WWE kicked off its partnership with ESPN at this past weekend’s *Wrestlepalooza*, and while opinions were divided, several important events set the stage for tonight’s *Monday Night Raw* on Netflix. New champions asserted themselves, ongoing rivalries came to a head, and, as seen in the video below, Rhea Ripley was the target of a particularly wild mist attack. Here’s a look at the three biggest successes and failures from tonight’s *WWE Raw*, starting with a major moment that happened outside the wrestling ring.
3. HIT – A Vaquer Showcase
MAMI HAS HAD ENOUGH OF ASUKA!
— WWE (@WWE) September 23, 2025
Despite some criticism, Wrestlepalooza had several great moments, particularly the match between Stephanie Vaquer and Iyo Sky for the WWE World Women’s Championship. The match was universally praised, and WWE rightly gave the new champion significant attention afterward.
Vaquer won the match against Sky to become the new World Women’s Champion, and WWE immediately focused on building her up. They gave her a spotlight in the ring with the fans and then created a series of backstage interactions with potential challengers like Nikki Bella, Asuka, Kairi, and Rhea Ripley. This made Vaquer feel like a truly significant champion.
WWE seems completely committed to building a strong championship run for Vaquer, and now it’s up to them to deliver on that promise. They’ve given opportunities to other rising stars before, but haven’t always followed through – recent examples like Carmelo Hayes and Giulia on the main roster demonstrate that. Let’s hope Vaquer’s run is different and WWE continues to support him.
2. HIT – Everyone Wins in Rusev vs Judgement Day
Rusev’s return to WWE is finally gaining momentum, and his storyline with The Judgment Day seems like a good fit for everyone involved. The rivalry between Rusev and Dominik was always promising, but expanding it to include the whole Judgment Day group has made it even more compelling.
The show highlighted how Rusev’s appearance rattled Mysterio, which further strained his already tense connection with Finn Balor and JD McDonagh – especially after Mysterio abandoned McDonagh during their match. The interaction between Rusev and Balor suggests a significant match between them is coming soon. This situation could also lead to Mysterio being removed from the Judgement Day group. Ultimately, we’re seeing progress in both the Judgement Day storyline and Dominik’s personal arc, with exciting matches involving Rusev potentially leading to a championship victory. It’s a positive development overall.
1. HIT – Asuka Betrays Iyo (And A Top Feud Begins)
Okay, so the show *started* with the Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins stuff, but honestly, the real story brewing was between Asuka and Iyo Sky. That rivalry really exploded by the end of the night – it totally stole the show for me, and I’m way more invested in *that* now.
The match between Asuka and Ripley lived up to the hype of a major event, and it also featured a long-awaited turn when Sky betrayed Asuka – though the biggest shock was Kairi joining in! Kairi decisively sided with Asuka by attacking both Sky and Ripley, setting up a promising new rivalry with a rich backstory that has the potential to deliver incredible matches every time.
POISON MIST IN THE EYES!!!
That’s some sore loser behavior, Asuka…
— WWE (@WWE) September 23, 2025
Sky’s current situation stems from her past betrayal of Bayley when she sided with Asuka and Kairi. That decision is now coming back to haunt her. Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley has become a target of Asuka due to her friendship with Sky, and Asuka attacked Ripley with mist at the end of Raw, leaving her partially green. This rivalry is shaping up to be a major storyline on Raw, and it’s likely to produce some exciting matches in the future.
Next Week’s Monday Night Raw Lineup
- Intercontinental Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (C) vs. Rusev
- Bayley vs Raquel Rodriguez
- Tornado Tag Team Match: The Usos vs The Bronsons
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2025-09-23 05:40