RAW review: momentum builds toward Clash in Paris

A look at the August 25 RAW as alliances shift and rivalries flare on the road to Clash in Paris.

RAW builds toward Clash in Paris with rising tensions

Dragon Lee opened RAW with a rapid win over JD McDonagh, assisted briefly by Dominik Mysterio at ringside. Grayson Waller distracted Penta, enabling Kofi Kingston to counter and pin him after Trouble in Paradise. The fast pace set the tone for a show that mixed in‑ring action with backstage momentum as the Paris hit list grew.

AJ Styles defeated Finn Balor in a crisp, crowd‑pleasing clash. Rhea Ripley defeated Roxanne Perez in a hard‑fought match that spotlighted SKY’s uneasy alliance with Ripley, a tension that spilled into the backstage areas. Bron Breaker then edged past LA Knight in a hard‑fought main event, with Seth Rollins on the board and CM Punk entering the arena to further complicate the picture. The night closed on a chaotic note, with high stakes and new questions for Clash in Paris.

The show leans on pay‑off energy for Clash in Paris, pairing strong in‑ring results with a web of backstage prompts that keep fans guessing. Roman Reigns remains a focal point for the Bloodline, but his comments hint at a pivot away from the old order and toward a new balance of power. The women’s scene features Ripley strong, while SKY’s loyalty fractures the group dynamics and adds fuel to future feuds.

Overall, RAW blends wrestling momentum with character drama. It aims to keep viewers hooked between pay‑per‑view events by layering rivalries, promos and surprise appearances, even as some segments threaten to feel crowded. The challenge is turning this into a cohesive arc that sustains long‑term storytelling beyond Paris.

Highlights

Paris will test which rivalries carry the strongest momentum into a marquee night.