WWE RAW RESULTS (8/17): Keller’s report on Jey Uso delivering Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns, Sol vs. Lyra, Chad Gable vs. Rey Mysterio for IC Title

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

WWE RAW RESULTS
AUGUST 17, 2026
BUFFALO, N.Y. AT KEYBANK CENTER
STREAMED LIVE ON NETFLIX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor

Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 9,597 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 10,623. The arena has a capacity of 19,200 spectators when configured for basketball…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST

JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOW

PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Chris Maitland to review WWE Raw LIVE. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.

Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE

https://streamyard.com/kht3amg4ck

Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).

If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.

LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE RAW TONIGHT: LIVE ON YOUTUBE

[HOUR ONE]

-They opened with a recap of the Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa interactions last week followed by their match with Jey winning via interference, thus requiring Solo to show up tonight and be “delivered” by The Usos to Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief.

-They showed Chad Gable signing fan autographs outside the area, then arrival shots of Sol Ruca and Oba Femi.

-Michael Cole introduced the show as they panned the audience. He touted a crowd of over 11,000.

-Stephanie Vaquer made her ring entrance. They recapped last week’s verbal exchange with Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan. She said live that she doesn’t want to talk because wrestling is her first language. She called Liv to the ring to fight. Liv’s music played. She came out with Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez. Liv said that Becky alleged that her holding the title negates all the progress people like her have made. She said she doesn’t care and he’s not a champion for anyone but herself. She leaned heavily into her awkward laughter.

Vaquer told her to head to the ring. Liv accepted the invite and said she’d regret it. Vaquer outmaneuvered Raquel and Perez, but Liv then tackled her. Vaquer made a comeback and kicked Vaquer in the face. Raquel and Perez regrouped and attacked her. Becky came out for the save. The three heels overwhelmed them. Perez gave Vaquer a Pop Rox. Liv’s music then played as the heels gloated.

(Keller’s Analysis: This was paint-by-numbers in a good way.)

-Jimmy and Jey were dancing and elated backstage. They obnoxiously called Solo out of their locker room. Solo looked forlorn and resigned as he walked down the hall. They ran into LA Knight. Solo and Knight locked eyes. The Usos told Solo that the Tribal Cheif was waiting, so let’s roll. They entered the locker room labeled Roman Reigns. [c]

(1) JE’VON EVANS vs. JD MCDONAGH (w/Dominik Mysterio)

The bell rang 17 minutes into the hour. Cole said it was an impromptu match that developed during the commercial. He said Dom and JD were complaining that Dom wasn’t in the tournament to determine who Roman would face next month in Mexico. That led to Je’Von Evans coming out to call out Big Cass, which led to a match with JD.

Evans cleared JD from the ring early. Cole said he admired Evans for calling out Big Cass. Dom tripped Evans from ringside, opening up JD to blindside Evans from behind. Evans lifted his knees on a JD splash. Dom pulled JD to ringside. Evans clotheslined JD over the time keeper’s area. He then played to the crowd and circled the ring before hitting a flying crossbody onto JD who was sitting on a chair in the time keeper’s area. He applauded and then threw JD back into the ring.

JD took over, working over Evans’ ankle and ramming his leg around the ringpost. They cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c/db]

JD remained in control after the break. Evans landed a flying clothesline, but favored his leg after he landed so he was slow to make the cover. JD kicked out at two. JD headbutted Evans and then delivered a brainbuster for a two count. Evans set up a top rope move, but JD avoided it. Evans countered with a top rope OG Cutter for the win. Grave said, “This young man is special.”

WINNER: Evans in 10:00.

-Big Cass attacked Evans from behind. He stomped away at Evans in the corner. Cole called it “another cowardly attack” and Graves called it “a cheap shot.” Cass gave Evans his East River Crossing sideslam for the third straight week. When he left the ring, Evans said into a mic while face down on the mat, “Is that all you got?” Cole told Evans to quit while he was ahead because he was still breathing. When Evans returned to the ring, Evans knocked him down and then dove through the ropes and tackled him. Dom was standing by and he intercepted Evans and threw him into the ringpost. “Absolutely disgusting!” said Cole. He called it a cheapshot. Dom and JD scurried away. Cass dragged Evans by his hair and threw him into the ringside barricade. Cole said Cass made his point, so stop. He recalled Cass saying it wasn’t personal at first.

(Keller’s Analysis: It’s great to hear the commentators actually framing heel attacks that are designed to get heel heat with a negative, critical framing. They hadn’t been doing that and I pointed that out last week. The strategy here seems to be to have Cass look tough, be a bully to the smaller and popular Evans, and end up being a credible opponent for Oba who fans are eager to see get beat up by Oba.)

-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside. Cole was red-faced angry at Cass’s actions. (He should have turned it down a notch, actually. It felt over-the-top and kind of pushy, especially consider what else goes on in WWE week to week.) They pivoted to plugging that Raw starts two hours early next Monday live from Ottawa. They showed La Parka beating Psycho Clown in AAA, setting up Penta vs. La Parka in the semi-finals. The other semi-final will be the winners of Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal and Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

-Soundbites aired with Rey Fenix and El Fiscal. Fiscal then made his entrance. [c]

-They showed Rey Mysterio warming up backstage.

(2) EL FISCAL vs. REY FENIX – Opening Round match for World Title shot against Roman at Raw Mexico City

The bell rang 39 minutes into the hour. Graves noted Fiscal isn’t known to “take it to the sky” all that often, but can if the situation calls for it. They cut to a break at 2:00 after Fenix ran the top rope and kicked Fiscal in the head and then leaped off the top rope with a crossbody. [c]

Fiscal set up a tombstone. Cole noted it was a banned move in Mexico. Fenix escaped and took over. He then gave Fiscal a Mexican Muscle Buster for the win. He got a nice pop and they showed a dad high-fiving a young kid at ringside.

WINNER: Fenix in 9:00 to advance to the semi-finals

-Cathy Kelley interviewed Vaquer backstage. She said this is exactly what Liv does. She said she has three people to deal with her and it’s become personal. Becky came in and said she messed it up good. Vaquer said she didn’t ask for her help and Liv is her problem now. Becky said as long as she’s aiming for the title, it’s her business. She sarcastically said she’s sure next week it will be a straight forward one-on-one match.

-A vignette aired on Lyra Valkyria. She expressed rage and jealousy of Sol Ruca replacing her as the new hot rising star in the division. She said if you fly around just to show off, that’s when bad things can happen. She said she’ll make sure she crashes and burns and then she’ll get her title back.

-Sol Ruca made her entrance. [c]

-Cole got in some TKO plugs.

(3) SOL RUCA vs. LYRA VALKYRIA

The bell rang 55 minutes into the hour. Ruca dropkicked Lyra out of the ring at 2:00 and then did a handstand on the ring apron before kicking Lyra in a chest. She followed with a backflip onto Lyra on the floor. Cole compared Sol to Lita. Lyra went for an enzuigiri, but Sol ducked. Lyra kicked the ropes as Sol jumped onto it and she took over. They cut to a break at 4:00.

[HOUR TWO]

[c]

Sol made a comeback after the break. Lyra countered a handspring move with a leaping neckbreaker over the top rope. She followed with a top rope legdrop to the back of Sol’s neck for a two count at 10:00. Lyra stayed on the attack and went for a Night Wing. Sol flipped out of it and gave Lyra a DDT followed by a Sol Snatcher for the win.

WINNER: Sol Ruca in 11:00

(Keller’s Analysis: Sol needed this, a solid match without any obvious botches. Not sure if Lyra approached it differently or they just curated some of the spots, but it felt more like a fight and less like a gymnastics display.)

-Cole plugged a new Jey Uso action figure. They went to ringside where Graves held up the Jey action-figure. Graves speared Cole with the action figure and Cole said, “Owww!”

-Backstage, Jey and Jimmy approached Jacob Fatu. Fatu asked why he didn’t look more upbeat. He said tonight Solo goes to the OTC. Jey asked, “Who’s the punk ass now, Jacob?” Fans “ohhh’d.” Cole called Jey “very cocky.” [c]

-They showed an aerial view of Buffalo. Then they cut to ringside for some Buffalo Bills players.

-Kelley interviewed The Vision backstage. Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri were focused on each other. Logan Paul said anyone who steps up will be put down. He asked Maxxine if that was true. She wasn’t listening closely and gave a half-hearted answer, and then turned back to Theory and reminisced about what they did to Otis and Tozawa. Theory said Oba took a cheap shot at him last week, and that will not go unnoticed. He said he and Bron Breakker are the tag champions, and he has his “delicious Maxxine.” Kelley asked Bron if he has anything to say to Oba. Bron said if he has something to say to Oba, he’ll say it to his face. Fans cheered and barked.

-Breakker made his way to the ring. Cole said, “I don’t think this is going to go well.” When Breaker got to the ring, he told Oba if he wants to be the future of this place, come to the ring. Instead, Paul Heyman came out and introduced himself. He talked about being an advocate, an oracle, and a wiseman. He said he knows what is wise to do. He said there is a question on everybody’s mind, and that is who is the future of WWE. Fans chanted “Oba! Oba!” Breakker asked Heyman to tell him who he thinks is the future of WWE. Heyman took a step back. Oba’s music played and the lights went dark.

Oba marched out. Fans sang “Oba!” Oba said they’re asking a stupid question because they already know who the future is. He said the fans know it, too. He said Brock Lesnar also knows who the future is. He said Bron can take it up with him anyplace, anytime. Breakker said, “How about right here, right now.”

Heyman told Breakker if he takes one more step toward Oba, he takes one step away from him. Heyman said this is a publicly traded company and the biggest promotion on the planet. He said they don’t just answer to the fans live and at home, but also shareholders. He said when two main eventers are standing in the ring, you don’t do an impromptu match to find out who the future is. He said if you’re the future, you know that. He said he has already set it up at Sunday Night’s Main Event on Sept. 6 and then they’ll find out who truly is the future of WWE. He noted it’s Bron’s hometown. Bron smiled and shook Heyman’s hand. Fans sang, “Oba!” Heyman held the ropes open for Bron who left the ring acting cocky. Heyman then shook Oba’s hand. Bron saw that and shot Heyman a look. Heyman smiled and told Bron as he walked past him, “That’s good business.”

(Keller’s Analysis: Fans want to like Bron, they dislike Heyman, and they love Oba. Breakker is really selling hard that he doesn’t like Heyman hedging between him and Oba. If this is a “swerve” or a “misdirection.” the end result of Bron and Heyman “being aligned all along” has to serve them in some way rather than just doing it to fool people. I’m not convinced that’s what happening, though. I’m intrigued.)

-A vignette aired with Dragon Lee and and El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.

-Dragon Lee made his entrance. [c]

-They showed Gable warming up backstage.

(4) EL HIJO DEL DR. WAGNER JR. vs. REY FENIX – Opening Round match for World Title shot against Roman at Raw Mexico City

Graves said Wagner comes from royalty and talked about his family history. The bell rang 30 minutes into the hour. Cole talked about Wagner’s matches in WWE on Smackdown and NXT before, but noted it was his first match on Raw. They cut to a break at 3:00 with Wagner in control. [c]

Dragon made a comeback, but Wagner cut it off with a big boot leading to a two count. Lee shoved Wagner off the top rope and delivered a double-stomp. He posed briefly before hitting the spot, but it wasn’t egregious. He scored a two count. Wagner tossed Dragon over the top rope into the ring with a released powerbomb and then landed a top rope frog splash for a near fall at 9:00. Dragon countered a Wagner Driver and then landed Operation Dragon for the win.

WINNER: Dragon Lee in 11:00 to advance to the semi-finals.

-Cole got in some plugs.

-Rey Mysteiro made his entrance. [c]

(5) CHAD GABLE vs. REY MYSTERIO – Intercontinental Title match

Gable made his entrance after the break. It still looked like a struggle to get fans to react despite his hearty effort. The bell rang 48 minutes into the hour. Graves said the majority of Luchadors have forgiven Gable for his past actions, realizing he was a different headspace. Rey caught a charging Gable with a kick. They fought onto the ring apron. Rey propelled Gable into the ringpost head-first and then followed up with a running leaping headscissors.

Gable made a comeback in the ring by catching Rey mid-air and turning it into a fisherman’s suplex for a two count. Gable stayed on offense and the crowd grew silent. They fought to the ring apron. Rey kicked Gable and then landed a springboard Asai moonsault. Fans chanted, “You still got it!” Rey sidestepped a charging Gable who crashed shoulder-first into the ringpost and then landed a tornado DDT for a two count.

Gable gave Rey a Cliffhanger DDT followed by a top rope headbutt for a near fall at 9:00. They countered each others moves and then Rey hit a tornado DDT for a dramatic near falls. Fans were behind Rey winning as there was no pop for the kickout.

[HOUR THREE]

Gable gave Rey an Angle Slam off the top rope for a near fall. Gable set up a standing ankle lock. Rey escaped and went for a 619. Gable blocked it. Rey came back with a 619 seconds later and then hit a second one. Fans popped huge. He then went for a top rope splash, but Gable lifted his knees and applied an anklelock. Rey rolled out of it, but Gable held on and reapplied pressure. Rey rolled up Gable, but Gable countered with a leverage three count. “What a match!” said Cole. Rey and Gable shared some words of respect afterward.

WINNER: Gable in 13:00.

-Fatu opened a door to a black SUV and Reigns stepped out. A backstage worker handed him his title after he nodded in appreciation toward him. Fans chanted, “OTC! OTC!” Reigns looked serious as he made his entrance. [c]

-The Usos made their way to the ring with Solo. Solo entered. After a tense moment, Reigns said he doesn’t care what the fans were chanting, just seeing him pisses him off. He said he is a blessed man and has everything he could imagine. He said some say he is petty and wonder why he holds receipts for so long, but how could he not with Solo. He said almost three years ago, he beat his ass on the Raw debut on Netflix in Tribal Combat. He said he put something together to remind him. He played a video package going back to that match and also Solo saying “The Tribal Chief can kiss my ass.” Back live, fans “ohh’d.” Then they chanted “Solo!”

Reigns said Buffalo may think this is funny, but he asked Solo why he thinks it’s funny. Roman said he’s a funny guy now. He talked about his watch and chain. Reigns took off Solo’s sunglasses and threw them to the mat and stepped on them. Reigns asked Solo, “Why are you looking me eye to eye right now instead of down on your knees, begging me right now.” Fatu superkicked Solo and then applied the Tongan Death Grip. Some boos. Reigns yelled, “Enough!” Reigns said, “He’s not so funny now, is he?” He then said he had other business to handle now.

Reigns said the twins execute the play as called. He said he is the Tribal Chief and the Usos are his captains. “If you disrespect them, you disrespect me.” He said they are made men. He brought in two ula falas. He put one around Jimmy’s neck and another around Jey’s neck. Jey seemed moved. Fatu shook his head in the background, seemingly jealous or dejected he was left out. Reigns said, “Now, let’s get back to Solo, Buffalo.”

Solo was still on the mat selling the Tongan Death Grip. LA Knight then walked out to his music. Jimmy charged. Knight ducked. He dumped both Usos to the floor and then eyed Reigns. Fatu hit Knight from behind. Reigns stopped Fatu from further attack and had some off-mic words for him. Reigns then wound up and gave Knight a Superman Punch.

Reigns lifted Solo and said he has a tough decision to make. As the Usos held him up, he told Solo to serve his family. Jimmy yelled, “You know what to do!” Solo told Knight he was sorry and then he wound up and landed a Samoan Spike… on Roman. Fans cheered. The Usos asked Solo what he was doing. Fatu leaned in the corner and watched. Solo turned to the Usos. He tossed Jey out of the ring and then Knight gave Jimmy a BFT. Solo gave Jey a Samoan Spike at ringside. Knight turned to Fatu and asked what he was going to do. Fatu stared back at Knight. When Reigns charged at Knight, Knight caught him with a BFT.

Solo entered the ring as fans chanted “LA Knight!” Knight and Solo fist-bumped and smiled. Fatu stood by and watched. Cole said, “Oh my God, what a disaster for The Bloodline.” Graves asked what Solo has done.