Today’s WWE Monday Night RAW had a difficult assignment. Less than 24 hours after WWE Clash In Italy, the red brand needed to follow up on Roman Reigns defeating Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat, begin the King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments, establish Sol Ruca’s direction as the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion and give Seth Rollins another opportunity to settle his increasingly personal issue with Bron Breakker.
RAW did not attempt to manufacture a major reset. Instead, WWE treated today’s show like the next chapter of a larger story. Jacob Fatu formally acknowledged Roman Reigns as his Tribal Chief, but the tension surrounding The Bloodline did not suddenly disappear. Oba Femi absorbed seven F-5s from Brock Lesnar at Clash In Italy and still returned one day later to advance in the King of the Ring Tournament. IYO SKY survived a competitive Queen of the Ring Fatal Four-Way Match. Sol Ruca promised to become a fighting champion. Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker closed the show with a chaotic main event that felt like a genuine continuation of their rivalry rather than a television rematch booked simply because WWE needed a headline.
The special 2 p.m. ET start time created a different rhythm, but the crowd inside Turin’s Inalpi Arena gave the show energy when it mattered. This was not a perfect episode. RAW only featured four matches, some of the backstage stories still feel like they are waiting for a more meaningful next step, and the main event leaned heavily into interference before reaching its conclusion. However, WWE accomplished what it needed to accomplish. The road to Night of Champions now has a clear structure, the King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments immediately feel important, and several ongoing stories left Italy with more momentum than they had entering the day.
Here are the full results
- Oba Femi def. Solo Sikoa, Carmelo Hayes and WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta (King of the Ring Tournament First-Round Fatal Four-Way Match)
- Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee def. Ethan Page & Rusev
- IYO SKY def. Giulia, Roxanne Perez and Lash Legend (Queen of the Ring Tournament First-Round Fatal Four-Way Match)
- Seth Rollins def. Bron Breakker
Breakdowns & Reactions
Jacob Fatu Acknowledges Roman Reigns, but The Bloodline Still Feels Unstable
RAW opened with Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso entering the ring without Jacob Fatu. That visual immediately established the point of the segment. Roman defeated Fatu in Tribal Combat at Clash In Italy, and the stipulation required Fatu to acknowledge him as the Tribal Chief. The question was never whether Fatu would eventually appear. The question was how much pride he would swallow when he did.
Jey called Fatu out for arriving late on his first day back under Roman’s leadership. Fatu responded with the exact amount of defiance the segment needed. He admitted that he lost to Roman, but he reminded Jey that he did not lose to him. That distinction mattered. Fatu was willing to honor the stipulation without pretending that he had suddenly become obedient, harmless or satisfied with his position.
Fatu eventually dropped to one knee and formally acknowledged Roman Reigns as his Tribal Chief. Roman pulled him back to his feet, told him that he loved him and raised the one alongside Fatu and The Usos.
The segment worked because WWE did not overcomplicate it. Fatu did not attack Roman. Solo Sikoa did not immediately interrupt. Nobody turned on anybody. The tension came from watching one of WWE’s most dangerous wrestlers place himself under Roman’s control while clearly retaining enough resentment to make the entire arrangement feel temporary.
The Bloodline remains WWE’s most reliable creative weapon and one of its biggest risks. The company has returned to this universe for years because it consistently produces strong television, but there is always a danger that every major family story begins to feel like a remix of something the audience has already watched. Today’s segment avoided that problem by giving Fatu his own voice. He did not feel like another Uso being forced to fall in line. He felt like a man honoring his word while quietly waiting for the next opportunity to change the power structure.
The Turin crowd treated Roman like the biggest star on the show, and the online reaction reflected the same thing. Fans praised the atmosphere, the simplicity of the segment and Fatu’s refusal to lose his edge even while acknowledging Reigns. The segment did not need a physical angle because the underlying tension was already strong enough.
Segment grade: A-
Oba Femi Advances in the King of the Ring Tournament
The first match of today’s show also launched the 2026 King of the Ring Tournament. Oba Femi faced Solo Sikoa, Carmelo Hayes and Intercontinental Champion Penta in a Fatal Four-Way Match, with Talla Tonga standing in Solo’s corner.
Femi immediately wrestled like a man trying to prove that Brock Lesnar did not break him at Clash In Italy. He attacked all three opponents during his entrance, ran through the field with power offense and repeatedly forced the other competitors to work together just to slow him down. Hayes and Penta brought the speed. Solo brought the physicality and the numbers advantage. Talla’s interference gave the match another obstacle without completely overwhelming the action.
The best part of the match was how WWE presented Femi. He was not protected through shortcuts after losing to Lesnar. He was not portrayed as weakened beyond recognition. He survived the interference, recovered after being driven into the ring post and sent over the barricade, neutralized Talla and finished Solo with the Fall From Grace.
After the match, Femi called out Lesnar and reminded him that their rivalry is tied at one victory apiece. That was the correct direction. Lesnar defeating Femi one day earlier was always going to create debate. WWE gave The Beast his win back quickly, and it remains fair to question whether that result was necessary so soon after Femi’s WrestleMania victory. However, today’s match restored the right balance. Femi did not act humbled. He acted like a monster who survived seven F-5s and still expects to become King of the Ring.
The social media reaction leaned heavily in Femi’s favor. Fans responded to his entrance, his collision with Talla and his post-match message to Lesnar. Wrestling coverage also focused on the obvious long-term possibility of a third match. WWE should not rush that trilogy. Femi now has a tournament to pursue, and the King of the Ring path gives him something meaningful to do without immediately returning to Lesnar.
Match grade: B+
Sol Ruca Promises to Become a Fighting Champion
Sol Ruca addressed the audience after defeating Becky Lynch at Clash In Italy to become the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Ruca thanked the fans, acknowledged Lynch’s status as one of the best and promised to defend the championship against anyone willing to step forward.
The promo was straightforward, but that was enough. Ruca has only been on RAW for a short period, and WWE does not need to force an overly complicated character shift immediately after her first major championship win. The important part is what happens next. Beating Lynch was the breakthrough moment. Defending the title consistently will determine whether the reign becomes more than a surprise result.
Later in the show, Lyra Valkyria stepped away from a backstage interview with Bayley to congratulate Ruca and remind her that she never received another opportunity at the Women’s Intercontinental Championship after losing it. Ruca accepted the challenge, while Bayley looked irritated that Lyra abandoned their conversation to pursue an individual goal.
That was a strong piece of connective tissue. Ruca gained a credible first challenger. Lyra regained a singles direction. Bayley and Lyra received another subtle source of friction without WWE forcing an immediate breakup.
Roman Reigns Sends Jey Uso After the WWE Championship
Backstage footage showed Roman Reigns crossing paths with Cody Rhodes following Clash In Italy. Roman then instructed Jey Uso to win the King of the Ring Tournament and challenge for Cody’s Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
Roman’s line about there being two ends of the table was the most interesting part of the segment. It was encouragement, but it also sounded like strategy. Roman is not simply rebuilding The Bloodline because he values family. He is attempting to extend his influence across WWE.
Roman also stopped Jimmy from following Jey and told him that his brother needed to handle the assignment alone. That small decision added another layer. Jey is being pushed toward an individual opportunity, Jimmy is being held back near Roman and Fatu is operating under a structure he clearly does not trust. The group looked united when they raised their ones, but the internal pressure points are obvious.
Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee Defeat Ethan Page and Rusev
Dragon Lee spent much of the tag team match absorbing punishment from Ethan Page and Rusev before finally making the hot tag to Rey Mysterio. Rey changed the pace immediately, Dragon Lee took Rusev out with a dive and Mysterio finished Page with the 619 and a springboard splash.
The match was solid, but it felt more functional than essential. Page and Rusev continue to work well enough together as an abrasive pairing, while Rey and Dragon Lee remain an easy team for the audience to support. The match advanced the Intercontinental Championship picture when Adam Pearce later informed Penta that Rey would receive a title opportunity.
LA Knight then confronted Pearce and questioned whether the RAW general manager was allowing Roman Reigns and The Bloodline to regain too much control over the show. That was another useful continuation. Knight has every reason to distrust Roman’s growing influence, and Pearce should not be portrayed like a passive authority figure while The Bloodline reorganizes itself around the World Heavyweight Champion.
Match grade: B-
Chad Gable Reveals Himself as the Original El Grande Americano
RAW aired highlights from AAA Noche De Los Grandes and showed Chad Gable revealing himself as the original El Grande Americano after the Mask vs. Mask Match. WWE also announced that the match would replay on Netflix immediately after RAW.
This was a smart way to connect the wider WWE and AAA universe without allowing the recap to dominate the show. Gable’s reveal gives the story a clear next chapter, and the live crowd reaction showed that the El Grande Americano presentation has grown into more than a throwaway comedy concept.
IYO SKY Advances in the Queen of the Ring Tournament
IYO SKY defeated Giulia, Roxanne Perez and Lash Legend in the opening match of the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
The match had a strong mix of styles. Lash controlled stretches of the action with her strength. Roxanne wrestled with the opportunistic instincts expected from her character. Giulia received one of the loudest reactions of the match in Italy and brought a sharper striking edge. IYO supplied the pace, timing and finishing sequence.
Lash came close to stealing the victory after hitting the Lash Extension, but IYO broke up the pin with a diving stomp before hitting Over the Moonsault on Giulia for the win.
The match was energetic and efficient. It did not receive enough time to become a classic, but it made the Queen of the Ring Tournament feel important immediately. IYO was the correct winner. She is one of the strongest wrestlers in the division, she can elevate any opponent in the semifinals and she remains believable as a potential tournament winner.
Online reaction was especially positive toward Giulia’s reception, Lash’s power spots and IYO’s closing sequence. The match also gave Roxanne another reason to become increasingly frustrated with her position inside Judgment Day.
Match grade: B+
Judgment Day Continues to Show Cracks
Roxanne Perez struggled to accept her loss after the Queen of the Ring Fatal Four-Way Match. Liv Morgan attempted to console her, but the conversation exposed more tension than reassurance.
Liv said that the crown would look good on her and predicted that she and Dominik Mysterio would win their respective tournaments. In doing so, she briefly overlooked Raquel Rodriguez before correcting herself and emphasizing that Judgment Day still had multiple opportunities.
The segment was intentionally awkward. Liv remains the Women’s World Champion and the center of the faction, but her confidence increasingly looks like self-interest. Roxanne is frustrated. Raquel has every reason to notice when she is treated like an afterthought. Judgment Day is not collapsing yet, but WWE is planting enough small details to make the group’s internal dynamic worth watching.
Maxxine Dupri Feels Overlooked
Maxxine Dupri confronted Adam Pearce backstage after being left out of the Queen of the Ring Tournament. Pearce told her that she would receive the first available opening. Otis and Akira Tozawa tried to calm her down, but Otis also warned Maxxine that Austin Theory was bad news.
Maxxine insisted that she knew what she was doing.
The story is still developing, but it needs a clearer payoff soon. Maxxine feeling overlooked is understandable. Her connection to Theory is more questionable. WWE has enough pieces on the board to make the direction interesting, but the company cannot leave the story stuck in vague backstage conversations for too long.
Danhausen Curses and Un-Curses the New York Knicks
RAW included a brief Danhausen documentary-style segment in which he cursed and then un-cursed the New York Knicks.
The segment was weird, short and harmless. It will work for some fans and do absolutely nothing for others. That is usually the point with Danhausen. As long as WWE uses these segments as quick change-of-pace moments rather than allowing them to take over the show, the presentation is fine.
Seth Rollins Survives Bron Breakker in a Chaotic Main Event
Seth Rollins defeated Bron Breakker in the best match of today’s show, evening the score after Breakker defeated him at Backlash.
Breakker controlled long stretches of the match with his explosiveness. He threw Rollins over the barricade, drove him into the ringside area and repeatedly cut off Seth’s comeback attempts with power and speed. Rollins responded with the veteran instincts expected from him, surviving the early damage and gradually forcing Breakker into a more chaotic fight.
The match escalated with a superplex, Falcon Arrow, Pedigree and multiple spear attempts. Breakker’s sprinting spear from one announce table toward the other looked violent, but Rollins countered with a Pedigree. Seth hit another Pedigree inside the ring and still could not finish the match.
Then the interference began.
Austin Theory ran down and attempted to help Breakker. Paul Heyman distracted the referee. Theory struck Rollins with one of the World Tag Team Championship belts. Montez Ford arrived to take out Theory, only to eat a spear from Breakker. Breakker hit Rollins with another spear for a near fall. Rollins connected with the Stomp, but Heyman placed Breakker’s foot on the bottom rope.
The finish was messy by design. Breakker accidentally speared Heyman through the barricade. Rollins used the tag title belt to protect himself from another spear, leaving Breakker vulnerable. Seth hit the Stomp and secured the victory.
The match was excellent before the interference and still entertaining after the chaos took over. The problem is that WWE came close to overbooking a match that did not need quite so many moving pieces. Rollins and Breakker are good enough to hold the audience without constant outside involvement. Theory and Ford needed to appear because their story is connected to the larger Vision conflict, but Heyman’s involvement, the title belt and multiple interference spots pushed the finish toward excess.
Still, the result made sense. Breakker defeated Rollins cleanly at Backlash. Rollins needed to answer with a victory of his own. WWE now has a legitimate reason to continue the rivalry without pretending either man decisively ended the issue.
Fans on social media praised the physicality, Breakker’s explosiveness, Rollins’ selling and the increasingly wild final stretch. The criticism focused on the same point: the match was strong enough that it did not need every available interference trick. Both reactions are fair.
Match grade: A-
The Road to Night of Champions
Today’s RAW officially launched WWE’s road to Night of Champions on June 27th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments give the next several weeks a clear framework. The first-round matches are Fatal Four-Ways, with the winners advancing to singles competition before the finals take place at Night of Champions. The eventual King and Queen will earn World Championship opportunities at SummerSlam.
Oba Femi and IYO SKY became the first wrestlers to advance. Both victories made sense. Oba needed momentum after losing to Brock Lesnar. IYO remains one of the strongest options in the women’s division. Neither tournament feels predictable yet, which is exactly what WWE needs.
Make sure to check out our full article covering the bracket reveal for a complete breakdown of every first-round match.
Best Match and Segment of the Night
Best match: Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
Rollins and Breakker delivered the strongest in-ring performance on today’s show. The interference-heavy ending was not flawless, but the physicality, pacing and escalation made the main event feel important. Breakker looked like a future World Champion. Rollins looked like a veteran who understood exactly how much punishment he needed to survive before finding an opening.
Best segment: Jacob Fatu acknowledges Roman Reigns
The opening segment advanced The Bloodline story without relying on a predictable attack or immediate betrayal. Fatu kept his pride, Roman maintained control and The Usos remained caught inside a family structure that looks united on the surface while becoming more complicated underneath it.
Here is what was announced for next week’s show
Next week’s WWE Monday Night RAW will air live from the Accor Arena in Paris, France, at a special start time of 2 p.m. ET on Netflix.
- WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green (Queen of the Ring Tournament First-Round Fatal Four-Way Match)
- AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio vs. WWE World Tag Team Champion Bron Breakker vs. WWE United States Champion Trick Williams vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Damian Priest (King of the Ring Tournament First-Round Fatal Four-Way Match)
Final Thoughts
Today’s WWE Monday Night RAW was a strong post-PLE episode because it understood that the best follow-up to Clash In Italy was not another oversized spectacle. WWE needed to move the stories forward, begin the tournaments and create reasons to watch next week. It accomplished all three goals.
Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker delivered the best match of the show, even if the finish became more crowded than necessary. Jacob Fatu acknowledging Roman Reigns gave The Bloodline story a meaningful next chapter without wasting the tension through an immediate turn. Oba Femi looked dangerous one day after surviving seven F-5s from Brock Lesnar. IYO SKY advanced in a Queen of the Ring match that made the women’s bracket feel important. Sol Ruca received the correct first step as champion by promising to fight anyone willing to challenge her.
The weaker parts of the show were not disastrous. Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee against Ethan Page and Rusev was solid but secondary. Maxxine Dupri’s story still needs a stronger direction. The main event did not need every interference spot WWE threw into the closing stretch. The Bloodline remains a creative crutch WWE has to use carefully.
However, the positives outweighed the negatives. RAW left Turin with a clear direction, multiple tournament stories and several meaningful reasons to follow the European Summer Tour into Paris.
Overall show grade: B+
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I’m the quiet one until the bell rings then I’ve got takes. I live for WWE NXT and TNA, I want every promotion to succeed, and I will absolutely roast the bad decisions on sight (because someone has to). Anime taught me to respect long-term storytelling; wrestling taught me that sometimes the plan is “we panicked” and called it “unpredictable.” The Miz got me into all of this, so yeah I appreciate confidence, commitment, and the art of talking like you’re already the main event. Now I bring that same energy to the page as the main writer for Late Night Crew Wrestling because if you’re not here to be must-see and tell the truth, why are you here?!