WWE Raw is live from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, delivering key moments that set the stage for SummerSlam 2025. Tonight’s broadcast features Nikki Bella’s highly anticipated return to singles competition, a No. 1 Contender Gauntlet to name GUNTHER’s challenger for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and the debut appearance of Naomi as the new WWE Women’s World Champion. The focus remains squarely on the ongoing rivalries and title pursuits as the road to SummerSlam intensifies.
Naomi Opens the Show with a Powerful Statement
The show starts with the familiar WWE anthem before transitioning into a recap of the weekend’s action at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event and WWE Evolution 2025, culminating in Naomi’s Money in the Bank cash-in victory that earned her the Women’s World Championship. Naomi makes her entrance wrapped in caution tape and proudly wearing her new title, making an immediate impact in her Raw debut. She addresses the crowd and critics, dismissing expectations of her cash-in strategy and asserting her dominance over former allies Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
Naomi directly challenges those who underestimated her, asking,
“Who’s got the upper hand now, bitches?”
—Naomi, WWE Women’s World Champion
Her confident and brazen remarks signal a new era for the women’s division on Raw, warning her locker room rivals to be cautious around her as the reigning champion.
Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY Join the Confrontation
Shortly after Naomi’s introduction, Rhea Ripley enters with energy and passion, making clear she is not someone to be cautious or underestimated. Ripley names Naomi directly as a target following her goals from Evolution to defeat IYO SKY and reclaim the Women’s World Championship.
IYO SKY then appears, receiving an even larger crowd reaction, and insists with respect that Ripley “get in line,” emphasizing her own claim to the title she held before Naomi’s cash-in. This sets up a tense face-off between the three women, each staking their claim to SummerSlam glory.
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce intervenes to calm the tension and officially announces that at SummerSlam, the historic two-night event at MetLife Stadium, Naomi will defend her title against both Ripley and IYO SKY. Pearce praises the previous night’s match at Evolution as “absolute magic,” signaling the high stakes for the upcoming championship triple threat match.
Tonight’s Additional Matchups and Updates
Michael Cole and Corey Graves provide further details about tonight’s card, highlighting Nikki Bella’s return after seven years away from singles competition with a match against Chelsea Green. Fans eagerly anticipate seeing Bella’s first singles bout in nearly a decade.
Another key fight includes Lyra Valkyria facing Bayley in a two-out-of-three falls match, with the winner earning a shot at Becky Lynch’s Women’s Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam. These contests emphasize the fierce competition shaping the women’s divisions heading into the event.
Backstage: The Judgment Day Prepares for Battle
Behind the scenes, focus shifts to The Judgment Day clubhouse, where Finn Bálor holds the group’s championships and encourages solidarity among his teammates. Bálor officially returns the WWE Intercontinental Championship to Dominik Mysterio, who admits to feeling pressure from AJ Styles’ pursuit.
Bálor reassures Mysterio of his protection as long as a doctor’s note is presented and stresses the importance of supporting recent weekend winners Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. With a wary eye on upcoming threats like the Kabuki Warriors, Bálor instructs Mysterio to accompany the team to the ring, underlining the group’s readiness to display strength.
The Tag Team Championship is also passed to JD McDonagh, and Bálor nostalgically acknowledges Liv Morgan, indicating ongoing storylines within the faction.
Non-Title Tag Match Highlights Division Depth
Back in the ring, the Kabuki Warriors—Asuka and Kairi Sane—face off against Women’s Tag Team Champions Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez in a non-title match. This bout showcases the talent across WWE’s women’s tag team ranks and serves as a buildup for the larger narratives on tonight’s show.
The energy and anticipation are high as the show enters a commercial break preceding this contest, maintaining momentum for the night’s dynamic programming.
Significance of Tonight’s WWE Raw SummerSlam 2025 Highlights
Tonight’s episode of WWE Raw solidifies pivotal rivalries and championship paths ahead of SummerSlam 2025, reinforcing the event’s importance as WWE’s largest summer spectacle. Naomi’s confident arrival with the Women’s World Championship propels the women’s division into a new chapter, while Nikki Bella’s return adds veteran star power. The gauntlet to determine GUNTHER’s challenger heightens anticipation for the World Heavyweight Championship scene.
With SummerSlam set for a historic two-night run at MetLife Stadium, tonight’s matches and promos deepen the stakes, promising dramatic battles and title shifts. Fans watching in Birmingham and around the world are witnessing key moments shaping WWE’s championship landscape and longstanding rivalries.
