In 2025, Monday Night RAW arguably stood out as WWE’s premier weekly show, surpassing both NXT and Smackdown in match quality, storytelling, and overall consistency. Although not flawless—some episodes fell flat, and there was a mid-year slump when the main event repeated in favor of The Vision—several episodes truly shined.
Choosing the top RAW episodes of 2025 is challenging, but a few clearly rise above the rest:
8. WWE RAW on November 10th took place at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, featuring a main event where Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss faced the Kabuki Warriors. Leading into Survivor Series: WarGames, this show sparked intense storylines, including John Cena winning the Intercontinental Title from Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley’s return, Nikki Bella turning heel, and the start of the Last Time is Now tournament. The episode climaxed with the Kabuki Warriors claiming the Women’s Tag Team Championship from Flair and Bliss.
7. RAW Match 31 was held at the O2 Arena in London, England, headlined by Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley. The show advanced key narratives leading to WrestleMania 41, highlighted by Gunther brutally attacking Jimmy Uso, Cody Rhodes and John Cena’s compelling promo battle, a notable no-contest for Bianca Belair, and a world title clash between Ripley and Sky.
6. WWE RAW on October 13th took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, ending dramatically with Bron Breaker and Bronson Reed betraying Seth Rollins. Strong matches included Rhea Ripley vs. Kairi Sane, Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio, and a thrilling triple threat main event with CM Punk, LA Knight, and Jey Uso that energized the crowd.
5. On March 3rd, RAW was at KeyBank Arena in Buffalo, New York, featuring Iyo Sky shockingly defeating Rhea Ripley to capture the Women’s World Title in a sensational match. Other highlights included a brutal Gunther vs. Otis bout, a tag team match with War Raiders and Creed, an intense promo segment involving John Cena, The Rock, and Seth Rollins, along with one of CM Punk’s best promos post-return.
4. June 9th’s RAW at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, rebounded after a lackluster Monday In The Bank event. It showcased John Cena vs. CM Punk promo tensions, R-Truth’s unexpected haircut segment, Bayley’s return, the launch of King and Queen of the Ring tournaments, and Gunther dethroning Jey Uso to win the World Heavyweight Championship, shaking up the red brand.
3. January 13th’s edition at SAP Center in San Jose, California, marked an improvement after an underwhelming Netflix debut. Key moments included notable promos from CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre, Penta’s WWE debut, Lyra Valkyria becoming the first Women’s Intercontinental Champion, a street fight between Damian Priest and Finn Balor, and a heated Gunther-Jey Uso segment.
2. November 17th’s RAW, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, saw memorable highlights such as Dolph Ziggler joining the Last Time Is Now tournament, Gunther’s victorious return against Jevon Evans, Maxine Dupri unexpectedly winning the Intercontinental Championship aided by AJ Lee’s comeback, and John Cena’s final RAW match.
1. The top episode on April 21st at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, offered a post-WrestleMania RAW filled with exhilarating moments. Key moments included Bron Breaker joining The Vision, Rusev’s return, new NXT talents Stefani Vaquel and Giulia emerging, Sami Zayn’s comeback, Gunther’s dominance over Pat McAfee, a villainous turn by Becky Lynch, and Randy Orton stirring the crowd with an RKO on new WWE Champion John Cena.
Fan Take: This recap highlights how RAW in 2025 consistently delivered high-stakes matches and captivating story arcs, cementing its importance for WWE fans. These memorable moments and title changes not only shape the immediate future of the sport but also signal a promising evolution for WWE storytelling and competition.
