This Monday night’s WWE Raw broadcast from Perth, Australia, delivered a mixed bag of moments that had fans buzzing some electrifying, some frustrating. Coming fresh off the intense Crown Jewel pay-per-view weekend, the show balanced ongoing storylines and surprises as the WWE universe gears up for the next chapter of major feuds. Here’s a deep dive into the three things we loved about this Raw and three things that left us shaking our heads.
What We Loved on WWE Raw (10/13/25)
1. CM Punk’s Triumphant Return and No.1 Contender Win
CM Punk made a powerful statement by conquering a thrilling triple threat against LA Knight and Jey Uso to secure the No.1 contender spot for the World Heavyweight Championship. Punk’s veteran savvy shone through, and his victory sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown with Seth Rollins. His in-ring energy and crowd connection reminded fans why he remains one of WWE’s most compelling figures. According to a WWE insider, Punk’s return was planned to reignite the title picture and inject fresh urgency into Rollins’ reign.
2. Seth Rollins’ Commanding Promo and Vision’s Growing Dominance
After his hard-fought Crown Jewel Championship win over Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins came out with a confident promo reinforcing The Vision’s dominance. Highlighting the group’s supremacy, Rollins praised Paul Heyman and Bron Breakker, going so far as to anoint Bronson Reed as “the new Tribal Chief” following his impactful victory over Roman Reigns. This promo skillfully blended storytelling with character depth, reinforcing Rollins’ role as a top-tier heel. The segment has already been highlighted on WWE’s official platforms, emphasizing The Vision’s grip on Raw.
3. Intense Intercontinental Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta
The night opened with a gripping Intercontinental Championship bout featuring champion Dominik Mysterio taking on Penta. The match delivered a high-octane mix of technical prowess and dramatic storytelling, showcasing Mysterio’s skills while elevating Penta as a formidable contender. The bout kept fans invested through back-and-forth action and ring psychology, setting the tone for a competitive title scene. Both superstars’ performances were praised by commentators and backstage sources for adding substance to a championship often overlooked.
What We Hated on WWE Raw (10/13/25)
1. Overreliance on Post-Match Beatdowns and Interference
While WWE thrives on chaos, this episode leaned too heavily on post-match assaults to generate heat, diluting some matches’ impact. Closing segments saw Bron Breakker attacking Seth Rollins following Punk’s win, and the Vision’s members launching a coordinated assault on the Usos. These scenes risk becoming repetitive and predictable, threatening to stall momentum rather than advance storylines organically. A source close to the creative team admitted there’s awareness backstage about this trend, with plans to balance storytelling methods in upcoming shows to avoid fan fatigue.
2. Underwhelming Crowd Engagement During Some Non-Title Matches
Despite being live in Perth, certain mid-card matches failed to capture the crowd’s enthusiasm. This was particularly evident in undercard bouts, which saw subdued reactions and a disconnect from the audience. Fans and analysts noted that pacing issues and a lack of fresh tangents contributed to the lethargic atmosphere at times, underscoring the importance of dynamic storytelling across all cards, not just marquee matches.
3. Missed Opportunities to Build Cody Rhodes’ Narrative
After losing the Crown Jewel title to Rollins, Cody Rhodes’ presence on Raw was noticeably limited, missing chances to build compelling follow-ups or deeper emotional storytelling. Rhodes’ strong fan base offers rich material to explore motivation and revenge arcs, yet the current direction has felt tentative. Some wrestling insiders speculate this may be related to creative negotiations or long-term planning, but fans expect more prominent Rhodes content as Raw moves forward.
Backstage Buzz and Fan Reactions
According to a WWE insider, the current vision for Raw “is to intensify the focus on The Vision faction while building serious heat for Rollins as a ruthless champ. CM Punk’s return was strategic to electrify the title chase, and we expect the feuds to escalate quickly over the coming weeks.” The insider also mentioned the booking team’s awareness of recent criticisms about overbooked segments and crowd engagement, promising a recalibration in storytelling pace.
Fans on social media are largely enthusiastic about Punk’s resurgence and Rollins’ promo but expressed frustration at some pacing issues and underutilization of key stars like Cody Rhodes. The Perth crowd, while momentarily subdued during filler matches, showed loud support for top tier action, signaling the importance of quality matchups in live international shows.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for WWE Raw
With CM Punk now the No.1 contender and The Vision cementing its dominance on Raw, the championship landscape is heating up ahead of potential major pay-per-view clashes. The ongoing saga involving Bron Breakker and Roman Reigns adds further intrigue to the tribal chief storyline within WWE’s storytelling fabric. Meanwhile, the Intercontinental title scene appears revitalized, offering fresh matchups and rising stars a platform.
For WWE creative, the challenge will be to maintain momentum by balancing high-drama moments with thoughtful character development while improving crowd interaction and pacing. Keeping Cody Rhodes relevant and providing the right spotlight to mid-card athletes will be critical to sustaining viewer investment.