On September 22, 2025, WWE RAW aired live from Evansville, Indiana’s Ford Center, as the build toward the Crown Jewel event reached a fever pitch. The main event featured Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins exchanging sharp words in front of nearly 6,000 fans, setting the tone for their upcoming match for the inaugural Crown Jewel Championship. This confrontation ignited the WWE RAW Crown Jewel build with added tension and high stakes, underscoring the significance of their rivalry.
The Ford Center, configured especially for wrestling with a capacity of 7,125 seats, was buzzing with anticipation. Cody rode a wave of fan support, while Seth entered alongside Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed, and Bron Breaker, emphasizing the clout behind him. This segment thrust into view the personal and professional frictions that swirl between two top-tier athletes at the center of WWE’s narrative heading into Crown Jewel 2025.
Opening Segment Highlights the Growing Rivalry
The show commenced with a newly introduced “Then, Now, Forever, Together” WWE brand logo, followed by a highlight reel celebrating Wrestlepalooza and ESPN’s continued coverage of WWE. Joe Tessitore welcomed viewers and spotlighted key arrivals, including The Vision, Stephanie Vaquer, Bayley, and L.A. Knight. A tense moment unfolded backstage when L.A. Knight observed Rusev intimidating Dominik Mysterio, signaling ongoing storylines developing parallel to the main feud.
Cody Rhodes made a grand entrance, greeted by fans chanting his name loudly. He reminded the crowd about the stakes of his confrontation against Seth—fighting for the new Crown Jewel Championship ring. The dialogue quickly pivoted as Seth Rollins interrupted, flanked by his allies, bringing immediate attention to the brewing conflict. Notably, Becky Lynch was absent from Seth’s entourage, marking a distinct break from previous associations.
Cody and Seth Exchange Sharp Words with Deep Personal Stakes
The core of the evening’s drama focused on the intense verbal exchange between Cody and Seth. Seth reflected on their shared history since SummerSlam, emphasizing that Crown Jewel was circled on his calendar as a key moment. He boldly proclaimed both men as champions in their primes, declaring, “may the best man win.” Despite fans chanting C.M. Punk’s name in the background, Seth dismissed comparisons, insisting the spotlight was solely on him and Cody.
Seth challenged Cody’s sincerity, questioning whether a gift watch Cody once gave him was genuine or merely symbolic. He accused Cody of inconsistency—praising him publicly yet undermining him privately—and claimed leadership of the future with The Vision stable as his spearhead. Seth declared himself the “alpha,” staking his claim as the primary figure in their rivalry and WWE’s future.
In response, Cody acknowledged their complex relationship, citing the injury Seth inflicted on him at Hell in a Cell as a turning point in his career. He credited Seth with pushing him to new heights, including capturing the WWE Championship for his family. The conversation turned toward respect and self-reflection with Cody asking,
“What do you think of you?”
He stressed the high caliber of their competition and refused to engage in mudslinging. Instead, he questioned Seth’s reliance on his allies, challenging him to face their encounter on equal footing.
Cody also probed Seth about the terms of their upcoming match, highlighting that their previous three bouts were all one-on-one. Holding up his track record, Cody left the question of victory count unanswered as he walked away, intensifying the suspense for their confrontation at Crown Jewel.
Wrestling Experts React to the Main Event Segment
Ringside commentators Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett weighed in immediately following the heated exchange. Their analysis underscored the growth of the storyline, praising the segment for highlighting the egos and pride that fuel the animosity between two top WWE stars. They noted the way the rivalry was elevated without overemphasizing the significance of the Crown Jewel Championship ring itself, focusing instead on personal history and professional legitimacy.
Backstage Tensions Bubble Over in the Tag Team Division
Amid the main event buildup, the tag team dynamics between Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso also saw dramatic developments. Jimmy criticized their recent loss to Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker and sought a rematch from General Manager Adam Pearce. Pearce reminded him that Jey had already scheduled a match against L.A. Knight, sparking tension between the brothers. Jey placed blame partly on Knight and defended his focus on that rivalry, showing cracks in their alliance that could play out further on WWE programming.
Hard-Hitting No Disqualification Match Showcases Tag Team Violence
The New Day, consisting of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, teamed with Grayson Waller to face Penta and The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) in a No Disqualification match. The brutal encounter featured high-impact moves and a prolonged brawl starting even before the bell rang. Highlights included Xavier using a table to hammer Penta, Kofi’s aerial leg drop breaking a table, and Erik and Ivar unleashing punishing slams on Waller and the New Day.
One of the match’s most brutal moments was Penta delivering a Mexican Destroyer from the top rope to Waller onto the ring apron, prompting the referee to check on Waller’s condition due to its severity. Wade Barrett commented on the dangers of such moves, suggesting some fans want that specific tactic banned. Ultimately, Penta and The Viking Raiders secured victory in this intense 10-minute segment.
Emerging Rivalries and Alliances Develop Backstage
Dominik Mysterio, Rusev, and Finn Balor were featured in a tense backstage scene, emphasizing faction struggles. Despite Dom’s appeals, El Grande Americano was unavailable to support him, and J.D. McDonagh’s intentions seemed uncertain, even as he arranged a future match against Rusev with General Manager Adam Pearce. The Judgment Day’s involvement added to the layered intrigues unfolding behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Bayley pursued an unexpected partnership with Lyra Valkyria. After a somewhat fraught exchange where Lyra called Bayley an idiot, Bayley remained upbeat and convinced Lyra to stand by her side moving forward. Bayley’s upbeat support contrasts with the mounting pressures and conflicts developing elsewhere in WWE RAW, highlighting personal dynamics against the backdrop of brutal competition.
No take-backs! See you out there.
— Bayley
Significance and Future Implications for WWE Crown Jewel
The momentum generated on WWE RAW on September 22 profoundly impacts the Crown Jewel 2025 storylines. The escalating feud between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins commands attention, not only reflecting their personal history but also setting the stage for a potentially career-defining match for the brand-new Crown Jewel Championship. With alliances forming and tensions rising across both singles and tag team divisions, WWE fans can expect a complex, emotionally charged Crown Jewel event highlighted by these key rivalries.
The event’s developments also reveal strategic positioning by top figures, such as Paul Heyman backing Seth Rollins and the presence of The Vision faction signaling a shift toward a new era in WWE. The tension between the Uso brothers and evolving backstage politics add further layers to the unfolding storylines. Tag matches like the No Disqualification bout underscore the increasingly physical and dangerous style WWE performers are embracing as they raise the stakes leading into Crown Jewel.
As WWE prepares for Crown Jewel, the narrative focus on personal pride, legacy, and leadership battles ensures a high level of anticipation. With three weeks remaining, fans and insiders alike are closely watching every interaction and buildup segment, aware that the eventual climaxes will resonate deeply across WWE RAW’s broader storytelling canvas.
