Monday Night Raw on July 14, 2025, rocked the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama—and the WWE world—with one of the most electrifying moments of the year. Roman Reigns, the powerhouse known as “The Tribal Chief” and “OTC,” made his long-awaited return, crashing the show just as tensions peaked. Meanwhile, CM Punk battled his way through a brutal Gauntlet match to earn a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. If you thought Raw was intense before, buckle up—this night rewrote every storyline heading into WWE’s mega‑event.
CM Punk Dominates the Gauntlet – SummerSlam Spot Locked In
Let’s get straight to the action: Raw opened its men’s division segment with a Gauntlet match featuring heavy hitters—Bron Breakker, Penta, LA Knight, Jey Uso, and CM Punk. The prize? A shot at Gunther’s World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam.
Here’s how it shook out:
| Match-up | Result |
|---|---|
| Bron Breakker vs. Penta | Breakker Spear – Breakker wins |
| Breakker vs. LA Knight | Breakker Spear – Breakker wins |
| Breakker vs. Jey Uso | Breakker Spear (with Reed’s help) – Breakker wins |
| Breakker vs. CM Punk (Final) | Punk lands the Go To Sleep and wins the Gauntlet |
So here’s the scoop: Breakker steamrolled his way through the field, but Punk pulled off a thrilling upset in the final, booking himself a ticket to SummerSlam for a shot at Gunther’s gold. Along the way, Jey Uso made a heroic save against Bronson Reed, shifting the dynamic of the match.
Enter Roman Reigns – Chaos and Alliances
Just when it seemed like the Gauntlet had its conclusion, chaos erupted. Breakker and Reed launched a brutal post-match attack on Punk and Uso. Suddenly—boom!—Roman Reigns’ theme music hits, and he launches a counter‑offensive: a Superman Punch on Breakker and a devastating Spear on Reed. He then stood tall alongside CM Punk and Jey Uso, rebooting alliances and possibly setting up tag‑team fireworks heading into SummerSlam.
What’s more: both CM Punk and Jey Uso ended the night standing beside Reigns—the Union of WWE’s heavy‑hitters? Only time will show if this alliance holds.
Women’s Divisions – Heat Heats Up for SummerSlam
But Raw wasn’t just about the men. The women’s divisions also had dramatic ripple effects:
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Triple Threat Announcement: Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley vs. IYO SKY
Naomi, fresh off cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase at Evolution to grab the Women’s World Championship, opened Raw. Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY crashed the party. GM Adam Pearce stepped in—and settled it: a triple‑threat match at SummerSlam. -
Lyra Valkyria Earns Intercontinental Title Shot
In a two‑out‑of‑three falls match, Lyra Valkyria took down Bayley to earn a future face‑off against Becky Lynch at SummerSlam. Emotional, technical, and well‑placed – this booking opens the door to some intense in‑ring storytelling. -
Nikki Bella Goes One‑on‑One
WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella faced off against Chelsea Green—and won with a signature Rack Attack 2.0. As the dust settled, The Secret Hervice attacked Bella, only to be repelled by Stephanie Vaquer. This surprise save adds momentum for Bella heading into the big events. -
Side Plots and Setups
Raw kept its pace with other spicy subplots:
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Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez
In a rematch from their Evolution antics, Rodriguez and Perez earned a controversial victory over the former champions, hinting at more tag‑team tension ahead. -
Gunther & Heyman Face-off with Breakker & Reed
Gunther—still riding high after beating Goldberg—found his path blocked by Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman. Paul Heyman made it crystal clear: he wants Breakker to dominate and run through the gauntlet… even though Punk stole that spotlight this week. -
Seth Rollins Injury Cloud
Off‑screen buzz erupted over Rollins’ knee injury from Saturday’s Main Event. WWE insiders say he’s still got until June 2026 to cash in Money in the Bank should he recover. But if he’s sidelined, a Breakker vs. Reigns showdown might be in the cards for SummerSlam.
Why It All Matters – SummerSlam Warm-up
Let’s break down what this all means:
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CM Punk vs. Gunther is locked in. Expect a showdown of championship caliber, history, and storytelling.
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Reigns’ return shifts everything – a tag match could form, or unsaid alliances may unravel old rivalries.
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Women’s division is stacked: champion Naomi will defend against two relentless challengers. Meanwhile, Valkyria vs. Lynch ratchets up tension.
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Mid‑card momentum: Nikki Bella’s storyline wave grows, as does the tag division with Rodriguez/Perez.
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Wildcard watch: Rollins’ injury and WWE’s handling of him could shake one of the most iconic potential matchups.
Conclusion – SummerSlam Road Looks Epic
July 14 Raw wasn’t just an episode—it was a signal flare. Reigns is back, alliances sparkle, and SummerSlam just morphed into WWE’s most unpredictable event of the year. With Punk’s title shot secured, Valkyria and Naomi climbing the charts, and Bella stirring up drama, WWE is pressing every button on the entertainment board.
Can Roman remain the hero? Will Punk dethrone Gunther? Will Naomi hold strong against Ripley and SKY? And where does Rollins fit if he returns? The road to SummerSlam is paved with intrigue—and it’s only heating up.