By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,696)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at Paycom Center
Streamed live November 24, 2025, on Netflix
[Hour One] Raw opened with a video package that recapped Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns joining different Survivor Series teams… Joe Tessitore, who was joined on commentary by Wade Barrett, narrated backstage shots of Paul Heyman walking with Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Drew McIntyre, plus Penta, Carmelo Hayes, and Becky Lynch…
Roman Reigns made his entrance. Once in the ring, he finally told the fans to acknowledge him. The entrance theme of WWE Champion Cody Rhodes played, and then he headed to the ring, where he and Reigns stared at one another. Cody asked the OKC crowd what they wanted to talk about. Cody said Reigns is a man of his word. He said the last time Reigns gave him his word, it was for a match, whereas this is a war. Cody asked what’s in it for Reigns.
Reigns said he’d been in the war that Cody was just joining. Reigns said he doesn’t like Cody, who doesn’t like him, and they don’t know each other well. Roman said neither one of them plays around when it comes to their family. He said half the team is his family. He said he’s been invested in the Usos for a long time and would see that investment through. “Understood, then, all I can say is welcome to my team,” Cody said before offering a handshake that Reigns didn’t accept.
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk made his entrance while Barrett touted the men’s WarGames match as the most star-studded in history. Once in the ring, Reigns looked at Reigns while asking, “Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Oklahoma City, or what?” Punk looked at Reigns and then Rhodes, and said, “OKC, acknowledge us.”
Punk said he was happy that Cody had Roman’s word. Punk said he didn’t need Roman’s word because he saved his life last year in WarGames. Reigns said Punk ruined his life a few months later. Punk took issue with Cody calling it his team when he offered Reigns the handshake. Punk held up his title belt and told Cody that he can be the quarterback on Fridays, but he is the champion on Raw.
Roman said they might as well take them out and have the measuring contest. Reigns said he doesn’t like Cody or Punk, but he hates The Vision and Paul Heyman more than he hates them. “Since we’re being honest here, that title would look so much better on my shoulders,” Reigns said before leaving the ring. Punk asked if Reigns was talking to him or Cody. “That’s for you to figure out,” Reigns said with a laugh that was picked up over a camera mic…
Backstage, Paul Heyman said Drew McIntyre is still technically suspended. He said the only reason McIntyre was allowed in the arena was that he selected McIntyre for the advantage match. Heyman said that if McIntyre left the room and said boo to the wrong person, he could be kicked out of the building.
Logan Paul assumed that Brock Lesnar would team with McIntyre. Heyman told Logan that Lesnar was mad about what happened with Reigns last week. Heyman told Logan that Lesnar’s name shouldn’t come out of his mouth, so Logan was a wise ass while saying that Lesnar’s name wouldn’t come out of his mouth.
Heyman asked if Logan was serious. Logan said it was a joke, then assumed that Bron Breakker or Bronson Reed would team with McIntyre in the advantage match. Heyman indicated that Logan would team with McIntyre. An intense Logan told Heyman that it was a wise move…
Gunther made his entrance for his tournament match before a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I had to reboot my wifi shortly after the show started, and the only thing I missed was two entrances and Roman’s telling the crowd to acknowledge him. The exchange between the babyfaces was nicely done in terms of establishing some friction. Also, roughly an hour before the show, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 9,852 with 9,308 tickets distributed. The listed capacity for Paycom Center is 18,203.
1. Gunther vs. Carmelo Hayes in a The Last Time Is Now tournament quarterfinal match. Only the final seconds of Hayes’s entrance were televised. Gunther blasted Hayes with some chops heading into an early break. [C] Gunther put Hayes in a sleeper and pulled Hayes on top of him, but Hayes rolled over into a pin, which forced Gunther to release the hold.
Gunther regained offensive control before looking into the camera and questioning how Hayes had beaten. Barrett said Gunther was taking Hayes too lightly. Hayes caught Gunther in a sleeper, but Gunther backed into a corner to break the hold. Hayes superkicked Gunther and then went for a springboard move. Gunther caught Hayes and set him up for a powerbomb, but Hayes countered into a DDT. [C]
Hayes went for The First 48, but Gunther caught him and dumped him over the top rope to the apron. Gunther threw a kick at Hayes, who avoided it. Hayes went up top, where Gunther drilled him with a chop that sent him back to the apron. Gunther threw a chop at Hayes, who moved, causing Gunther to chop the ring post.
Hayes jumped over the top rope and tried to DDT Gunther on the apron, but Gunther took the move awkwardly. Hayes returned to the ring and then hit Gunther with a flip dive. Hayes dumped Gunther into the timekeeper’s area. Gunther pulled Hayes into the timekeeper’s area and tried to return to the ring, but Hayes jumped off the apron and DT’d him on the way down.
Hayes returned to the ring, and then Gunther barely beat the referee’s count. Gunther avoided Nothing But Net. Gunther clotheslined and powerbombed Hayes for a near fall. Gunther threw elbows at Hayes and then put him in the sleeper hold on the mat. Hayes got to his feet, but Gunther powerbombed and pinned him.
Gunther defeated Carmelo Hayes in 17:10 to advance to the semifinals of The Last Time Is Now tournament.
The updated brackets showed that Gunther will face the winner of Penta vs. Solo Sikoa in the semifinals…
Powell’s POV: A hot match. Hayes followed up his big win on Smackdown with an arguably even more impressive performance in defeat. I went into the tournament suspecting a Gunther win before he was even officially announced, but they sold me on the long-shot possibility of Hayes winning the tournament to face Cena. Here’s hoping there’s a plan to keep building on the momentum that Hayes still has, even though he lost this match.
Punk, Cody, and Reigns were talking backstage about whether Punk ruined Reigns’ life. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso interrupted and said the trio was focused on everything but the most important thing. Jimmy said he and Jey are on the same page, while the other three were not. The Usos indicated that they would take the advantage match and then made their exit. Reigns asked whose team it is and then told Cody and Punk to fix it…
AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio made his entrance while being introduced by ring announcer Alicia Taylor. Tessitore pointed out that Dom was a double champion before and has a chance to regain the title at Survivor Series… [C]
Dom stood in the ring and spoke about how he would beat John Cena to regain the Intercontinental Title and continue to be the greatest Mysteryio of all time. Dom said Cena wasn’t present, but he couldn’t even blame him for not wanting “to come to this dump.”
[Hour Two] John Cena’s entrance theme played. The fans popped big. After a long delay, a little person came out dressed like Cena, and there was also a little person version of Stu the cameraman following the little Cena while the real Stu filmed them both. Dom laughed in the ring.
Little Cena ran to ringside and tried and failed to dive into the ring in Cena style, but he eventually got in the ring. “You don’t interrupt me, John,” Dom said. “I should drop you where you stand, but you know what, I’m going ot save my energy and let you walk away because you have no idea what’s coming for you at Survivor Series.”
Little Cena said it was a fine speech coming from the worst Mysterio of all time. Dom whispered in Little Cena’s ear and told him to stick to the plan. Little Cena said that if Dom wouldn’t fight him in front of the good people in OKC, then if Dom wanted some at Survivor Series, he could come get some. “The Champ is here,” Little Cena yelled.
Dom booted Little Cena and knocked him over. Dom hit Little Cena with a Five Knuckle Shuffle. Barrett said Dom was making “short work” of Little Cena. Dom placed Little Cena against the ropes and hit him with a 619. Dom went up top and frog splashed Little Cena.
Rey Mysterio made his entrance, causing Dom to exit the ring. The Judgment Day entrance theme played, and then JD McDonagh made his entrance with Finn Balor. Dom bumped fists with both men before McDonagh headed to the ring for his match against Rey… [C]
Powell’s POV: Can you really blame Dom for attacking a little person when he’s spent his entire life listening to his father talk about how size doesn’t matter? Anyway, I believe Little Cena was played by Syko, who was featured with his girlfriend Pinky Shortcake, on the Big Little Brawlers reality show. The Discovery show focused on wrestlers from the Micro Wrestling Federation.
2. Rey Mysterio vs. JD McDonagh (w/Finn Balor). The match was joined in progress. A few minutes into the televised portion, McDonagh had Rey in Electric Chair position. Rey threw punches at McDonagh, and they both tumbled over the top rope. McDonagh maintained the Electric Chair position once they were on the floor and then dumped Rey face-first onto the broadcast table. [C]
Late in the match, Rey got McDonagh in position and went for the 619, but McDonagh shot up and executed a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall. Rey rallied and went for the 619, but Balor tripped him from the floor. Rey shoved Balor, who climbed onto the apron. McDonagh charged and was tripped by Rey, causing McDonagh to knock Balor off the apron. Rey finally hit the 619 and followed up with a dive over the top rope into a splash, which got him the three count.
Rey Mysterio defeated JD McDonagh.
Powell’s POV: A solid match. McDonagh had some momentum coming in, so I thought they might go with a cheap finish, but Rey went over clean.
Tessitore hyped the WWE podcast schedule, including Cody’s interview with Timothee Chalamet..
Backstage, Raquel Rodriguez complained to Raw General Manager Adam Pearce that Nikki Bella interfered in her title match, and now she’s getting one. Pearce said he agreed with her, and she would be in the mix for another title shot. Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Grayson Waller showed up and complained about not getting a tag title shot.
Pearce told them to shut up. He told them that AJ Styles and Dragon Lee are fighting champions who want to put the titles on the line next week against New Day. Waller pulled out a blond wig and put it on Pearce’s head. Pearce fumed and told him to get out of his office…
Brock Lesnar was shown walking backstage. He met up with Paul Heyman, and they exchanged nods before entering Lesnar’s dressing room…
Becky Lynch made her entrance for a promo segment… [C] Footage aired of the angle from Smackdown involving the women’s WarGames teams…
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane were making their entrance coming out of the break. They joined their WarGames teammates Lynch, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend in the ring. Lynch said she’d been legally advised not to talk about her loss to Maxxine Dupri.
Lynch spoke about the strength of the team she assembled. Lynch said she won most of her matches with Asuka, but she had to work for it. Lynch said she saved Sane’s life and expected her to be loyal. Lynch recalled Jax breaking her nose. She said she didn’t have to wear a shield afterward like Rhea Ripley. Lynch told Legend that she would take her under her wing and make her a star just as she did for their other teammates.
Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, and AJ Lee made their entrances and stood on the stage. Lee skipped to the ring while her teammates walked behind her, and they all joined their WarGames opponents inside the ring. Lee said the old her would have torn Lynch’s face off. “Lucky for you, therapy works,” Lee said.
Lee said Lynch’s comments were said in fear. Lee said she knows who she is. She said she doesn’t have to bark like an angry chihuahua; she bites. Lee said Lynch made a mistake of locking herself in a cage with her. Lee said she knows she’s not the only one who wants to knock Lynch off her pedestal and then handed the mic to Ripley.
Ripley slammed the microphone on Jax’s head. The two teams brawled. The babyfaces cleared Lynch, Asuka, and Sane from the ring. Legend and Jax teamed up for a clunky spot with Flair. The babyfaces eventually cleared Jax and Legend to the floor, and then Sky hit a moonsault onto Asuka, Sane, Jax, and Legend. Lynch avoided the moonsault and looked rattled as she yelled at the babyfaces who were taunting her from the ring… [C]
Powell’s POV: A good high-energy segment. Lynch’s mic work was a lot of fun.
The broadcast team recapped the brawl between the women’s WarGames entrants. Barrett put over the power that Legend displayed while roughing up Iyo Sky…
Solo Sikoa was in the ring with Talla Tonga. Penta made his entrance…
3. Penta vs. Solo Sikoa (w/Talla Tonga) in a The Last Time Is Now tournament quarterfinal match. The winner faces Gunther in the semifinals. Both wrestlers ended up at ringside. Penta jumped off the barricade and performed a huracanrana on the floor. Both men stayed down. The referee checked on Penta, who was holding his left shoulder. A trainer ran over as they cut to a break. [C]
Solo was in the ring while Penta was still at ringside. The referee called for the bell. Alicia Taylor announced that Penta was not able to compete, and therefore, Solo was named the winner.
Solo Sikoa beat Penta via ref stoppage to advance to the semifinals of The Last Time Is Now tournament.
Powell’s POV: They didn’t replay the spot, but I watched it back a few times, and it looked like Penta landed on his shoulder while performing the huracanrana. He was still favoring his left shoulder as he headed toward the back. Here’s wishing him the best.
Footage aired of John Cena making an early return from a major surgery at the 2008 Royal Rumble…
Backstage, Adam Pearce told Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine Dupri that more women have called her about taking the title off her than maybe ever before. She spoke about being a champion that people can respect. She said she was going to call Natalya. Pearce said he loved it and then shook her hand.
Ivy Nile, who had longer hair, approached Dupri and told her that the title is hers. After Nile walked away, Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez approached Dupri. Perez was talking smack when Pearce returned and asked if there was a problem. After the heels left, Pearce said Dupri should call Natalya now, which she started to do…
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso were shown in the concourse. The duo made their entrance through the crowd for the WarGames advantage match…
[Hour Three] [C] A Stephanie Vaquer promo video aired. She said Nikki Bella isn’t as smart as she thinks she is, or she would know exactly who she is messing with…
Tessitore hyped the two-hour Survivor Series countdown show and the rest of the lineup for Saturday. Tessitore and Barrett ran through the Survivor Series lineup…
Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre made their entrance. Barrett recalled that Paul and McIntyre beat Randy Orton and Jelly Roll at SummerSlam…
4. Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso in a WarGames advantage match. The broadcast team explained how the WarGames advantage works. Jimmy shot Paul toward the ropes while he and Jey waited for a double superkick, but Paul sailed over the top rope to the floor. [C] The heels isolated Jey. Paul hit Jey with a leaping frog splash for a two count. Paul tossed Jey to the floor, where McIntyre dumped him onto the broadcast table. [C]
Late in the match, Jey superkicked McIntyre at ringside, and then McIntyre dropped him with a Glasgow Kiss. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed came out and tended to Paul, who was down on the floor. CM Punk and Cody Rhodes ran out and fought with Breakker and Reed. Jimmy held the top rope down while Jey dove onto the wrestlers below. Paul rolled up Jimmy and got the three count.
Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre beat Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso in 17:05 to win the WarGames advantage match.
The two teams fought inside the ring. The fans chanted “OTC,” and they got their wish, as Roman Reigns’ entrance music played. Reigns walked out and hit Breakker and Reed with Superman Punches in the entrance aisle. Reigns clotheslined Paul over the top rope. Reigns entered the ring and dumped McIntyre to ringside. Reigns hit Paul and then McIntyre with Superman Punches. The credits were shown while the babyfaces were in the ring.
Brock Lesnar’s music played, and then he walked onto the stage with Paul Heyman. Lesnar tried to stomp his foot when his pyro hit, but he slipped and fell. Lesnar got up and smiled before heading to ringside where he and his teammates climbed onto the apron. The heel team entered the ring and brawled with the babyface team to close the show…
Powell’s POV: First, it was Lesnar’s pants ripping and showing off his blue underwear on a recent Smackdown, and now he slipped and fell during his entrance on Raw. To his credit, Lesnar seemed to laugh it off in both cases. Putting that aside, they did a good job of showcasing the men’s WarGames match at various points throughout the show.
Overall, this was an effective go-home show for the Raw brand. I will have a lot more to say about this show during my same-night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Raw by grading the show below.
Join me for WWE Survivor Series coverage on Saturday.