LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 13, 2025 — WWE Raw electrified the KFC Yum! Center on May 12, 2025, with a series of high-stakes matches and intense confrontations, setting the stage for upcoming events like Saturday Night’s Main Event on May 24. The show, broadcast live on Netflix, featured standout performances from Jey Uso, CM Punk, Sami Zayn, and others, alongside pivotal developments in the women’s and tag team divisions.
The night opened with a heated segment involving CM Punk, Jey Uso, and Sami Zayn facing off against Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman. Punk addressed the Louisville crowd, expressing frustration over Heyman’s repeated betrayals, referencing a 2013 incident where Heyman attacked him with a ladder. “This isn’t the first time Paul Heyman stabbed me in the back,” Punk said. Heyman appeared on the ramp, flanked by Rollins and Breakker, prompting a brawl. Rollins accused Punk of gaslighting fans about Heyman’s loyalty, stating, “Heyman believed in Punk for years when no one else did.” Breakker attacked Punk, with Rollins joining in, but Zayn and Uso intervened with steel chairs, forcing the heels to retreat. This set up a tag team match for Saturday Night’s Main Event, pitting Punk and Zayn against Rollins and Breakker.
In the first match, Penta defeated Chad Gable, seeking retribution against the suspected El Grande Americano, who cost Penta a title shot at WWE Backlash. Gable targeted Penta’s ankle, but Penta countered with a pinning combination to escape an Ankle Lock. Near the corner, Penta landed a Mexican Destroyer to secure the victory after a competitive bout.
The Creed Brothers faced The War Raiders in a tag team match, with World Tag Team Champions The New Day on commentary. Julius Creed executed a superplex on Erik, followed by a moonsault from Brutus, but Erik kicked out. As The War Raiders gained momentum, Xavier Woods interfered, distracting the referee. This allowed The Creed Brothers to hit the Brutus Ball, winning the match. During a commercial break, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced a triple threat title match for the World Tag Team Championships, involving The New Day, The War Raiders, and The Creed Brothers.
Gunther interrupted a promo by World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso, who was addressing his upcoming title defense against Logan Paul at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Gunther declared he would challenge the winner on the June 9 episode of Raw, stating, “Jey Uso is not a natural champion.” Uso fired back, asserting, “This is my place! I run this place with this belt on my arm,” promising to retain his title and defeat Gunther again, as he did at WrestleMania.
AJ Styles battled Finn Bálor in a singles match, with Bálor accompanied by Judgment Day members JD McDonagh and Carlito. Styles applied the Calf Crusher twice, but Bálor escaped both times. Bálor countered with a 1917, but Styles kicked out. Penta intervened, delivering a Mexican Destroyer to Carlito, neutralizing Judgment Day’s interference. Styles then landed the Phenomenal Forearm to win, showcasing resilience against the odds.
Becky Lynch delivered a promo that stunned the WWE Universe, addressing her recent actions and vowing to dominate the women’s division. After losing to Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria at Backlash, Lynch declared, “Every woman in the locker room is going to understand what it means to be held down by The Man,” signaling a renewed aggressive streak.
In the main event, Women’s World Champion IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley defeated Roxanne Perez and Giulia, the latter making \n making her Raw debut. Ripley dominated Perez with a Razor’s Edge and a basement dropkick, but Perez persisted. SKY landed an Over the Moonsault, but Perez broke up the pin. A miscommunication saw Perez accidentally knock Giulia off the top rope, allowing Ripley to hit the Riptide on Giulia for the win. Post-match, Ripley eyed SKY’s title, hinting at a future challenge.
The show, attended by 11,558 fans, also featured a memorial graphic for Terrance “Sabu” Brunk, with Punk paying tribute by pointing to the sky. Backstage, Bron Breakker attacked Jey Uso, with Heyman orchestrating the assault, further escalating tensions ahead of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Money in the Bank qualifiers were announced to begin the following week, promising more high-stakes action.
