The John Report: WWE Raw Deal 07/06/26 Review
It’s WWE Monday Night Raw, featuring Sami Zayn facing Cody Rhodes, words from Seth Rollins & Oba Femi, The Street Profits taking on The Vision, and more.
The Undisputed WWE Title is on the line this week on Raw, even though it’s technically a SmackDown title these days. What brand extension? Anyway, Sami Zayn won the WWE Title 9 days ago at Night of Champions, and now he’s defending it against the former WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. With SummerSlam less than a month away, some people think Zayn could have a very short title reign. Tonight’s Raw faces tough sports competition from the United States’ World Cup match against Belgium. The US games have been drawing huge numbers, so the Raw audience will be hurt by the World Cup this week for sure, but the World Cup game should be done by 10 p.m. ET, which means the last 30 minutes or so of Raw won’t be against it. Anyway, I’ll have the World Cup matchup on another screen because I’m focused on this Raw review.
Last week’s Raw saw Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns set up their SummerSlam match for Roman’s World Heavyweight Title. We also found out that Oba Femi will face Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam.
This is the Raw Deal for episode #1728 of Monday Night Raw, taking place at Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
A video package aired about the Sami Zayn-Cody Rhodes match for the WWE Title.
There was some pre-show superstar walking shown of Oba Femi, The Judgment Day, The Street Profits, and Sami Zayn was shown in a convertible driving in with the WWE Title.
Sami Zayn spoke to Cody Rhodes backstage. Zayn said Cody thinks that tonight, Cody is going to be WWE Champion again. Zayn said it’s not happening because he’s walking out of Chicago still WWE Champion. Cody said that he was there to say good luck and see him out there. Cody told Zayn he is right. Zayn said we’ll see about that. Gunther hit Cody with a forearm to the back. Gunther picked up Cody and hit a Powerbomb through the table. Gunther told Zayn that Cody is not his problem anymore. Gunther said he’s going to come for Zayn and when he does…Gunther kicked a car door into Cody’s head. Cody was bleeding on the side of his head.
Analysis: There’s some controversy to start the show since Gunther attacked Cody Rhodes and bloodied him. It sets things up for the Zayn-Rhodes match later and if Rhodes is able to compete.
It was Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary. Alicia Taylor was the ring announcer.
Let’s Hear from Seth Rollins
Seth “Freakin” (or Franklin) Rollins made his entrance dressed in all black, and the fans were singing his song. Rollins will challenge Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Title at SummerSlam.
Seth welcomed us to Monday Night Rollins and went over his nicknames as usual. Rollins said he loved this building. The fans chanted “CM Punk” at him. Rollins said he couldn’t care less about that guy right now because he’s not his business right now. Rollins said his business is winning the World Heavyweight Title from Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. Rollins said his business is continuing to own Roman Reigns. The fans chanted “OTC,” so Rollins said Reigns is not there tonight. Rollins said Reigns didn’t think it was worth it to be there or the check wasn’t big enough. Rollins said that who Reigns is. Rollins said since day one, Reigns has been the chosen one.
Rollins said that The Shield was three men, but it was clear that Reigns was the Chosen One. Reigns said it didn’t matter if Reigns couldn’t cut a promo or wrestle his way out of a wet paper bag because it was always going to be Reigns. Rollins said that didn’t sit right with him. Rollins pointed out a little boy in the front row, somebody pointed out that he’s 9, there’s another who is 5 and they have another 5 year old. Rollins said he was that boy and all he ever wanted to do his entire life was to walk down that ramp, hold this microphone and get into this ring to main event WrestleManias. Rollins said he wanted to be the biggest star in this industry. Rollins said those were his dreams, but seeing those dreams handed to somebody else broke something in him. Rollins claimed that when he broke up The Shield, it was to try to catch up to Roman Reigns. Rollins cashed in Money in the Bank in the WrestleMania main event so he could stay close to Roman Reigns. Rollins said he believed he was running the same race as Roman Reigns, but he was wrong.
Rollins claimed that Reigns said something about him that changed everything for Rollins. Rollins said Reigns worked less and made ten times more, and he said that while making Rollins want to puke. Rollins said that the reward was the work. Rollins said that it was the hustle, the grind and making something of yourself. Rollins said Reigns has to beat him because Reigns has to justify that he’s not a fraud. Rollins said he needs to beat Reigns at SummerSlam to prove to himself and that 5-year-old Seth Rollins that through hard work, sacrifice and dreams, you still can achieve greatness. Here comes LA Knight.
Analysis: I like Seth Rollins and his promos are fine, but this one dragged on perhaps a bit too long. Rollins was making the point that he’s a hard-working guy who was living a dream, while Roman Reigns was handed everything and isn’t a hard worker like Rollins is, so it’s supposed to make us like Rollins more.
LA Knight got in the ring with Seth Rollins, and the fans were happy to see him. Knight said there was no way for two weeks in a row he was going to listen to this again. Knight said that Reigns and Rollins bored everybody to sleep with the same old trash. Knight complained about Reigns and Rollins…yippy skippy! Knight said all you had to do was talk about how great you are, and all of a sudden, you get a title shot. Knight mentioned you used to have to earn a title shot or win a tournament for a title shot. Knight said Rollins lost in the King of the Ring tournament and Knight admitted he did too. Knight imitated Rollins and Reigns talking to eachother and how they think they were the greatest. The fans chanted for “LA Knight.”
Knight said that he hasn’t been here as long as Rollins and he’ll credit Rollins for being an ironman with a lot of title shots. Knight talked about how a couple of years ago, it wasn’t Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins, it was everybody saying…LA Knight. He gave credit to Cody Rhodes, too. Knight said he was cut off by The Bloodline and the numbers with Roman Reigns. Knight said he was cut off by Seth Rollins and The Vision. Knight said that Reigns is trying to shut down Knight again. Knight said that Reigns and Rollins cannot stop him. Knight said he will rise because he must rise.
Rollins asked if he was done. The fans chanted, “LA Knight.” Rollins told Knight he didn’t like him, but he respects him. Rollins said that Knight is hard work, grind, and hustle, and he believes Knight’s time will come. Rollins said that he can’t worry about Knight because he has to go to SummerSlam to take back the World Heavyweight Title that he never lost. Rollins said when he’s done with that, Knight can come for him and he can be the first person that Rollins puts in the dirt. Rollins left.
When LA Knight turned around, Jimmy Uso was in the ring, and he superkicked Knight to drop him in the ring. Jimmy left to boos even though he’s a babyface. Jimmy told Knight to keep his family’s name out of his mouth.
Analysis: That was a great promo from LA Knight. LA was full of energy, the fans were strongly behind him because they want to see him get more opportunities and I thought Knight made his points well. Rollins and Knight had a rivalry in the past, but now they are both babyfaces, so it was more about Knight talking about wanting opportunities. I hope Knight gets that spotlight.
Gunther was backstage with Raw GM Adam Pearce and security. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis was there as well. Gunther trashed Nick for being a failed wrestler. Pearce told security to get Gunther out of there. Pearce bragged about running both shows and Alids said you’re not doing a great job because Cody is hurt and that’s on Pearce, Mr. Both Shows.
The Street Profits made their entrance as the World Tag Team Champions for the first match up next. They went on a break for some fans as the Profits continued their entrance.