Browsing: Kairi

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

Still riding off their win at WaGames, the members of The Vision ran rough shot this week. After being slapped in the face by Rey Mysterio last week, Logan Paul was looking for revenge. He would get that revenge as Rey was heading to the ring for a match with Finn Balor. As the attack went on, L.A. Knight came to Reyâ€s rescue. This would lead to a match between Knight and Paul in this weekâ€s main event.

To no surprise, other members of The Vision (including a mystery one) would play a role in the matchâ€s outcome and the aftermath. In addition to that, we had Gunther send one last message to John Cena, Iyo Sky go one on one with Kairi Sane, and another fiery promo from Bron Breakker aimed at C.M. Punk.

Gunther vs. John Cena

Latest developments:

On the November 1 Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event, it was announced that there would be a Last Time is Now Tournament taking place to decide who John Cenaâ€s last opponent would be on the December 13 Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event. Over the last three weeks, Gunther defeated Jeâ€von Evans, Carmelo Hayes, and Solo Sikoa to reach the finals. Last Friday on Smackdown, Gunther faced LA Knight in the final round to decide who Cenaâ€s last opponent will be. After a long and competitive match, Gunther made Knight tap out to the Sleeper to get the win. After the match, Gunther looked into the camera and told Cena that heâ€s going to make him give up when they face each other.

This week, Gunther came out to open the show to a hoard of “We Want Cena†chants that Gunther responded to by saying he wasnâ€t coming tonight. He called Cena the greatest sports entertainer of all time, but that heâ€ll be facing the greatest professional wrestler of all time on Saturday. He then had a countdown clock to the match put on the titantron so that the crowd knows how much time they have left to admire Cena as their hero. Gunther stated that beating him isnâ€t enough, and that heâ€s going to break his spirit, bully him, and drop him on his head. Gunther ended the promo by saying heâ€s going to squeeze his arms around Cenaâ€s neck until he forces him to do the one thing he said heâ€d never do and thatâ€s give up.

Analysis:

This promo was short, sweet, and everything that it needed to be. With Cena vs. Gunther happening this weekend, there isnâ€t really much else to say beyond what was said here. As great as LA Knight is and as fun as it wouldâ€ve been to see him and Cena face each other, Gunther was too perfect of a last opponent for Cena for it to have been anyone else. As heâ€s one of the best heels in the company, this match wonâ€t have any question about who the audience will be rooting for compared to many of Cenaâ€s other matches this year. All the elements for this match make it one that has Match of the Year candidate written all over it.

While Cenaâ€s retirement run has been a mixed bag, the last few months combined with what we have coming this weekend are allowing it to go out with a bang. The main story going into this match on Saturday is whether Gunther will be able to make Cena give up. As Cenaâ€s only tapped out three times in his career and those times were before he became a top guy, having him do it in his last match of all matches would be an odd way to send him out. Gunther being able to say he retired Goldberg and Cena in the same year would be huge for his career, but there would also be a huge sense of gratification if Cena were somehow able to go out with a win. While the outcome of this match wouldâ€ve been more predictable a month ago, itâ€s a match perhaps more than any Cena has had in his retirement run that can really go either way.

Grade: B

Iyo Sky vs. Kairi Sane

Latest developments:

On the September 22 Raw, Asuka & Kairi Sane turned on Iyo Sky after Iyo tried to stop the two of them from attacking Rhea Ripley. At Crown Jewel, Rhea & Iyo defeated Asuka & Kairi after Kairi sacrificed herself for Asuka. The following Monday on Raw, Asuka & Kairi brutally attacked Rhea & Iyo and put them out of action for several weeks. On the November 10 Raw, Asuka & Kairi defeated Charlotte & Alexa Bliss to win the Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship and as they along with Nia Jax & Lash Legend attacked them afterwards, a returning Rhea & Iyo came to the rescue of Charlotte & Alexa. Last week as Rhea & Iyo faced Charlotte & Alexa to decide who will get a shot at the titles, Asuka & Kairi attacked all of them to have the match end on a disqualification.

This week, Iyo went one on one with Kairi in a match where Asuka pulled the rope down to cause Iyo to fall out of the ring as she ran to her and Kairi then hit her with a clothesline from the apron. Iyo eventually made a comeback with a German Suplex on the apron and a Moonsault on the floor. As Iyo went for the Over the Moonsault, Asuka pulled her leg down onto the top rope. Having enough of her interference, Rhea hit Asuka with a SuperKick outside the ring and threw her over the timekeeperâ€s area. Kairi attempted to stomp on Iyo as she hung from the top rope, but Iyo hit her with a Hurricanrana and followed that with the Over the Moonsault to pick up the win.

Analysis:

After Rhea & Iyoâ€s match was thrown out last week due to Asuka & Kairi getting involved, it was gratifying to see them get a measure of revenge here. This was a solid match that gave us a preview of the many great matches weâ€ll likely see involving the Womenâ€s Tag Team Division going into next year. As great as she always was, itâ€s incredible to see how popular Iyo has become with the audience. While the partnership with Rhea has helped, she has a real connection with the audience now that she didnâ€t really have up until this year. From the win she got here, it feels like her along with Rhea are going to get the next shot at the titles.

Considering the long feud between both teams and how popular Rhea & Iyo are as a team; this is a match that has to happen again soon. While the segment that ended last weekâ€s show displayed how stacked the division is, this match feels like the biggest one they can do. With the Raw on January 5 being a big show, that would be the right place for this match to happen. As thatâ€s still a month away, Rhea & Iyo could even win a Number One Contenderâ€s match to beforehand to set it up. Even though the belts feel like they would be a good fit for any of the teams gunning for them, it would be the biggest let down if Rhea & Iyo donâ€t end up getting them with how popular they are as a team.

Grade: B

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

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Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Latest developments:

At Survivor Series, Womenâ€s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer successfully defended her title with a win over Nikki Bella. On the same night, Liv Morgan returned after a five-month absence to help Dominik Mysterio regain the Intercontinental Championship. Last week, Liv confronted Vaquer backstage to let her know she was coming for her title. Later that night, Liv along with Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez attacked Lyra Valkyria, Bayley, Charlotte, & Alexa Bliss. As Perez handed one of the Womenâ€s Tag Titles to Liv, Liv handed it back to her and raised Perez & Raquelâ€s hands up as they held up the titles.

This week, Vaquer came out to cut a promo before she was interrupted by Nikki.Nikki said that the two of them werenâ€t done and demanded a rematch. As Nikki stood on the apron, Raquel Rodriguez pulled her down and long darted her into the post. Raquel told Vaquer to the name the time and place as sheâ€ll be there to kick her ass and take her title. While later backstage Liv asked Raquel why she didnâ€t run what she was going to do by her first, Raquel said she didnâ€t know that she had to as Liv responded by saying it was fine and acted supportive.

Analysis:

While it looked like Liv was going to be coming for Vaquerâ€s title, it now looks like Raquelâ€s going to get a shot at it first. Having her attack Nikki and then challenge Vaquer herself was a huge relief as seeing Nikki get another title match after she just lost one wouldnâ€t have made any sense. Raquel is also someone whose improved a lot throughout the year and having her face Vaquer again is a spot sheâ€s deserving of. More than her challenging for the title, what stood out most from this was the interaction Raquel had with Liv after.

While Liv played it off like she wasnâ€t mad about Raquel jumping ahead of her in line, this was a clear first sign of trouble in their relationship. Although something like this was inevitable at some point, it was surprising to see it happen already. As Liv has established herself as the leader of Judgment Day, itâ€s only a matter of time before some of her actions come at the groupâ€s expense. Thereâ€s even a chance that she could end up “accidentally†costing Raquel the title and things between them will escalate further from there. Despite how nice and supportive sheâ€s been acting towards everyone in the group now, thereâ€s no way that sheâ€s going to allow Raquel or Perez to get the title before her.

Grade: B

L.A. Knight vs. Logan Paul

Latest developments:

After being slapping in the face last week by Rey Mysterio, Logan Paul was encouraged by Paul Heyman to get revenge on him this week. As Rey was on his way to the ring for a match with Finn Balor, Paul attacked him from behind. Rey fought back as Paul was about to hit him with brass knuckles but as he was setting up Paul for a 619, the mystery man in the hoodie from Survivor Series hit him with a SuperKick and Curb Stomp before disappearing. Paul then hit Rey with a pair of brass knuckles and as Paul stood over him, L.A. Knight came to the ring to chase him off. Knight challenged Paul to a make for later in the night, and it was made official.

In the showâ€s main event as Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed stood at ringside, Paul had the advantage into Knight mounted a comeback that included a Leaping Elbow. Reed hit Knight with a head butt while the referee was distracted, but the referee kicked him along with Breakker out of ringside as he noticed them both standing on the apron. Knight dropkicked Paul through the second rope and as he was pumbling him, the mystery man in the black hoodie hit him with a Curb Stomp on the announce table. Paul picked up the win with a Frog Splash and after the match, Breakker hit Knight with a Spear and Reed followed that with two Tsunamiâ€s. As they saw Knight being helped to the back on the titantron, Reed & Paul went backstage to put him through a table and Reed hit him with another Tsunami from a platform on top of a car.

Analysis:

This was one hell of a way to write Knight off TV going into the holidays. With The Vision having new members and Breakker on the verge of becoming champion, a beat down like this to establish their dominance was necessary. With the mystery man in the black hoodie appearing again this week, it looks like his identity isnâ€t going to be revealed until the January 5 Raw. In addition to that considering how brutal this beating was, we probably wonâ€t see Knight again until the Royal Rumble. Once he returns, he has a ready-made feud with Reed waiting for him that has a lot of potential.

After Knight lost to Gunther last week, lost to Paul here, and took the beating that he did after, many of his fans are likely upset with the way heâ€s been treated throughout this year. While admittedly thereâ€s some legitimacy to those concerns, heâ€s maintained his popularity and is still in the main event mix. What happened here could potentially be setting up something big for him when he returns. If he returns and ends up in the same place and doing the same thing that heâ€s been for the last year, then itâ€ll time to worry about his future. In the meantime, weâ€re likely to see many beats downs like the one we saw here as this revamped version of The Vision continues to run rough shot.

Grade: B+

Bron Breakker vs. C.M. Punk

Latest developments:

On the November 1 Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event, C.M. Punk won the vacated World Heavyweight Championship as he defeated Jey Uso. At Survivor Series, Bron Breakker defeated Punk following outside interference from a mystery man in a black hoodie and a Spear from Breakker to win WarGames for his team. Last week, Paul Heyman revealed that Breakker will challenge Punk for the title on the January 5 Raw. In a fiery promo, Breakker said heâ€s going to take Punkâ€s career and every good memory his fans have of him. He ended the promo by saying Punk is going to realize after their match that heâ€s the real best in the world as he aggressively dropped the mic.

After Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, & Logan Paul beat down LA Knight this week, they all stayed in the ring as Breakker cut another promo on Punk. He asked where Punk is and not where he is physically, but where the real Punk is. Breakker said he doesnâ€t buy the new nice guy version of him and how despite being straight edge, he looks like the biggest crack head anyoneâ€s ever seen. He went on to say he doesnâ€t want to face this version of Punk; he wants to face the old Punk from 2011-2013 that he looked up to when he was younger. He then got down on his hands and knees and pleaded with Punk to bring the old version of him back so that he could say that he beat him. He said if that Punk doesnâ€t show up, heâ€s going to destroy him, take his title, and his wife too. He ended the promo by saying on January 5, itâ€s going to be Spear 1-2-3 repeatedly.

Analysis:

In many ways, this was even better than Breakkerâ€s promo last week. What added to it was Breakker talking about how he used to look up to Punk when he was a kid and how he needs the old Punk to show up to their match on January 5. The unexpected line that pushed this over the top was when he said he was going to take everything from Punk, including his wife. Lines like that one are something we donâ€t hear people say that often in WWE anymore, but it really added to the promo here. While many have doubted whether or not Breakker can cut a long promo, he proved for the second straight week that he can.

From how this year is ending for him, itâ€s clear that Breakker is going to be the centerpiece of the show in 2026. Whether he wins the title on January 5 or his title win is held off until the Royal Rumble, Breakkerâ€s rise to the top is inevitable. With Punk missing the show for the second straight week, itâ€s starting to feel like we wonâ€t see him until the Raw before he and Breakker are set to face each other. As Breakkerâ€s done a good job selling this match on his own so far, waiting until then for Punk to come back wonâ€t really hurt the build up. Even though thereâ€s still another three and a half weeks until the match happens, itâ€s already feeling like one of the biggest title matches on Raw in years.

Grade: B+

A.J. Styles & Dragon Lee vs. War Raiders

Latest developments:

With New Day sitting at ringside for commentary, A.J. Styles & Dragon Lee defended their World Tag Team Titles against the former champions, the War Raiders. Lee attempted to jump onto Eric on the apron, but Eric pushed him into Ivarâ€s arms as he hit Lee with a Powerslam on the floor. Styles later hit a Hurricanrana from the top rope on Ivar onto Eric and that led to Styles finishing Ivar with a Phenomenal Forearm to retain the titles. The New Day confronted Styles & Lee after the match, and they were soon joined by Jimmy & Jey Uso. The Usos announced that they were now back in the Tag Team Division, then knocked down New Day as they tried to attack them and faced off with Styles & Lee as they held up the titles.

Analysis:

The match itself was good, but it was meaningless compared to what happened after. Having the Usos back together is a much-needed boost for the Tag Team Division that will result in some great matches going forward. As great as itâ€ll be to see them go against New Day for old time’s sake and challenge Styles & Lee for the titles, it doesnâ€t feel like Jimmy & Jey are destined to be back together long term. After Jey crashed out the way he did last week, it would be odd for that all to be for nothing. Even though things looked great between them here, this story will likely end with the two of them failing to win the titles and Jey turning on Jimmy from there.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez

Latest developments:

After she along with Bayley were attacked by Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, & Roxane Perez last week, Lyra Valkyria had Bayley in her corner this week as she went one on one with Perez (who had Liv in her corner). Perez threw Lyraâ€s shoulder into the steel steps and worked over it until Lyra rebounded with several strikes and a drop kick attempt through the second rope. Lyra went for the Nightwing as Liv distracted the referee, but Bayley pulled Liv down as Perez then dropkicked Bayley through the second rope. Lyra had Perez rolled up until she kicked out and as Lyra fell into the second rope, she was hit in the face by Livâ€s boot. Perez capitalized on this and hit the Pop Rocks onto Lyra to pick up the win.

Analysis:

This match was okay, but it was clear that the finish didnâ€t go as planned. Instead of Liv hitting Lyra, Lyra just ran into her boot and then they went into the finish right after. Despite that, this accomplished what it needed to as it gave Perez a credible win to give more momentum to Judgment Day. Now that Raquel Rodriguez is going after the Womenâ€s World Title, it looks like Liv & Perez are going to go after the Womenâ€s Tag Titles instead of the other way around. From how this match went, itâ€ll likely result in Liv along with Perez facing Lyra & Bayley as early as next week.

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WWE SmackDown took place on December 5 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The show was packed with big matches, surprises, and build-up for Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event: John Cenaâ€s final match.

On todayâ€s episode of SmackDown, we saw Drew McIntyre show up while suspended, and Cody Rhodes attacked him. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss set their sights on the Womenâ€s Tag Titles. Cody learned heâ€ll face the winner of Ricky Saints vs Oba Femi at Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event. Solo Sikoa called out the Wyatt Sicks, leading to a big brawl. Nick Aldis also announced Bayley vs Sol Ruca for Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event and Gunther facing Jey Uso in the Last Time Is Now Tournament Finals.

WWE SmackDown Highlights

WWE SmackDown Opening Segment

WWE SmackDown began with Drew McIntyre reaching the arena, but Nick Aldis blocked him. Drew says his suspension is done, but Nick says it isnâ€t. Security orders Drew to leave. Cody Rhodes suddenly attacks Drew with his car before security pulls them apart.

Cody goes to the ring and tells Nick Aldis to reinstate Drew. He says Drew crossed a line by coming to his house. Cody calls him a cockroach and says their fight must happen in a WWE ring. He asks Aldis to end the suspension.

Ilja Dragunov vs Carmelo Hayes – US Title

Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes exchanged early strikes until Ilja gained control with boots, chops, and knee attacks, especially after Hayes hurt his knee falling to the floor. Ilja kept targeting the injury with suplexes, strikes, and pressure holds, but Hayes rallied with a springboard clothesline, La Mistica, and a slingshot DDT.

As Hayes went to the top rope, Tommaso Ciampa interfered behind the refereeâ€s back and crotched him, allowing Ilja to immediately hit Torpedo Moscow, followed by the H-Bomb to retain the United States Championship. After the match, Ilja saw the replay showing Ciampaâ€s interference and was visibly upset.

Alexa Bliss vs Kairi Sane

Alexa Bliss and Kairi Sane wrestle evenly at the start until Sane mocks Alexa and takes control with help from Asuka, who trips Alexa on the apron. As Alexa goes for Sister Abigail, Asuka distracts her, but Saneâ€s rollup fails. Charlotte kicks Asuka on the floor, and Alexa counters Saneâ€s Insane Elbow in mid-air, hitting Sister Abigail for the win. After the match, Lash Legend and Nia Jax attack Alexa and Charlotte, taking them down until Asuka steps in. Nia overpowers everyone, but Asuka manages to pull Sane to safety before Nia can hit the AnNIAlator.

Jade Cargill vs Alba Fyre – Womenâ€s Championship

Alba Fyre jumps ahead after Chelsea Green distracts Jade, hitting a dropkick, headscissors, and hard kicks. Jade blocks a tornado DDT, but Alba keeps control with strikes and a choke on the ropes, helped by Green slapping Jade from outside. Kiana James and Giulia arrive, and Giulia drops Chelsea with a punch. The distraction pulls Albaâ€s focus, and Jade capitalizes with a spinebuster, a bicycle kick, and Jade to retain the Womenâ€s Championship.

Solo Sikoa Confronts the Wyatts

Solo Sikoa enters with his group and says he kept his promise by removing Sami Zayn. He calls out Uncle Howdy, claiming the Wyatts have something that belongs to his bloodline. Solo declares the ring and the show are his, warns that sneak attacks wonâ€t work on him, and vows to take everything tied to the Wyatt legacy. He ends by saying he will strip Howdy of the Wyatt name and tells him to “Bo-lieve.â€

The lights suddenly go out after his group leaves. When they return, the Wyatts surround the ring, and Uncle Howdy stands face-to-face with Solo. A huge fight breaks out between both factions. Erick Rowan clears the ring until he meets Talla Tonga, and the two trade heavy strikes before Rowan kicks Talla out of the ring, standing tall.

GUNTHER vs LA Knight – Tournament Final

Gunther started the match with disrespect, but LA Knight fires back and controls the early fight with strikes and slams around the announce table. Gunther then changed the pace of the match and started to deliver heavy chops, a backdrop driver on the apron, and repeated attacks to Knightâ€s neck and back. After all this, Knight tried to find some momentum and delivered a flying clothesline, a neckbreaker, a Death Valley Driver, and a Burning Hammer, pushing Gunther to the edge.

They trade big shots, including clotheslines that drop both men, before Knight lands a DDT and the Catchphrase Elbow for a near fall. Knight finally hits the BFT, but Gunther saves himself with a foot on the rope. Gunther traps Knight in a sleeper with elbows, then cranks his neck with a brutal cravat hold. Knight canâ€t escape and taps out, giving Gunther the tournament win as the show fades out.

FAQs

Q. Who is the current United States Champion?

A. Ilja Dragunov retained the United States Championship by defeating Carmelo Hayes

Q. Who won the Last Time Is Now Tournament Final?

A. Gunther defeated LA Knight in the tournament final to claim victory.

Q. When is Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event?

A. Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event will take place on December 13, 2025.

Q. Who will face John Cena in his final match?

A. Gunther will face John Cena in his final match at Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event.

Get the Latest WWE News at IceCric.News and Follow for Live Updates – Facebook &  Instagram.

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

WWE RAW RESULTS
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
BOSTON, MASS. AT TD GARDEN ARENA
STREAMED LIVE ON NETFLIX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia

Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 15,766 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 16,252. The arena has a capacity of 21,000 spectators when configured for concerts.

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[HOUR ONE]

-They opened with an aerial view of Downtown Boston as Joe Tessitore introduced the show. He said they are about to begin the Last Time Is Now Tournament. They showed Shinsuke Nakamura walking backstage, then Damien Priest, the Kabuki Warriors, and Stephanie Vaquer & Nikki Bella. Tesitore said they’d address the Logan Paul-C.M. Punk incident last week. Then they showed a sign on a road that said “Entering West Newbury” with a scene of the town Cena was raised in. A loud “Cena!” chant broke out.

They cut to the crowd in the arena as Tessitore touted the sellout. Triple H stood mid-ring and his music faded. Levesque said they all live in a magical time and a time when everyone has an opinion, especially when it comes to this business, and few agree on much. He said that includes opinions on who the greatest of all time is. He said you can measure it a lot of ways. He listed these criteria:

In-ring performance

• Charisma
• The ability to tear someone upon the microphone
• The ability to do p.r.
• The ability to be a box office attraction

“The categories are endless, but the truth is they are all subjective,” he said. He said he can see it from a lot of sides – as a fan, a talent, a performer, a businessman, as a promoter. I can see all sides of what it takes to be considered great in this.” He said tonight might be one of those nights where everyone in the arena can agree on one thing. He said he can look it “as maybe the most objective person there is” (huh?), he comes up with one name. He said this (mystery) person gave it his all and wanted to see it elevated to the biggest form of entertainment on the planet possible. He said this person “when I look at it objectively” is the single greatest asset this business has ever seen. He said he is “without a about, the greatest of all time.” He then said it was his honor to bring him out for all of them. He introduced (I can’t wait – who is this person?!)… John Cena.

(Keller’s Analysis: Shouldn’t. they include something like “winning matches” and “winning titles” as the primary criteria of who is the greatest ever? In the course of an actual pro wrestling TV show, it’s truly okay to pretend pro wrestling matches are real and that winning is what everyone is primarily aiming for. Levesque isn’t alone in fearing backlash if he actually talks about the storyline criteria of being someone who won matches and won titles. When he laments everyone having an opinion, it gives an impression that he takes offense to criticism of his decisions and actions rather than just being secure in his decisions and not letting criticism of them get to him.)

Cena came out and said what happens in WWE is a team effort and the fans are part of it. He said his goal is to leave the business better than he found it and do his best to pay back all the opportunities to showcase himself in front of WWE audiences. He thanked fans for putting up with him over the years. He said now WWE Superstars will have to earn the spot as his final opponent. He said he is putting up a fight so they can’t brag about beating him. He said Dec. 13 will be a night to close a chapter, but it’ll be a night of opportunity. He said it will be a night where “main WWE roster Superstars” hold exhibitions for the brightest of what NXT has to offer the business.” He said SNME is about closing a chapter, but paving the road ahead.

He said he selfishly wanted go to Boston one last time. His voice cracked a bit. He talked about looking up at the banners and feeling the greatness in the arena and seeing fans filled with joy. Dominik Mysterio interrupted. He walked up to Levesque in the ring and spoke in Spanish. He said he heard them talking about the future. Fans chanted, “Shut the f— up!” He talked himself up and asked “Hunter” what he was going to do about what happened last week. He said he is the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, and his celebration was interrupted “by some dead beat.” He said, “I interrupt old man celebrations.” He said whatever was going on there wasn’t as important as him.

Cena cut in and said he wanted to start again. He welcomed Dom to Boston. Dom said it’s not about him or Boston. He told Cena to go sit in the corner and “speak when you’re spoken to or I’ll put you down.” Cena smiled and nodded. Fans chanted, “You f—ed up!” Cena said, “Fine speech.” He said in his anger, he forgot who he was talking to and where he is. He said any other night in any other city, he’d give him a chance, but tonight he doesn’t have a chance. “Tonight I am invincible!” he said. He told Dom to choose his words carefully. He said if he picks a fight with him tonight, he will lose. “Wrong time, wrong place, wrong guy,” Cena said. He said he’d do him a favor out of the respect he has for his father. “Right now, I’m going to let you turn around and walk your ass back through that curtain,” Cena said.

Dom smiled and laughed. He said he’ll need more than magic to touch him. He said he hasn’t reached his peak yet, but he’s better than he’s ever been in his prime. He said in any era, he would have whooped his ass. Fans chanted, “You f—ed up!”

Levesque said he agrees with the fans. He said Dom said anytime, any place, any era. He said it seems like a pretty good era, a good place, and one hell of a time. He said if it’s okay with Cena, Dom will defend his IC Title tonight. Dom got but-eyed. Fans cheered. “Get me a referee!” Levesque said. “And let’s get to work.” Cena called for the ref. Tessitore excitedly said, “This is happening!”

(Keller’s Analysis: I’ve been pushing for this match to happen, but worried it wouldn’t get wedged into Cena’s match schedule with the plans they had. This is tremendous that they’re making sure it happens. It’s good for Dom to have this moment, and Dom is a great heel foe for Cena in his hometown. This also removes concern Cena might have about fans siding with Dom over him since this is in Boston.) [c]

(1) DOMINIK MYSTERIO vs. JOHN CENA – Intercontinental Title match

The bell rang about 25 minutes into the hour. Tessitore noted Dom jump-started the match during the formal ring introductions. Dom had Cena down in the corner as they returned from the break with the match in progress. Wade Barrett said he was flabbergasted this match was happening. Tessitore said this is Cena’s last chance to become a Grand Slam Champion. Dom rolled to ringside when Cena made a comeback. He walked down the aisle. Cena chased him down and threw him. to ringside. Dom reverse-whipped Cena into the ringside steps. Dom stood on the steps and flexed his arms. Fans booed and then chanted, “Let’s go Cena!”

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Advertised Matches & Appearances

• Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez – WWE Womenâ€s World Championship match
• Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. The Kabuki Warriors – WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship match
• Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus – Last Time is Now Tournament First Round match
• Rusev vs. Damian Priest – Last Time is Now Tournament First Round match
• John Cena to kick off show
• C.M. Punk to appear

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

WWE RAW RESULTS
NOVEMBER 3, 2025
RIO RANCHO, N.M. AT RIO RANCHO EVENT CENTER
STREAMED LIVE ON NETFLIX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia

Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 6,378 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 6,501. The arena has a capacity of 7,500 spectators when configured for concerts.

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

PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch contributor Brandon LeClair 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. Weâ€ll read your emails live during the post-show.

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[HOUR ONE]

-Joe Tessitore introduced the show, noting it was the first time Raw has been in New Mexico as they showed aerial shots of the area and then the arena.

-A two minute video package aired on C.M. Punk vs. Jey Uso, the build and the match.

-They cut backstage to Punk walking backstage with the championship belt over his shoulder, smiling. Then the camera followed him making his way onto the entrance stage to his entrance theme. Tessitore said it’s not just that Punk did it, it’s how he did it. Barrett called it an epic performance and he said it was “the culmination of years in the wilderness followed by years of toil, grind, and bitter disappointment to finally the ultimate glory.” He said he is the best in the world and now has the hardware to prove it.

(Keller’s Analysis: This wording is wonderful, but also a bit over-the-top. He won this title a few months ago – albeit briefly – and over a decade ago also wore the top WWE singles title. And the match itself was constructed to be an epic battle, but it wasn’t athletically exceptional in execution.)

Punk entered the ring and asked, “Is it great to be champ in the great state of New Mexico or what?” He asked Rio Rancho how they were fceling tonight. He said it didn’t happen alone because there is a litany of people who helped. Fans chanted “You deserve it!” He said he’d cover the difference between “deserved” and “earned” in a second. He said he would keep his speech to the point. He thanked his wife and noted she was smart and mean when she needs to be with “an ass that don’t quit.” He thanked her for being by his side in the bad times so they can be together with their chests puffed out in the good times.

He said the fans are no. 2. He said some call them the WWE Universe, but he sees them as C.M. Punk fans. He said without them cheering him, he wouldn’t be there. A fan in the front row held up a sign that said “Jey is better.” Fans chanted “C.M. Punk!” Punk thanked Jey for the tough match and hard fight. He said he truly is main event. He said “Yeet.” He said he hoped they could still be friends, but he understands if that can’t be the case. He said when he came back, he said he wasn’t there to make friends, but rather it was to make money and be a champion. Fans loudly chanted, “C.M. Punk!” again.

Punk said he isn’t sure how much time he has left. He said he beat Gunther, but didn’t hold the title for long (literally less than six minutes). He said going forward,. he needs to hold onto the “strap” as tightly as he could. He said there is no snake in the grass this time, lurking to cash in his Money in the Bank. He swung the belt over his head. “Seth, that was for you,” he said. He wished him a speedy recovery, but said if he gets in his way, he’ll put him back on the couch. He said he now has the crown, and now he is a target. He said he knows there is a locker room of wrestlers who want to prove he isn’t who he says he is. He said on any given day, he can lose the title. He said Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed are among those coming for his gold.

He said there are a lot of people he wants to punch in the face, and Reed, Breakker, and Paul Heyman are three of them. He said he wants to test himself against the best including A.J. Styles. He said Styles has earned the right to step up and get a title shot. He said Dominik Mysterio has two belts, but hasn’t earned either of them. He said he files him in the category of someone he wants to punch in the face. He said the locker room is full of killers. He said he has to be at his best against J.D. McDonagh, whom he described as “an exceptional professional wrestler.” He mentioned Finn Balor, Sheamus, and John Cena also.

Regarding Cena, he said he knows he is busy and doesn’t have long, but he’s there for a good time, so if he wants to be an 18 time champion, come get some. He said anybody who has earned it and deserves it can get in line “because the champ is here.” He was interrupted by Logan Paul’s music.

Logan marched out. Punk said, “Anybody but you.” He said he didn’t want anything to do with him. He said blue is his color, so he should go to Smackdown. He said Ilja Dragunov is having an open challenge and that is more his lane so that’s what he should do. Logan enteed. Fans booed. Logan said, “He said anyone.” He said Punk is supposed to be a man of his word. He compared himself to an expensive car and Punk to a high-mileage Honda Civic. He said he beat Styles at WrestleMania. He said if anyone has earned a shot at his title, it’s him. Punk winced like this was just painful to contemplate.

Heyman walked out with Reed and Breakker. He introduced himself. He said he sees a king with a crowd, but also a bitch without an owner. He said that was meant for Logan. He said Reed is at the front of the line because he pinned Roman Reigns. He said Breakker is at the front of the line because he’s the future of WrestleMania. He said not only is Logan not at the front of the line or even the back of the line, but he’s in the line to get in the line. He said Punk has been champion for just two days. He said, “I’m not the one who lost our title,” Heyman said. “Your move.”

Fans chanted “C.M. Punk!” as Logan and Punk soaked up Heyman’s words. Heyman told Logan he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time, so “get to stepping – now!” Logan said, “News flash, you snooze, you lose. I was here first. If you wanted the spot, you should have put a little pep in the step and got some hustle, Mr. Hustle.”

Breakker took a step forward and smiled and shook his head. Fans barked. He said the reality is that Heyman bought everyone two weeks to live since they have had to be patient after putting Seth Rollins in the dirt. He said Punk had his moment, but he’s not waiting anymore. He said he’s coming for what belongs to him and there is nothing else standing in his way other than a man holding onto his championship keeping it warm for him “and a dumbass YouTuber who thinks he’s tough.” He said they should get out of his ring or he will whip them like a dog.

Punk told Logan a fight is about to start, so he should either get ready to fight with him or get the hell out of his ring. Logan strutted his way out of the ring. Fans booed. He tried to walk to the back, but Reed and then Breakker blocked him. Breakker shoved Logan down. Some fans cheered. Breakker and Reed entered the ring. Punk went after Breakker and Reed, but was outnumbered. They showed Logan at ringside who seemed to be having a difficult moment deciding what to do. He charged into the ring and went after Reed and Breakker. Barrett said that might be the worst move of his life. Breakker and Reed beat up Logan. Reed landed a Tsunami. Punk entered with a chair. Breakker left and Punk then bashed Reed across his back. Punk yelled down at Reed, Breakker, and Heyman as fans chanted his name and then his music played.

(Keller’s Analysis: Well, that was a twist. They pretty much just turned Logan babyface. The fans weren’t ready to embrace him, but he showed some character by not walking out on Punk. Punk was tremendous here on the mic. Heyman and Breakker were really good in their roles, too. Punk listing a variety of potential opponents he is willing and eager to wrestle was fun, but I didn’t have McDonagh on my list of people I thought he’d mention.)

-Stephanie Vaquer made her entrance. Then Nikki Bella joined her in the aisle. [c]

(1) NIKKI BELLA & STEPHANIE VAQUER vs. ROXANNE PEREZ & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ

The bell rang 33 minutes into the hour. Nikki opened against Perez. A frustrated Perez tagged out to Raquel. Vaquer tagged in and took over against Perez a minute later. Raquel pulled Perez out of the ring as Vaquer set up a Devil’s Kiss. Vaquer and Bella leaped off the ring apron onto Perez and Raquel at ringside. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]

Vaquer and Raquel battled for a while after the break. Vaquer landed a top rope crossbody for a two count. Perez tagged in. Vaquer gave her a Devil’s Kiss. Nikki then gave Perez a Rack Attack 2.0. Raquel was late with the break-up, yanking Nikki by her leg off of Perez a second later. Vaquer head scissored Raquel over the top rope and then held her grip and set up a Devil’s Kiss on the ring apron. Raquel powered Vaquer up and slammed her onto the ring apron. Nikki sat down on Perez’s shoudlers, but Raquel punched Nikki as the ref was looking away. Perez then gave Nikki her Pop Rocks finisher for the win.

WINNERS: Perez & Rodriguez in 12:00.

Advertised Matches & Appearances

• A.J. Styles & Dragon Lee vs. Finn Balor & J.D. McDonagh – World Tag Team Championship match
• Stephanie Vaquer & Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez
• Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
• Penta vs. El Grande Americano
• C.M. Punk to appear

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Kairi Sane will return to her native Japan with gold around her waist, according to the ‘Pirate Princess’ herself. On Instagram, Sane shared some photos of WWE’s recent tour in Japan. In the caption, Sane shared what the experience meant to her.

“Thank you very very much for all who came. Recently, I’ve had a tough schedule and matches going on and my whole body has been covered in bruises, but anyway, I wanted to deliver the best performance to everyone who came to watch, and I gave it 1000% of my energy.”

Sane wasn’t just grateful for what had come, but is looking ahead to the future. While WWE has yet to confirm the next time the promotion will head to Japan, Sane is determined to return to her home as a champion.

“I’ll train harder and get stronger so I can make a triumphant return with the championship belt in my hand!”

Sane is already a two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, both reigns coming alongside Asuka. In 2017, Sane won the Mae Young Classic and is a former WWE NXT Women’s Champion. Despite these accolades, Sane is yet to hold singles gold on WWE’s main roster, a fact she plans on changing soon.

With WWE introducing women’s mid-card titles over the past 12 months, Sane has a greater chance than ever to achieve her goal. It remains to be seen if Kairi returns to Japan as a champion, but those currently holding gold should beware the Pirate Princess.

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Kairi Sane may be caught in WWEâ€s most toxic on-screen partnership right now, but behind the scenes, sheâ€s getting serious respect.

On October 15, 2025, WrestleVotes reportedthat multiple sources within WWE had high praise for Kairiâ€s recent performances—specifically pointing to her emotional backstage segments with Asuka and her hard-fought match against Rhea Ripley on RAW.

According to the report, there was “high praise following her match with Rhea Ripley on RAW this past Monday & from her recent backstage segments with Asuka.†The acknowledgment comes at a pivotal moment in Kairiâ€s WWE career, as her character continues to unravel.

That praise is well-earned. On the RAW following Crown Jewel 2025, Kairi stepped into the ring with Rhea Ripley after being publicly berated—and slapped—by Asuka backstage. The segment drew gasps from the live crowd in Perth and set the tone for what would become a dramatic, emotionally charged match.

Kairi even reintroduced her original entrance theme, “The Next Voyage†by CFO$, sparking a wave of nostalgia among fans who associate that theme with her most memorable WWE run. While Ripley ultimately scored the victory with a brutal Riptide, Kairi left it all in the ring—fighting back with stiff offense and showing a fiercer edge than fans have seen in years.

The aftermath of the match didnâ€t cool things down. Ripley attempted to slam Asuka through the announce table, prompting Kairi to interfere with a kendo stick—only to get planted with a devastating DDT through the desk herself.

Despite the losses, Kairiâ€s performances have reignited interest in her character, and backstage officials are taking notice. Whether this leads to a solo push or a dramatic split from Asuka and Damage CTRL remains to be seen, but itâ€s clear Kairi is once again proving her value in and out of the ring.

Do you think itâ€s time for WWE to pull the trigger on a strong Kairi Sane singles run? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

October 15, 2025 11:02 pm

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Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky beat Asuka and Kairi Sane in a tag team grudge match at WWE Crown Jewel in Ripley’s home country of Australia on Saturday.

Sky hit Sane with an Over The Moonsault to pick up the victory and get some revenge on her former friends in the process.

Shortly after returning from a lengthy injury absence this past summer, Asuka reunited with Sane to reform The Kabuki Warriors, and they began interacting with former Damage CTRL stablemate Sky as well.

However, at the same time, The Genius of the Sky had a blossoming friendship with Ripley, which developed out of the respect they gained for each other amid battles for the Women’s World Championship.

Asuka clearly started to become jealous of the relationship, leading her to warn the Australian to stay away from Sky on numerous occasions.

With tension building between them, Ripley and The Empress of Tomorrow ended up clashing in a singles match on the Sept. 22 episode of Raw.

After Ripley scored the victory, Asuka sprayed and blinded her with poison mist. The Empress and Sane then proceeded to launch a two-on-one attack against The Eradicator before Sky ran down to make the save.

Sky appealed to them to stop, and while Asuka initially hugged her, she subsequently betrayed her by hitting The Genius of the Sky with a spinning back fist.

One week later, Ripley tried to convince Sky to end her relationship with Asuka and Sane. Sky called them her family and left the ring, but The Kabuki Warriors then jumped the Aussie star.

Sky ran to the ring to put a stop to it, only for Asuka to mist her. The Empress and Sane then brutally attacked Iyo and Rhea, which led to Sky requesting a tag team match at Crown Jewel.

Although Asuka and Sane had the advantage in terms of experience as a team, Ripley and Sky rose to the occasion at Crown Jewel, and The Eradicator scored a big victory in front of her home fans.

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

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For years, Asuka, Iyo Sky, and Kairi Sane have been best friends both in and out of the ring. They had a lot of shared experience wrestling in Japan, being highly scouted before coming to wrestle for WWE.

Asuka and Sane have been a tag team called The Kabuki Warriors for several years now. They joined Sky alongside Bayley and Dakota Kai when Damage CTRL was an active faction.

After Bayley got kicked out and Kai got released, they decided to stick together. However, their friendship completely imploded due to Skyâ€s association with Rhea Ripley.

A few weeks ago on Monday Night Raw, Asuka turned on Sky due to her Ripley connection with Sane stuck in the middle. To get viewers caught up on the story, the WWE YouTube channel uploaded another WWE Playlist video about how things got to where they are. This video goes into detail about how things got so bad between seemingly inseparable friends.

This video chronicles how Sky and The Kabuki Warriors went from friends to enemies. The interesting thing about this story is that Asuka is the one whoâ€s angry, Sky wants to forgive Asuka, Ripley wants Sky to walk away from both of them, and Sane is stuck in the middle. Itâ€s not as simple as just Asuka and Sky hating each other. Sane and Ripley are very important to the story as well.

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

Check out the latest episode of “The Nicky’s Club” with Nick Barbati, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch†on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)

The story is woven throughout multiple matches and backstage segments. There have been consequential things happening in matches with Nikki Bella, Stephanie Vaquer, and others. Asuka and Sky havenâ€t had a one-on-one match yet or even a confrontation. The whole buildup has happened as the three have wrestled other women.

The matches are served as a way to drive the story forward, which is smart. Once they actually wrestle each other, the payoff is going to be well earned.

Overall, this was a great video showing how a great friendship crumbled in a short amount of time. In wrestling, there are always sudden turns and betrayals between friends. This type of video produced by WWE is a great way to show fans what happened in a straightforward way so they can fully understand the story.

Each week, Sky and Ripley got closer and closer with each other. That put an immense strain onto the friendship between Asuka and Sky. When Sky ran out to stop Asuka and Sane from beating down Ripley, Asuka finally snapped on her former friend. She had enough of someone she trusted for years helping someone whoâ€s been a rival.

Itâ€ll be interesting to see where Sane goes with all of this, as she is clearly stuck between obeying Asuka and helping Sky. With the go-home Raw and Crown Jewel coming up next week, the story between them and Ripley will certainly embark on its next compelling chapter.

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WWE/Netflix

The Kabuki Warriors have now officially turned their backs on IYO SKY. On Monday’s episode of “WWE Raw,” a loss to Rhea Ripley in the show’s main event officially sent Asuka over the edge, and after a brutal post-match attack on Ripley and an emerging SKY, Asuka and Kairi Sane left the building, concretely heels.

After weeks of aggressive words with Asuka, Ripley looked to settle her differences with the former WWE Women’s Champion in the ring. The two had a hard back and forth fight that brought out the best in Asuka’s submission game and pushed Ripley’s powerhouse abilities to their limit. In the match’s final moments, the wily Asuka pressured a ringside Sane to strike Ripley. Sane, while initially hesitant, ultimately swung at “The Eradicator,” just to have her fist caught. Any extension of mercy from Ripley to Sane was interrupted by Asuka, who took advantage of the distraction with a Hip Attack attempt. Ripley dodged, and Asuka’s blow sent Sane crashing to the floor. Ripley capitalized on the chaos with a flash-pin for the win, and while Ripley earned her victory on paper, she soon became subject to a violent beat-down.

Asuka wasted no time misting Ripley after the bell. While blue venom streaked down Ripley’s face, Sane finally succumbed to peer pressure, and began bludgeoning Ripley. SKY came to break up the beatdown, and for a moment, it seems that SKY had managed to reconcile with the irate Asuka. SKY’s embrace with her old friend, however, turned into her undoing, and Asuka mercilessly struck SKY with a Spinning Back Elbow. Sane flattened SKY with an Asuka-assisted Insane Elbow to end the show.

The turn comes after weeks of infighting between The Kabuki Warriors and SKY. Moments before the betrayal, Asuka criticized SKY for her recent Wrestlepalooza loss in a tense backstage segment.

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)… With Wrestlepalooza taking place this Saturday, Raw…