WWE RAW Tonight: Gunther, Cena, Punk, Nikki Bella & More – Full Recap, Highlights & Analysis
Date: June 9, 2025 (WWE RAW)
Location: PHX Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Broadcast: Netflix (worldwide)
1. World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther vs. Jey Uso
- Result: Gunther captures the World Heavyweight Title, defeating Jey Uso via sleeper hold after a 22-minute main event.
- Why it matters: Jey Uso’s remarkable WrestleMania-level form couldn’t withstand Gunther’s relentless “Ring General” offense. With this second reign, Gunther reasserts dominance in WWE’s top title hierarchy timesofindia.
- Analysis: This decisive win resets Jey’s momentum and sets an intense tone for the Road to Night of Champions on June 28 in Riyadh ewrestling.com.
2. King & Queen of the Ring Tournaments Kick Off
- Queen’s Fatal Four-Way: Roxanne Perez advances, overcoming Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, and Kairi Sane wwe.
- King’s Fatal Four-Way: Sami Zayn bests Dominik Mysterio, Bron Breakker, and Penta with a Helluva Kick sports.
- Implications: The tournament winners receive title shots at Night of Champions, fueling both brand rivalry and long-term storylines indiatimes.
3. Emotional Returns & Surprise Moments
A. Nikki Bella’s Return
- Details: WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella returns with a heartfelt on-screen segment, greeting Raw stars including Natalya, Iyo Sky, and Maxxine Dupri ewrestling.com.
- Significance: Bella’s return adds star power and legacy appeal to Raw’s women’s division, especially with the build toward Queen of the Ring finals and SummerSlam buzz.
B. Bayley Confronts Becky Lynch
- Action: Bayley returns to ambush Becky Lynch following Becky’s IC Title promo—highlighting their intense rivalry. Lynch is saved by Lyra Valkyria timesofindia.
- Why it’s big: Raw’s returning former champions and unresolved animosities add emotional stakes and fresh energy to the women’s division.
4. R-Truth’s Transformation
- Return: Ron “R-Truth” Killings returns after contract uncertainty, thanking fans live—and decisively cuts his hair, signaling a shift from comedy to serious competitor cagesideseats.
- Impact: This rebranding creates intrigue—could Ron go for a mid‑card title or weave into the Cena/CMP Punk storyline?
5. John Cena & CM Punk Confrontation
- Promo Exchange: Cena launches a scathing farewell tour monologue, calling out fans and the R-Truth support as “spineless keyboard warriors” wrestlingheadlines.
- Punk’s Shot: CM Punk interrupts, promising Cena a final showdown for the Undisputed WWE Title at Night of Champions in Riyadh.
- Rollins Interrupts: Seth Rollins appears with his Money in the Bank briefcase—and Ally Paul Heyman—adding unpredictability to the title picture pwtorch.
- Importance: This segment delivers top-tier storytelling: farewell, legacy battles, and money‑grab drama all in one.
6. Supporting Matches
- AJ Styles vs. Chad Gable: AJ prevails with a Styles Clash in a technically sound, crowd-pleasing opener ewrestling.
- Tournament Previews: Post-match promos build future match intensity—say, Roxanne vs. Liv Morgan and Sami Zayn vs. Dominik Mysterio—aligning with strategic Night of Champions hype.
SEO Keywords & Coverage
Integrated naturally for Google ranking success:
- WWE Raw results, today
- World Heavyweight Championship match
- Gunther vs. Jey Uso
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- John Cena CM Punk promo
- Nikki Bella return
- R-Truth transformation
- Bayley vs. Becky Lynch
- Money in the Bank fallout
- Night of Champions Riyadh
Preview: What’s Next on Raw
- Continued tournament progress as brackets advance.
- Rising tension between Cena, Punk, and Rollins—potential triple-threat danger.
- Nikki Bella’s impact in the women’s division—look for matches or mentorship segments.
- Asuka’s teased return next week could further heat up the women’s roster wrestlingheadlines.
Final Takeaways for Every Fan
| Fan Type | What Matters |
|---|---|
| Hardcore | Gunther’s dominant title win, Punk‑Cena drama, tournament seeds. |
| Casual | Iconic promos, surprise returns, and storyline direction. |
| Family/Newcomer | Clear undercard ups and downs, marquee names returning, and the build to Night of Champions. |
Why Tonight’s Raw Matters
This episode was more than a post-Money in the Bank filler—it redefined title scenes, crowned new stars, and set up major storylines for Summer’s Saudi showdown. From Gunther’s main event victory to Nikki Bella’s return and Cena’s emotional farewell tour segment, this Raw was rich with WWE history in the making.
Want more?
- Watch full match tapes and promos on WWE’s official YouTube or Netflix.
- Follow WWE.com’s recap [here]timesofindia
- Read about Saudi’s Night of Champions on Wikipedia for match card previews bleacherreport.com.
Stay tuned—Raw’s next steps could completely reshape WrestleMania-level rivalries.
Let me know if you want previews, predictions, or deep dives into any match or wrestler!