WWE Raw takeaways: CM Punk returns, spoils Seth Rollins' title shot

USA Today

06-05-2025

WWE Raw takeaways: CM Punk returns, spoils Seth Rollins' title shot
WWE Monday Night Raw on May 5 took place at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb., and featured a World Heavyweight Championship match between Jey Uso and Seth Rollins.
The go-home episode for Backlash saw Rusev compete in his first match since returning, Sheamus was also back in action against Austin Theory, Penta picked up a win over JD McDonagh, and Pat McAfee went at Gunther on the mic.
Check out the top takeaways from this episode:
Paul Heyman goes deep into his promo bag
Kicking off this week's episode was the champ, "Main Event" Jey Uso, looking for a face-to-face with Logan Paul. Instead, get was greeted by another Paul, The Bloodline's former Wiseman, Paul Heyman.
It didn't take much for Uso to set Heyman off, but boy, oh boy, did he go off. Uso said he had "a lot of balls" entering the ring with him after betraying his family. Heyman went from zero to 100 as he vented about how his "best friend" CM Punk put him in an impossible position at WrestleMania. He then addressed Roman Reigns, who he called a "stray Big Dog on the Island of Irrelevancy" and turned him in to the "Tribal Chief." Heyman blamed Reigns for leaving him alone with The Bloodline while he sulked after losing the title to Cody Rhodes.
Heyman then nearly gave himself a heart attack as he went off about being right in this whole situation. It was an intensely passionate moment. Oscar-worthy acting, some would say.
Uso simply quipped, "Are you OK?" Uso then asked what all of this has to do with him. That's when Heyman said he came out to announce Seth Rollins was challenging him for the World Heavyweight Championship, and would give him the choice of which night he would lose the title.
Uso replied that if it was to be anytime, anyplace, then that time and place would be tonight.
In a backstage segment with Rollins and Bron Breakker, Heyman said Uso "fell for it." Heyman then explained the whole plan to Breakker, who was either confused about what just happened, or was upset it wasn't him getting the title shot. It was legitimately difficult to read what he was going for there.
This was a fantastic opening promo segment. Heyman's intensity was amazing, and Uso's immediate call for Rollins to step up later in the show was the best response he could have offered. More on the main event match later.
Dominik Mysterio to defend IC title vs. Penta
Everyone's favorite Intercontinental Champion, Dominik Mysterio found out that he will be putting his title on the line at Backlash against Penta, the man who defeated his Judgment Day stablemate JD McDonagh.
Mysterio didn't seem to sweat it, but AJ Styles barged into the Judgment Day room to announce he was coming after whoever holds the IC title after Backlash.
Lyra Valkyria checks Becky Lynch, again
Becky Lynch took to the ring to talk about taking out the trash (Bayley) and the recycling (Lyra Valkyria). She was building a clever promo before Valkyria appeared to question her about being labeled as recycling when all Lynch does is recycle everything about her character.
The two went back and forth on the mic, and it felt like Valkyria once again took the upper hand. When Lynch was done exchanging words, she took a swipe at Valkyria, and after a little scuffle, ended up laid out on the ground with the women's IC champ holding the title high.
Lynch returning to the women's IC title picture has been a fantastic decision. The promos with Valkyria have been great every time, creating arguably the best of the very short builds to Backlash.
IYO SKY beats Roxanne Perez, gets jumped after
For no reason other than just putting a banger of a match on the lineup, IYO SKY faced Roxanne Perez in a non-title match.
Non-title matches so the winner can earn a title shot is the most ridiculous concept, but I'll look past it here since IYO SKY has been on fire with the fans lately. The match was unsurprisingly good.
After IYO SKY pinned Perez in a fun ending sequence of rollups, the champ shook hands with Perez. IYO SKY attempted to get the crowd to clap for Perez, but in doing so, she was attacked from behind by Giulia. Unlike last week, Rhea Ripley was unavailable to run out to help.
It'll be interesting to see how this whole thing develops in the coming weeks once Perez and Giulia get some promo time to really see where this is heading.
CM Punk returns to spoil Seth Rollins' title shot
The main event between Seth Rollins and Jey Uso closed the show, and to be honest, it was turning into the best match Uso has had in recent memory. It was certainly better than the WrestleMania match against Gunther.
However, being a randomly announced match on a Monday night, you just knew that this finish wouldn't be clean. Sure enough, Bron Breakker got involved, which prompted Sami Zayn to come out to assist. After things were evened out, it seemed like Uso was going to pull off a pin anyway, but then CM Punk made his return, costing Rollins his title opportunity by attacking him with a chair.
It's kind of funny Uso's best match took place on a Monday before a PLE instead of at a big event, but then again, he wasn't facing Rollins in any of his recent PLE matches. The story of the new faction wanting Uso's title is intriguing, though. Hopefully it continues after Backlash, where Uso should defeat Logan Paul – who, ended up blindsiding Uso after the show went off the air.