The landscape shifted at SummerSlam. Kevin Owens is back, hungrier than ever, and he’s got a #1 contendership to the Undisputed WWE Championship—meaning CM Punk’s reign is about to get real uncomfortable. Raw tonight is about establishing momentum, answering questions, and figuring out what the hell Lyra Valkyria does next after her heel turn and obsession with reclaiming “her” Women’s Intercontinental Championship. The Cody Rhodes question still lingers too, even as other storylines sprint forward.
Kevin Owens Addresses His Return & CM Punk Program
KO’s coming off a massive Fatal 4-Way victory at SummerSlam and the narrative writes itself—the guy survived a career-threatening injury, got clean medical clearance thanks to Randy Orton’s personal recommendation, and now he’s staring down the Undisputed Champion. Expect mic work, not just physicality, as Owens lays out exactly what he’s owed.
WAW Pick: Owens cuts a promo that gets interrupted, leading to a physical confrontation that gets broken up before anything conclusive happens.
Lyra Valkyria Continues Heel Turn Campaign
Valkyria’s made it abundantly clear: she needs her Women’s Intercontinental Championship back to feel complete. That title doesn’t belong to her anymore, but she’s obsessed with retrieving it. Tonight’s likely a segment or squash that rams home how ruthless she’s become since turning on Bayley.
WAW Pick: Valkyria dominates a segment, cuts a promo about taking what’s “hers,” and challenges the current Women’s IC Champion directly.
Chelsea Green’s Interim Women’s Championship Coronation
Green just won a five-way ladder match at SummerSlam to capture the Interim WWE Women’s Title, and she’s riding a wave of fan support thanks to that “she’s not the one” Netflix edit that backfired on management. Raw’s the perfect platform to establish her as a credible interim titleholder while we wait for Rhea Ripley to return from her meniscus injury.
WAW Pick: Green cuts a celebration promo and faces a challenger to establish credibility.
Randy Orton makes an appearance to acknowledge Kevin Owens personally—maybe even foreshadowing a future program between them, or at minimum cementing that connection that saved KO’s career. The storytelling is too clean not to follow up on.
