By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,684)
Paris, France, at Paris La Défense Arena
Streamed live September 1, 2025, on Netflix
[Hour One] Michael Cole checked in while footage aired of fans lined up outside the building, followed by a live shot from within the venue. Wade Barrett was on commentary with Cole… A video package recapped the Clash in Paris event…
CM Punk was shown waiting in the parking garage. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce showed up and told Punk that he knew why he was waiting (for Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch), but he encouraged him to wait inside. Punk declined… Cole narrated backstage shots of AJ Styles, The Kabuki Warriors, and Penta.
Jey Uso was shown walking through a mob of fans in the concourse area and then made his entrance through the crowd. Once in the ring, Jey said he was sorry, but they wouldn’t be “running it back.” Jey showed his wrapped ribs.
Jey questioned what would have happened in the World Heavyweight Championship match had he not helped Roman Reigns. Jey wondered what would have happened had he listened to Roman’s advice and focused on himself. Jey said you don’t mess with his family. Jey said Reigns was laid up in the hospital. He called out Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker.
LA Knight made his entrance instead to a strong reaction. He said, regardless of how anyone else felt, he believed in himself and believed he would be World Heavyweight Champion. Knight said that he, Jey, and Punk all lost the match, and Seth Rollins still holds the championship.
Knight said some people say Jey lives in his cousin’s shadow. Knight said he doesn’t know about that, but he knows Rollins lives in his wife’s shadow. Knight took issue with Jey breaking up a pin during the four-way match, saying it all could have been avoided. Knight said that if Jey didn’t understand, he would get him up to speed quickly. Jey told him to bring him up to speed.
Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed made their entrance. Knight pointed out that they were missing their “babysitter.” Breakker said Reigns put Heyman in the hospital. Breakker said that should concern Jey and Knight because there was no one to hold them back. The fans interrupted by singing Roman’s name.
Breakker told the crowd that Reigns was in the hospital because he and Reed put him there. Breakker said he and Reed were “a couple of dogs off the leash” without Heyman. Breakker said he and Reed were going to put Jey and Knight in the hospital right next to Reigns.
Reed told the crowd to acknowledge him. He told Jey and Knight are next to be hospitalized. Breakker challenged the duo to a tag team match for later in the show. Reed questioned if they had the balls.
Knight, who had athletic tape on his neck and shoulder, said he and Jey were banged up. He said that he and Jey could do their thing another time, then accepted the challenge. Jey also agreed to the tag team match…
Powell’s POV: Breakker and Reed clearly miss Heyman. Surely he would have told them how stupid it would be to make their entrance when two of their adversaries were on the verge of fighting one another. Jokes aside, it is annoying that this happens so often in pro wrestling. Otherwise, I enjoyed the segment, and this is a logical follow-up to Clash in Paris.
Cole and Barrett checked in from their broadcast table. Cole said there were over 23,000 in attendance. Barrett introduced the French broadcast team, who spoke briefly in French from their own broadcast table. Cole said Raw would be available on Netflix in France starting in January…
Highlights aired of last week’s drama involving the Kabuki Warriors and Iyo Sky due to Rhea Ripley…
Backstage, Sky approached Asuka and Kairi Sane and apologized for what had happened the week before. Asuka laughed and said it was okay. She said they are family. Asuka said she and Sane would take care of the Judgment Day for her. Sky asked if they needed help. Sane tried to accept, but Asuka said they didn’t need help like Ripley does. After Asuka walked away, Sane told Sky that everything would be okay…
Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez made their entrance heading into the first commercial break… [C] The end of the Kabuki Warriors’ entrance was shown while Cole hyped WWE Wrestlepalooza for the ESPN streaming service, and that tickets were on sale for the show…
1. “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane vs. Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. The live crowd backed Asuka and Sane. Perez ran Sane into the ringside barricade. [C] Sane took out Rodriguez with an Insane Elbow from the top of the ring post to the floor. In the ring, Asuka caught Perez in the Asuka Lock and got the submission win…
“The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane defeated Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez in 11:35.
Powell’s POV: The live crowd clearly doesn’t mind Asuka’s heelish behavior during recent backstage segments. She was over big with the crowd. I continue to enjoy that storyline with Asuka being blunt while Sane plays nice with Iyo Sky.
A video aired with Adam Pearce addressing the vacant Women’s World Championship. Pearce said Stephanie Vaquer and Iyo Sky were both scheduled to have title matches (before Naomi announced her pregnancy and relinquished the title). Pearce announced Sky vs. Vaquer for the vacant championship on the September 20 WrestlePalooza event… Cole said Sky and Vaquer would appear on next week’s Raw for a contract signing.
Finn Balor made his entrance with JD McDonagh. Cole said Balor would face Dragon Lee after a break… [C]
CM Punk was shown waiting in the parking garage for Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch to arrive… Cole plugged the Worlds Collide show for September 12…
2. Dragon Lee vs. Finn Balor (w/JD McDonagh). Lee’s entrance was not televised. A few minutes into the match, Lee hit Balor with a flip dive and then stood on the barricade and played to the crowd. [C] The crowd came to life when Balor went to the ropes for his finisher, but Lee cut him off. McDonagh stood on the apron and argued with the referee until Lee took out McDonagh with a huracanrana to the floor.
[Hour Two] Lee went to the ropes while Balor was tied up in the tree of woe. Balor sat up and tossed Lee to the mat. Balor hit the Coup de Grace and pinned Lee.
Finn Balor defeated Dragon Lee in 9:40.
Powell’s POV: Lee got a nice win over McDonagh last week, only to drop this match to Balor. I hoped last week’s win was the start of something, but it looks like Lee is still spinning his wheels.
Backstage, Iyo Sky and Nikki Bella hugged and exchanged kind words until Asuka and Kairi Sane interrupted. After Nikki left, Asuka said she and Sane would help Sky with her match against Vaquer. Sky wanted to go it alone. Asuka mentioned that Sky flying solo didn’t work out for her at SummerSlam. After Asuka walked away, Sane tried to play good cop, but Asuka called for her and she ran away…
Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Grayson Waller made their entrance for a six-man tag match… [C]
Finn Balor and JD McDonagh met up with Dominik Mysterio backstage. Dom said they had to do something about AJ Styles. Adam Pearce showed up and said he saw what happened during Balor’s match, and it wouldn’t happen again. Pearce banned Balor and McDonagh from ringside. Balor was all smiles and told Dom that he guessed they would be there in spirit…
Penta and The War Raiders made their entrances while being introduced by ring announcer Alicia Taylor…
3. Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Grayson Waller vs. Penta and “The War Raiders” Erik and Ivar. The fans sang the Ole song while some of them made Penta’s hand gesture as the match started. Penta hit a dive onto his opponents on the floor a minute into the match. Erik and Ivar joined Penta in doing his dance. [C]
Late in the match, there was a clumsy spot where Erik tossed Woods while Ivar was jumping off the ropes. It looked like Ivar intended to splash Woods, but it was poorly executed. Penta followed up with a Mexican Destroyer and then pinned Woods.
Penta, Erik, and Ivar defeated Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Grayson Waller in 8:40.
Powell’s POV: Good, fast-paced action until that awkward move at the end. I guess it’s back to the drawing board on that double-team move.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Rhea Ripley in a backstage area. Ripley spoke about how she has never taken her eye off the Women’s World Championship. Asuka and Kairi Sane interrupted. Ripley said she’s tried to play nice, but warned Asuka not to push her. Asuka said she will push anyone. Asuka said no one is ready for her, not even Ripley, and walked away. Sane stayed and looked sheepishly at Ripley until Asuka called for her…
AJ Styles made his entrance. The live crowd erupted by singing a song while Styles stood in the ring… [C] Cole hyped next year’s Road to Rumble tour of Europe…
Backstage, Roxanne Perez, who was accompanied by Raquel Rodriguez, complained to Adam Pearce about the way the World Heavyweight Championship would be decided. Pearce blew her off. Lyra Valkyria showed up and ended up arguing with Perez and Rodriguez. Pearce made Perez and Rodriguez leave.
Pearce told Valkyria that he spoke with Bayley, and she sounded great. He said Bayley said some weird things, but she will be back soon. Valkyria said she needed to get back in the ring and would face either member of Judgment Day next week. Pearce said he could make that happen…
Dominik Mysterio made his entrance…
4. Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Championship. Judgment Day was banned from ringside. Alicia Taylor tried to deliver in-ring introductions for the title match. Dom attacked Styles from behind. The referee checked on Styles before calling for the bell to start the match. Styles battled back. Styles jumped over the top rope and hit Dom with a flying elbow on the floor. [C]
Cole said it was only the second time the Intercontinental Title has been defended in France. He said Shawn Michaels beat Bob Backlund in a 1993 match that aired on French TV. Styles hit a running powerbomb onto the broadcast table, which did not collapse, going into another break. [C]
Dom had a run of offense that included a top rope frog splash for a good near fall. Cole said Dom was putting on a clinic. Styles came back and hit the Styles Clash. Styles went for the pin, but Dom’s foot was touching one of the ropes. Styles put Dom down with a brainbuster.
Styles set up for his finisher, but El Grande Americano (the Ludwig Kaiser version) grabbed his foot while the referee was tied up with Dom. Americano loaded his mask and headbutted the chest of Styles. Dom hit another top rope frog splash and scored the pin…
Dominik Mysterio defeated AJ Styles in 16:00 to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
Powell’s POV: A nice match with a fairly predictable finish. The odds of a title change felt like they decreased when this wasn’t announced as the show’s main event. That said, the Americano interference plays into his ongoing alliance with Dom heading into Don’s AAA Mega Championship match at Worlds Collide.
A video package recapped Roman Reigns beating Bronson Reed at Clash in Paris. The footage also included Reigns choking out Paul Heyman, and then being attacked by Reed and Bron Breakker…
Cole provided injury updates. Cole said Heyman suffered a larynx contusion. Roman Reigns was out indefinitely with multiple broken ribs…
Backstage, Jackie Redmond asked LA Knight if he and Jey Uso could put aside their differences and work together in the main event. Knight said he and Jey could survive together or die apart. Knight said that if Jey did dirt, he would give dirt.
Jey showed up and said Breakker and Reed got his cousin. He tried to do his four letters, one word line, but Knight cut him off and said the world was “yeah”…
Cole hyped the NXT eight-man tag match main event for Tuesday’s show…
Rhea Ripley spoke with CM Punk, who was waiting for Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. Ripley said she was sorry about what happened to Punk at Clash in Paris. Punk was cordial while saying he knew Ripley had her own issues lately. Adam Pearce showed up and told Punk that he was told that Seth Rollins was already in the building. Punk questioned how that could be, then said he would take care of business… [C]
[Hour Three] A Rusev vignette aired. He spoke about two friends walking into a war, and how only one walked out. Rusev said he’s not a bully, he’s a beacon. He said that if Sheamus extends his arm, then maybe they could be friends again. Rusev issued a warning to the rest of the roster…
CM Punk made his entrance. Once in the ring, Punk said he was hijacking the show until Seth Rollins came out, even if it meant he sang songs with his friends in Paris until the show went off the air. Punk said he would be in the ring until Rollins faced him man to man.
Seth Rollins’ entrance music played, but his wife Becky Lynch came out instead. Lynch said she was The Man that Punk would have to deal with. Punk said it had nothing to do with Lynch, who said it had everything to do with her family. Lynch said she’s had to listen to Punk berate her husband, the greatest man she’s ever known. Punk said her husband is a coward. Lynch said Rollins has sacrificed more for the business than Punk will ever know.
Lynch said the fans were chanting Punk’s name during her matches, which let her know that they didn’t care about her or the hard work she was putting in. The crowd chanted for Punk. Lynch said Punk isn’t the Voice of the Voiceless; he’s the poster child for apathy.
Lynch said the fans didn’t carry her to WrestleMania; she got herself there, just as she and her husband got the business where it is today. A “shut the f— up” chant broke out (WWE was very late with their muting attempts). Lynch said she and Rollins need Punk to get out of the way. She said they wished him the best in his future endeavors.
Punk said it sounded good, but it wasn’t the truth. Punk said he’s the best in the world. He mocked one of her lines by saying that it’s not just him saying it. He said the fans chant his name if he’s a champion or not a champion. Punk ran through some of the cities he worked on this tour. He noted that Lynch and her husband weren’t on those shows.
Punk said Rollins hides behind his title, Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed, and Bron Breakker, and now he’s hiding behind his wife. Punk said Lynch is much more than somebody’s wife; she’s The Man. Punk said Lynch just has bad taste and married a bum. Punk said Rollins needs to know that the issues between them will never be over.
World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins walked onto the stage. Rollins mocked Punk by saying that he’d been looking for him all night. Rollins said that if Punk had something to say, he should come to the stage and say it to his face. Punk tried to leave the ring, but a smiling Lynch blocked his path. Once Punk got around her, Rollins walked to the back.
Punk turned around. Lynch slapped him. Lynch continued to slap him and asked what he was going to do about it. An “AJ Lee” chant broke out. Lynch told Punk that he’s pathetic. Punk said he would make Rollins regret ever cashing in on him, and Lynch would regret ever putting her hands on him.
Lynch said she already regretted putting her hands on his sweaty body. Lynch said she would have to wash her hands in bleach. Lynch continued to taunt Punk while calling for the fans to sing the goodbye song. Punk walked to the back while Lynch told him to never come back…
Powell’s POV: Lynch was a terrific agitator. This has to be leading to the return of AJ Lee, which would be really cool after all this time.
Cole hyped Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer for the vacant Women’s World Championship at Wrestlepalooza…
Cole said John Cena would make his final appearance at a WWE show in Chicago on Friday’s Smackdown…
Jey Uso made his entrance for the main event… [C]
CM Punk was shown walking backstage when Adam Pearce cut him off. Punk demanded to know where Seth Rollins was. Pearce said Rollins left, but he would be on Raw next week. Punk asked where Smackdown would be held on Friday. Pearce said in their hometown of Chicago. “Tremendous,” Punk replied before walking away. Pearce asked what that meant…
5. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed vs. Jey Uso and LA Knight. The remainder of the entrances occurred during the break. Breakker tossed Jey over the top rope to the floor going into a break. [C]
Late in the match, Knight hit the BFT on Breakker. Jey followed up with an Uso Splash. Reed broke up the pin by pulling Jey to the floor. Knight kicked Reed through the ropes. Reed ran Knight into the ring post. Reed entered the ring and ate some superkicks and a spear from Jey, who then hit him with an Uso Splash. Legal man Breakker returned to the ring. Breakker speared Jey while Cole reminded viewers of Jey’s injured ribs. Breakker covered Jey for the three count.
Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed defeated Jey Uso and LA Knight in 14:00.
After the match, Breakker continued to work over Jey. Knight tried to help, but Reed tossed him over the French broadcast table. Breakker hit a running spear on Jey. Reed went up top and hit Jey with a Tsunami.
Jimmy Uso’s entrance music played and he ran to the ring with a chair. Breakker and Reed exited the ring. Jimmy checked on Jey while the fans chanted Jimmy’s name. The camera mic picked up Jey telling Jimmy that he couldn’t do this, and needed Jimmy’s help…
Powell’s POV: The heel duo had to get the better of the match or they would have lost the momentum they generated by taking out Roman Reigns. The end result was a nice tease for Jimmy and Jey reuniting to feud with Breakker and Reed. It’s a shame they didn’t move the tag titles to Breakker and Reed, because it would be a blast to see the Usos chase them for the tag team titles.
Overall, a nice follow-up to Clash in Paris. It had a bit of a “fine if you saw it, fine if you missed it” feel, which was likely by design due to the Labor Day holiday in the United States. That said, they kept things interesting for those of us who watched. By the way, I’m always surprised when the company neglects to give viewers a big hook for the Raw that will be opposed by the first Monday Night Football game of the new season. I will be back shortly with my weekly same-night audio review of Raw. Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below. I hope everyone in the United States enjoys what’s left of the holiday weekend.
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