WWE Raw took place on August 31, 2026, with the final of the World Heavyweight Championship Number One Contender’s Tournament taking centre stage as Penta faced Rey Fenix for the right to challenge Roman Reigns.
Last night’s episode of WWE Raw also featured Raquel Rodriguez defending the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Sol Ruca, Dragon Lee battling Ethan Page for an Intercontinental Championship opportunity and Je’Von Evans facing Dominik Mysterio.
Before the show officially began, The Bloodline arrived at the arena but were immediately attacked by OTM and Royce Keys. Keys used a car jack to smash the windshield of The Usos’ vehicle before OTM chokeslammed Jimmy Uso onto the trunk. Jacob Fatu then arrived as the situation escalated.
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Title Match: Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Sol Ruca
Sol Ruca looked to capture championship gold as she challenged Raquel Rodriguez for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship in the opening match.
Before the match could properly get underway, Jacob Fatu stormed into the ringside area and climbed onto the announce desk. Fatu called out Royce Keys and warned Keys, Lucien Price, and Bronco Nima before officials intervened and cut his microphone.
Once the bell rang, Rodriguez immediately used her power advantage to send Ruca into the corner and connect with a series of back elbows. Ruca responded by sending the champion into the top rope before clotheslining her to the outside and diving over the ropes to take her down.
Rodriguez regained control and caught Ruca attempting a crossbody, but the challenger escaped and connected with a springboard crossbody. Ruca later attempted a moonsault, only for Rodriguez to respond with a crossbody of her own on the outside.
Rodriguez looked to deliver a move from the apron after the break, but Ruca countered with a powerbomb. Roxanne Perez and Liv Morgan then appeared at ringside, but Ruca took both women out before turning her attention back to the champion.
Morgan eventually climbed onto the apron and distracted the referee. Lyra Valkyria then appeared and surprisingly helped Rodriguez get Ruca onto her shoulders as the challenger attempted to set up the Sol Snatcher.
The interference allowed Rodriguez to connect with the Texana Bomb and retain her championship.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Chad Gable Sets Up Intercontinental Title Number One Contender’s Match
Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable made his way to the ring and thanked the crowd before reflecting on his championship reign.
Gable said he initially thought winning the Intercontinental Championship would make him feel as though he had finally made it, but instead realised that capturing the title was only the beginning.
He said he now wants to define his legacy as champion and credited the Mexican people for helping him reach his current position.
Gable then revealed that he would defend the Intercontinental Championship on September 14 and invited Dragon Lee to the ring.
Lee joined Gable, with the champion describing him as one of his favourite talents on the roster. Gable revealed that Raw General Manager Adam Pearce had allowed him to choose his next challenger, but Ethan Page interrupted before he could finish.
Page insulted Lee and demanded that Gable face a “real challenger”. Gable responded by saying Page was on his list, although his name was near the bottom behind The Honky Tonk Man.
Lee then challenged Page to prove himself, prompting Gable to raise the stakes by declaring their match a Number One Contender’s bout.
WWE Intercontinental Title Number One Contender’s Match: Dragon Lee vs. Ethan Page
Dragon Lee and Ethan Page battled for the opportunity to challenge Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship.
Lee started quickly with a single-leg dropkick before Page responded with a powerslam and began using his strength to control the match.
Page sent Lee spine-first into the corner, but Lee recovered and connected with a dropkick before sending Page to the outside and wiping him out with a tope con hilo.
After the break, Page avoided an aerial attack and used the ring skirt to trip Lee before connecting with a double-underhook twisting neckbreaker.
Page later attempted to take advantage of Gable’s presence at ringside. With the referee distracted, Page exposed the top turnbuckle and sent Lee chest-first into it.
However, the referee noticed that the turnbuckle had been exposed and refused to count Page’s subsequent pinfall attempt.
That gave Lee enough time to recover and connect with Operation Dragon to secure the championship opportunity.
Winner: Dragon Lee
Backstage, Roman Reigns confronted Jacob Fatu and told him that Royce Keys was his problem before making his way towards the ring.
Roman Reigns And LA Knight Come Face-To-Face
World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns told Cleveland to acknowledge him before discussing the pressure that comes with being champion.
Reigns said everyone wants what he has and praised Penta and Rey Fenix for earning their opportunity through the Number One Contender’s Tournament.
He then turned his attention to Solo Sikoa, claiming Sikoa had thrown away his opportunity with The Bloodline because of LA Knight. Reigns said Knight might remind Sikoa of The Rock, but stressed that Knight was not family.
Knight interrupted and immediately fired back at the champion.
He accused Reigns of recycling old material and mocked his OTC nickname by claiming it stood for “one tremendous coward”. Knight suggested Reigns had spent the previous week at home recovering and reconsidering his decisions.
The broadcast then cut backstage, where Solo Sikoa was found down alongside several officials.
Knight immediately headed backstage to investigate, only for Reigns to attack him from behind.
A video package then aired promoting Lola Vice’s upcoming Raw debut.
Je’Von Evans vs. Dominik Mysterio
Je’Von Evans went one-on-one with Dominik Mysterio, who had JD McDonagh in his corner.
Evans started aggressively with a dropkick, but a distraction from McDonagh allowed Dominik to take control.
The momentum continued to swing between the two, with Evans using his speed and aerial offence to cause problems for Dominik.
McDonagh eventually pulled Dominik out of the ring before Evans could capitalise. Evans responded by striking McDonagh, but the Judgment Day member attacked Evans on the outside.
The referee immediately called for the disqualification.
Winner: Je’Von Evans via disqualification
Dominik and McDonagh continued attacking Evans after the bell until Joe Hendry’s music hit.
Hendry rushed to the ring and helped Evans clear Judgment Day from ringside. Adam Pearce then appeared and immediately made a tag team match between the four men official.
Joe Hendry & Je’Von Evans vs. Judgment Day
The action began before everyone could make it back into the ring, with Hendry and Evans attacking Judgment Day at the bottom of the entrance ramp.
Evans then launched himself over the barricade near the timekeeper’s area to take out Dominik and McDonagh.
Once the match settled down, Hendry connected with a neckbreaker and delayed vertical suplex on McDonagh before bringing Evans into the match.
Judgment Day isolated Evans, with Dominik and McDonagh exchanging tags and keeping Hendry away from his partner.
Evans eventually created an opening by taking McDonagh down from the top rope, allowing Hendry to receive the tag.
Hendry delivered a double Fallaway Slam to Dominik and McDonagh, but Judgment Day quickly regained control.
McDonagh sent Evans into the ring post on the outside before Dominik connected with a Frog Splash on Hendry inside the ring to secure the victory.
Winners: Judgment Day
Backstage, Stephanie Vaquer interrupted an interview with Becky Lynch and Jackie Redmond.
Vaquer questioned why Lynch had recently helped her. Lynch explained that her intention was to take out Judgment Day, adding that if she were going to help someone, she would rather eventually take the Women’s World Championship from someone like Vaquer than Liv Morgan.
Vaquer thanked Lynch but made it clear she didn’t need anyone’s assistance and told her to stay away.
WWE World Heavyweight Title Number One Contender’s Tournament Final: Penta vs. Rey Fenix
Penta and Rey Fenix met in the main event to determine who would challenge Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The two brothers immediately demonstrated how well they knew one another, exchanging chops and countering each other’s offence.
Fenix landed a hurricanrana before connecting with another from the top rope, but Penta responded with a dropkick to the midsection and followed with a dive over the top rope.
Fenix later connected with a Tornillo on the outside, while Penta intercepted another aerial attempt with a thrust kick.
The physicality increased as the match continued. Penta connected with a backstabber out of the corner, while Fenix countered an attempted Mexican Destroyer on the apron and landed a moonsault.
Penta responded with a sit-out powerbomb and later attempted a super Mexican Destroyer from the top rope. Fenix landed on his feet and looked for a Mexican Muscle Buster, but Penta escaped and delivered the Penta Driver for a near fall.
The action eventually spilled onto the announce desk.
Penta cleared the table before the two fought on top of it, with Penta delivering another Penta Driver that sent Fenix crashing through the desk.
Both men managed to beat the referee’s ten count and continued fighting inside the ring.
Fenix caught Penta with another hurricanrana, but Penta responded with a Mexican Destroyer and covered his brother to win the tournament.
Winner: Penta
Following the match, Penta helped Fenix back to his feet and raised his brother’s arm.
Roman Reigns then made his way to the ring and came face-to-face with his new challenger.
Reigns raised the World Heavyweight Championship as Penta responded with his Zero Miedo gesture, bringing Raw to a close with the championship rivals staring each other down ahead of their September 14 title match.
