Louisville, Kentucky — WWE Raw held an electrifying episode on May 12, 2025, at the KFC Yum! Center, featuring intense confrontations and thrilling matchups.
As the show kicked off, longtime fan-favorite CM Punk made his return to the squared circle, grabbing a microphone to express his layered emotions. Punk, reflecting on his past, revealed his frustrations with his enemies, primarily targeting Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins. ‘I’m mad at myself,’ he confessed, ‘but we know how this ends; I can’t wait to get my hands on Heyman.’ The crowd cheered as he continued, hollering about wanting to settle his past scores.
Rollins, with Bron Breakker by his side, interrupted Punk’s outburst. The two exchanged words, with Rollins calling Punk ‘trash’ and stating he would never be champion as long as Punk was around. As tension escalated, violence erupted with each wrestler taking shots at the other until intervening fighters like Sami Zayn and Jey Uso appeared to help Punk against the duo, showcasing the recurring theme of alliances forming.
The night was packed with matchups, starting with Penta squaring off against Chad Gable. Penta, reclaiming his status after a tough loss at Backlash, came out victorious with a dazzling Mexican Destroyer, leaving Gable fuming on the outside. ‘Lucha libre rules,’ the crowd chanted as the match concluded.
Backstage, a video package showed Roxanne Perez and Giulia gearing up for their tag team match against Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, promising fans an explosive encounter ahead.
Later, the War Raiders took on American Made. With the New Day providing commentary, the match showcased high-octane moves including a moonsault and exceptional double-team tactics by American Made, securing their win. The New Day celebrated on commentary, bringing their trademark charisma to the mix.
As the night progressed, the World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso addressed the crowd. ‘I’ve got a big target on my back,’ he declared, referencing his upcoming title match against Logan Paul at the Saturday Night Main Event. This was cut short when Gunther appeared to offer a chilling reminder that he would be waiting for the winner, further intensifying the championship rivalry.
The main event highlighted Ripley and Iyo Sky taking on Perez and Giulia. After a fierce back-and-forth, Ripley secured a victory for her team with a powerful Riptide on Giulia, concluding the night with a highlight reel of impressively executed moves.
Amidst the matches, WWE also paid tribute to the late Sabu, echoing sentiments from the crowd as they chanted, ‘Thank you, Sabu,’ celebrating his legacy in pro wrestling. Commentary from Michael Cole and Pat McAfee also reflected on Sabu’s influence on the industry.
As Raw came to a close, the tables were set for the coming weeks in WWE, with tensions high and rivalries raging. Fans can expect even more excitement as the showdown at Saturday Night Main Event approaches.
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