WWE Monday Night RAW broadcasts live tonight from TD Garden in Boston, MA, marking a major step on the road to Survivor Series: WarGames (Nov. 29, Petco Park – San Diego).
John Cena’s farewell tour takes center stage as the “Last Time Is Now” Tournament officially begins, two women’s championships are on the line, and CM Punk is set for a key live appearance that could dramatically influence the men’s WarGames picture.
This episode begins laying the deeper foundational threads that will define WWE’s direction throughout November.
Here is everything advertised for tonight’s show
- “Last Time Is Now” first-round tournament matches
• Sheamus vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
• Rusev vs. Damian Priest - Women’s World Championship
• Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez - WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
• Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) - CM Punk scheduled to appear live
- John Cena farewell tour promotion and tournament spotlight
- Continued build toward Survivor Series: WarGames (men’s and women’s matches)
Also advertised for this week:
Additional “Last Time Is Now” first-round tournament matches taking place Friday on SmackDown.
The big picture: why tonight matters
Tonight’s Raw is configured as a pivotal November episode.
It formally launches the tournament to determine Cena’s final opponent, places major focus on the women’s division with two title matches, and positions CM Punk at the heart of the WarGames conversation.
The immediate goals:
- provide clarity and momentum to the tournament field,
- establish key players for WarGames teams, and
- define championship direction moving deeper into November.
The “Last Time Is Now” tournament begins
The 16-man tournament to determine John Cena’s final match officially gets underway tonight before continuing on SmackDown later this week.
First-round matches announced for Raw
- Sheamus vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
- Rusev vs. Damian Priest
Both promise physical action with storyline stakes.
Sheamus–Nakamura offers a more technically violent tone; Rusev–Priest could quickly become a dark-horse rivalry.
First-round matches confirmed for SmackDown this week
SmackDown will host multiple first-round matches to round out the tournament bracket on the blue brand.
Together, the early pairings set the tone for a multi-week cross-brand arc that will identify Cena’s final opponent by late November. Expect at least one surprise entrant or late-bracket wildcard to emerge.
Women’s championship stakes
Women’s World Championship
Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
A pivotal championship encounter that influences Survivor Series direction.
Vaquer continues her strong technical presence, while Raquel poses the power threat capable of forcing a dramatic shift within the division.
A Vaquer victory signals long-form champion positioning heading into Survivor Series; a Raquel win would reshape November entirely.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
This renewed matchup brings immediate tag-team intensity to the night.
If Flair and Bliss retain, it helps establish continuity going into Survivor Series.
A Kabuki Warriors victory would inject volatility into the division and may broaden the women’s WarGames team dynamic.
This match also reinforces WWE’s commitment to prominently spotlighting the women’s division on television heading into a major dual-team PPV.
CM Punk appears live
CM Punk is scheduled to appear tonight, coming off continued tension involving Logan Paul and the growing chaos within the men’s upper division.
The segment’s outcome could define:
- Punk’s WarGames role
- The identity of WarGames captains
- Whether Logan Paul becomes the short-term or long-term central antagonist
A physical confrontation, verbal escalation, or even a redirected feud are realistic options.
This is one of the most unpredictable components of the night.
Survivor Series: WarGames direction
WWE is positioning both men’s and women’s WarGames matches for Survivor Series on November 29.
Men’s WarGames
Still fluid, partially influenced by Punk, Logan Paul, and top-tier talent from both brands.
Tonight is a logical place to begin clarifying sides, either through the Punk segment or tournament fallout.
Women’s WarGames
Tonight’s women’s title matches could directly affect team composition.
The Women’s Tag Team Championship is particularly pivotal, as its result may determine leadership roles or factions in the WarGames structure.
Expect incremental clarity each week as both WarGames fields take final shape.
What to watch for
- Whether the tournament matches are spaced throughout the show or concentrated
- Surprise names or wildcards entering the bracket
- The tone of CM Punk’s live appearance
- Clean or controversial finishes in women’s title bouts
- Early team building or alignments ahead of WarGames
These elements will tell us how quickly WWE intends to solidify Survivor Series matchups.
Final word
Tonight’s Raw in Boston is intentionally constructed as a November tone-setter.
The start of the “Last Time Is Now” Tournament, back-to-back women’s championship bouts, and CM Punk’s highly anticipated appearance provide layered narrative fuel on the road to Survivor Series: WarGames.
Expect tournament energy, shifting alliances, and a high-stakes environment as WWE begins charting Cena’s final match and the WarGames battlefield.
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