World Wrestling Entertainment’s flagship show stopped off in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as they continue on the road to crown the 2025 King & Queen of the Ring
This week’s episode of RAW on Netflix was filled with the build-up to King of the Ring and the huge return of Bill Goldberg. As the promotion gets nearer and nearer to its next PLE, they were trimming the loose ends of the tournament as two new semi-finalists came out on top.
The show was a bit of a mish-mash, and it certainly had its moments where things lagged. However, it’s still hard to describe RAW on any level as ‘bad’. In recent months, even an episode that slips a notch is still worth viewing. This felt like one of those nights, as though the performers and production team were coasting through – except for a handful of moments here and there that moved the storyline along.
On a side note, Corey Graves sat in for Pat McAfee, reuniting with his old broadcast partner, Michael Cole. The banter back and forth between the two added to the show, even if it was just for short-term nostalgia’s sake. With that being stated, here are 3 Big Takeaways from this week’s episode of WWE RAW…
Lots of Ladies Action This Week
The women’s four-way dance to determine a Queen of the Ring semi-finalist included the likes of Asuka, Stephanie Vaquer, Raquel Rodriguez, and Ivy Nile. And let’s just say that things went a little long. It felt like the entire first hour of the show was dedicated to this encounter. It lasted through two full commercial breaks and was spread over three segments, with every performer pulling everything but the kitchen sink out.
Everyone hit their signature moves, but it was Asuka who came out on top in the end. Based on this win and some recent video packages, it appears WWE will try for the hundredth time to push the Japanese sensation. But more than likely, she will be pushed aside once the PLE is over.
Really nice, athletic match between these four, but they really went way too long. Even with all the fireworks, it was easy to take your attention off this bout. If you love wrestling action, then it’s the perfect way to lead off the show. But for those who want more depth, there was none of that here.
(ALSO – In the women’s division, Liv Morgan was forced out of action and forfeited to Kairi Sane. It was a legitimate injury and a setback for Morgan, who has battled through some physical adversity recently. Meanwhile, Becky Lynch and Bayley are reigniting an old rivalry, one that should see Bayley come out on top.)
Goldberg Returns to RAW to Challenge Gunther
It’s been long rumored that Gunther would eventually square off against WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg, and that finally came to fruition on Monday night. The Austrian star didn’t mince words when he demanded that his next opponent come to the ring.
Just then, Goldberg’s theme began to play, and the crowd roared. But the cheers weren’t coming from everywhere. Many fans online were already soured on the showdown before the terms were even laid out.
The pair will battle for Gunther’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the July 12 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Goldberg has been lobbying the promotion for one more match… one final ride off into the sunset.
He will get his wish; Gunther will likely retire the legend for good next month. And from the sounds of it, not many people will miss him. The Internet Wrestling Community has never been enchanted with the former WCW World Champion, and they mostly view this as self-serving and merely a vanity project for him — his way of having one final hoorah.
Main Event Madness
After what seemed like a lull in the third hour, the main event came at us fast and furious. Jey Uso, Rusev, Sheamus, and Bronson Reed. And with all due respect to the others, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Yeet Man came out on top. Despite losing his World title. Jey remains one of the most popular star in the company and has reached new heights as a character.
This one got way, WAY out of hand, with everyone from LA Knight, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, and Cody all getting involved. It was reminiscent of some of the old WCW Nitro episodes, where a ton of random people factor into the conclusion of the show.
In the end, the two men who will meet in the semifinals of the King of the Ring – Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso – were left behind to pay each other proper respect. Much like the rest of this show, the final segment had plenty of action, but was a bit all over the place. Even still, this week’s episode of RAW grades out as a B-
The Sidearmer 