italy. Alexa remains capable of becoming a major factor in any story with the right creative direction. Chelsea is the wildcard who can take advantage of a chaotic situation without needing to dominate the match.
Liv should be the focus. She spoke confidently about ruling the tournaments alongside Dominik, but confidence only matters if the champion can back it up. A loss would not cost her championship, but it could create problems with Raquel or give another challenger a legitimate argument for a future title opportunity. A victory would push Liv closer to the crown while allowing the Judgment Day story to become more complicated.
Maxxine Dupri also expressed frustration last week after being excluded from the Queen of the Ring Tournament. Otis attempted to console her, but she pushed him away. Otis then warned her about spending time around Austin Theory. Maxxine insisted that she knew what she was doing and walked away.
The segment was brief, but it added another story to a women’s division that needs them. Maxxine feeling overlooked is understandable. The connection to Austin Theory raises questions about whether she is genuinely searching for a new opportunity or being manipulated by one-half of the World Tag Team Champions. WWE should continue developing the story today instead of leaving it in the background for several weeks.
RAW ended last week with Seth Rollins facing Bron Breakker in their rubber match. Breakker won their first singles meeting at Backlash. Rollins needed the victory to prevent the rivalry from becoming one-sided and to reestablish himself as a serious threat to the World Heavyweight Championship.
The match delivered. Rollins and Breakker wrestled with urgency, allowing the main event to feel like the culmination of a rivalry rather than another television match. Austin Theory and Paul Heyman attempted to interfere on Breakker’s behalf. Montez Ford emerged to neutralize Theory and paid for it when Breakker drove through him with a Spear. Heyman continued to involve himself until Breakker accidentally blasted him through the barricade. Rollins then used one of the World Tag Team Championship belts to protect himself from another Spear before hitting the Stomp for the victory.
The finish was chaotic, but the chaos worked because it followed a strong match. Breakker looked dangerous even in defeat. Rollins survived because he remained one step ahead of The Vision. Heyman’s attempt to control the situation directly contributed to the loss. Theory could not protect his partner. Ford’s involvement created another question that still needs an answer.
After the match, Rollins raised one finger into the air and motioned toward his waist. The message was obvious. Roman Reigns and the World Heavyweight Championship are now in his sights.
That possibility gives today’s King of the Ring Fatal 4-Way Match even more significance. Seth Rollins will face Je’Von Evans, Ricky Saints and Talla Tonga. Rollins is the obvious favorite, but the structure of the match gives WWE flexibility. Evans brings speed, athleticism and the ability to create highlight-reel sequences. Ricky Saints has the confidence and timing to make the most of a major television opportunity. Talla Tonga gives the match an unpredictable physical presence and connects the tournament back to Solo Sikoa’s MFTs.
Rollins should advance unless WWE has a significant story planned. His victory over Breakker felt like the beginning of a renewed chase for Roman Reigns. Winning King of the Ring would give Seth a direct path toward a SummerSlam championship match. However, WWE must be careful. Rollins has already spent months involved with The Vision. If he moves directly into Roman’s orbit, the story needs to feel fresh rather than like another collection of familiar names circling the same championship.
Bron Breakker and Austin Theory are also advertised for today’s show. Their response to last week’s main event matters. Breakker lost his tournament qualifier on SmackDown after entering the match with frustration already building from the Rollins defeat. Theory failed to prevent Rollins from winning last week. Heyman suffered the consequences of his own interference. The Vision cannot simply move forward without addressing the cracks that are beginning to show.
Today’s RAW has a stronger card than most weekly episodes because nearly every advertised match has a clear purpose. The tournament matches matter because the winners are moving toward Night of Champions and a possible SummerSlam title opportunity. Penta vs. Rey Mysterio matters because the Intercontinental Championship is on the line. Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria matters because the new champion needs to establish herself immediately. The Bloodline, The Vision, LA Knight, Maxxine Dupri and the Judgment Day all have unfinished business surrounding the matches.
The biggest danger is allowing the show to become too crowded. WWE does not need to force every storyline into a lengthy segment. Last week’s episode succeeded because the major moments were given room to breathe while the smaller stories advanced through concise backstage interactions. Today’s show should follow the same formula.
Updated King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments
The King and Queen of the Ring Tournament finals will take place at WWE Night of Champions on June 27th. The winners will receive World Championship matches at SummerSlam.
King of the Ring Tournament
First Round Results
- Oba Femi defeated Penta, Solo Sikoa and Carmelo Hayes
- AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio defeated WWE World Tag Team Champion Bron Breakker, WWE United States Champion Trick Williams and WWE Tag Team Champion Damian Priest
Remaining First Round Matches
- Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Ricky Saints vs. Talla Tonga
- Jey Uso vs. LA Knight vs. Royce Keys vs. Finn Bálor
Confirmed Semifinal Match
- Oba Femi vs. Dominik Mysterio
Queen of the Ring Tournament
First Round Results
- IYO SKY defeated Roxanne Perez, Giulia and Lash Legend
- Raquel Rodriguez defeated Bayley, Jacy Jayne and Kiana James
Remaining First Round Matches
- WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill
Confirmed Semifinal Match
- IYO SKY vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Final Thoughts
Last week’s RAW was one of the stronger episodes of the year because it felt focused without feeling empty. Jacob Fatu acknowledging Roman Reigns added another layer to The Bloodline instead of closing the story. Oba Femi immediately recovered from his loss to Brock Lesnar and looked like a future centerpiece. IYO SKY advanced in a competitive tournament match. Sol Ruca received a meaningful first appearance as champion. Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker ended the show with a main event worthy of the European crowd.
Today’s episode has the opportunity to build on that momentum.
Penta vs. Rey Mysterio could be the best wrestling match on the show. Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria is an important test for the new champion. Liv Morgan’s Queen of the Ring match should reveal whether WWE finally has a stronger direction for its Women’s World Champion. Seth Rollins entering the King of the Ring Tournament gives the men’s bracket another legitimate favorite and could move him closer to a long-awaited championship collision with Roman Reigns.
The European Summer Tour continues to give WWE television a different energy. Paris should be loud from the opening segment until the final bell. Now WWE needs to make sure the stories are strong enough to match the atmosphere.
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