On the September 22, 2025 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, tensions flared as Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes intensified their rivalry ahead of the Crown Jewel event in Australia. The ongoing saga surrounding the Seth Rollins WWE QB1 debate gained new layers, with confrontations and alliances shaping the path toward their championship clash.
Summary of Key Matches and Outcomes on Monday Night Raw
The night featured several competitive matches that impacted WWE’s current landscape. Penta and The War Raiders secured a victory over The New Day and Grayson Waller by pinfall. Bayley defeated Roxanne Perez cleanly, while Rusev forced JD McDonagh to submit. Jey Uso managed to overcome LA Knight with a pin, and in the main event, Rhea Ripley bested Asuka by pinfall.
Major Developments and Storylines Unfolding During the Show
The episode began with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes returning to the ring, asserting his readiness to claim a second Crown Jewel Championship against World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Rollins responded by referencing their shared history, including their matches at WrestleMania 38 and WrestleMania XL, and challenged Rhodes’s position as the leading figure in WWE. He boasted that The Vision faction, often dismissed as his “goons,” represents the future and declared himself the alpha and quarterback of the organization. Paul Heyman then intervened to prevent physical escalation as Rhodes clashed briefly with The Vision.
Backstage, tension simmered between Jey Uso and his brother Jimmy following their recent loss to The Vision. With Jey’s new match scheduled against LA Knight, the siblings argued over blame and strategy, revealing fractures within the Usos. Jimmy expressed his frustration at missing a rematch opportunity, while Jey insisted that Knight needed to be overcome first.
Dominik Mysterio communicated his apprehension about facing Rusev one-on-one, prompting a discussion with Finn Balor and members of The Judgment Day. Rusev’s presence cast a shadow of fear over Mysterio, who sought the assistance of JD McDonagh to prepare for the challenge. Following encouragement from Roxanne Perez, Mysterio revealed his intended match with Rusev.
Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer made her debut appearance on Raw, addressing her recent victory over IYO SKY and paying tribute to her father for shaping her wrestling career. She pledged to continue breaking records and revealed she would defend her title at Crown Jewel against the winner of an upcoming match between Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax, and Jade Cargill. Adam Pearce officially confirmed this stipulation.
After her win against Asuka, Rhea Ripley was targeted with poison mist spit in her face by Asuka. An attempted alliance between Asuka and IYO SKY quickly unraveled as Asuka turned against SKY, attacking her with Kairi Sane‘s reluctant assistance. The attack culminated in a harsh beatdown on Ripley and SKY, highlighting a turn in Asuka’s character and deepening the women’s division conflict.
Building Momentum: Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins Set the Stage for Crown Jewel
The evolving rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins is establishing significant narrative depth ahead of their Crown Jewel encounter. Their history, marked by previous marquee matches dating back to WrestleMania 38, underpins their latest confrontation. Rollins’s keen emphasis on the nuances of their relationship and his role within WWE adds complexity beyond a simple championship matchup.
This storyline development marks a shift from Rhodes’ recent narrative arc against Drew McIntyre at Wrestlepalooza, injecting renewed focus on personal and professional dynamics. Rollins’s assertion that he is the true leader and “QB1” of WWE challenges Rhodes’s standing and promises a high-stakes contest in Australia, where both wrestlers seek to confirm their supremacy on the WWE stage.
The Unraveling of Jey Uso’s Championship Pursuit
Jey Uso’s trajectory is displaying signs of strain following the Usos’ loss to The Vision at Wrestlepalooza. His rivalry with LA Knight intensifies as both men vie for the World Heavyweight Championship. Tensions backstage reveal cracks in the Usos’ alliance as Jey pins the blame partly on Knight for their prior defeat.
Meanwhile, Jey’s focus on reclaiming championship glory appears to come at a cost to his relationships, reminiscent of the troubled path once walked by Roman Reigns. His emotional volatility and single-minded pursuit risk alienating allies and damaging his chances to regain the World Heavyweight Championship, often referred to by fans as “Big Gold 2.0.”
Looking Ahead: What This Means for WWE’s Future
As the road to Crown Jewel accelerates, the escalating tension between Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes will be a defining storyline that shapes WWE’s competitive hierarchy. Rollins’s challenge as the purported “QB1” of WWE injects a new dimension into their feud, suggesting the match will transcend a traditional title bout to become a battle of legacies and leadership within the company.
Similarly, the shifting alliances and conflicts involving Jey Uso, LA Knight, and The Vision faction promise to influence WWE’s championship landscape beyond Crown Jewel, particularly in the World Heavyweight division. The evolution of the women’s division, highlighted by Stephanie Vaquer’s emergence and Asuka’s heel turn, adds layered intrigue leading into the women’s matchups at upcoming events.
Overall, Monday Night Raw on September 22 set the stage for dramatic showdowns and character transformations, solidifying narratives that will captivate audiences and define WWE’s calendar through the end of the year.
“After their wins at SummerSlam, I had Crown Jewel circled on my calendar. What do you really think about me? Because I don’t care about what anyone else thinks.” – Seth Rollins, World Heavyweight Champion
“It’s complicated because Rollins has made some questionable choices recently, but he changed his life and his career, from our first match at WrestleMania 38 to helping me get the WWE Championship into my family at WrestleMania XL.” – Cody Rhodes, WWE Champion
“The Vision aren’t my goons, they’re the future, and I am at the top of that list. I’ll be his quarterback, and I’m the alpha.” – Seth Rollins, World Heavyweight Champion
“Jimmy tells Jey that their loss to The Vision was trash, and that he was going to get their rematch but Jey had already made a match with LA Knight.” – backstage segment narration
“I beat one of the best on the planet, IYO SKY, and I thank my father for teaching me so much. I will continue to make history and no one can stop me.” – Stephanie Vaquer, Women’s World Champion
“Asuka attacks IYO SKY, turning heel and forcing Kairi Sane to assist her. The two continue to attack as Sane cries, having to attack SKY and Ripley.” – match aftermath description
