WWE Raw Recap: Je’Von Evans Shocks the World in Memphis

We are firmly in the driver’s seat on the Road to WrestleMania, and if Monday night’s Raw in Memphis was any indication, the brakes have been cut. The FedEx Forum was absolutely buzzing last night, and honestly, can you blame them? We’re hurtling toward Elimination Chamber in Chicago, and the card is shaping up to be a legitimate spectacle rather than just a pit stop before the big show in April.

Between CM Punk stirring the pot (as only he can), a women’s division triple threat that felt like a premium live event match, and a main event that genuinely made me spill my drink, this was a solid B-plus night of grappling. Let’s break down the chaos.

The Vision, The Usos, and the Art Of the “Impromptu” Opener

We all know the trope. Wrestlers stand in the ring, talk trash, and suddenly, a referee appears, and we have a six-man tag match. It’s a pro wrestling staple as old as headlocks. But when the talent involved is this good, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief.

The show opened with “The Vision” (Austin Theory, Bronson Reed, and Logan Paul) bumping gums with LA Knight and The Usos. Knight was in fine form, dropping a “turd stain” insult that felt delightfully childish yet effective. But the real story of the opener wasn’t the verbal jousting; it was “Big” Bronson Reed.

The man is a tank. Watching Reed hit a suicide dive is like watching a refrigerator fall out of a ten-story window. “The Vision” picked up the win thanks to Reed’s Tsunami, but the post-match antics stole the headlines. That mystery man in black returning to plant Paul through the announce table? That’s the intrigue I’m here for. Paul selling the attack like he’d been shot out of a cannon was just the cherry on top.

Asuka Punches Her Ticket To Chicago

The women’s Elimination Chamber qualifier was a reminder of just how deep this roster is. You had Bayley, the heart and soul of the division; Nattie, the grizzled vet who has suddenly found a mean streak; and Asuka, who frankly terrifies me.

This wasn’t a “get your spots in” match. It was a fight. I have to give credit to Nattie here. She’s often the reliable hand, but she was throwing elbows like she had a personal vendetta against facial structural integrity. However, the night belonged to the Empress of Tomorrow.

The finish was pure, tactical genius. After Bayley landed that elbow drop (which is still a thing of beauty), chaos ensued. Asuka, ever the opportunist, trapped Bayley in the Asuka Lock. Seeing Bayley tap out is rare, but it puts Asuka exactly where she belongs: in the Chamber. With Maxxine Dupri attacking Nattie post-match, it looks like that feud is far from over, but for now, all eyes are on Asuka’s road to WrestleMania.

CM Punk and Finn Balor: Tension You Can Cut With a Knife

Is there anyone better on the stick than Punk when he’s in a mood? The World Heavyweight Champion came out with a chip on his shoulder the size of Chicago, complaining about “the office” being mad at him for risking the WrestleMania main event.

Then came Finn Balor, flanked by his “Judgment Day buddies, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh. The exchange here was top-tier. Balor reminding everyone that to be the “Best in the World,” you have to survive Japanese dojos and Mexican rings was a great line. It added a layer of legitimacy to their upcoming bout.

But the best moment? The crowd chanting “Bobblehead” at JD McDonagh. It’s petty, it’s silly, and I laughed out loud. Punk planting the seeds of doubt—that Judgment Day is an anchor dragging Finn down—is classic psychological warfare. Punk chucking the mic at Finn’s chest was the perfect exclamation point. He’s not the hero; he’s just the guy holding the gold, and he loves it.

Je’Von Evans Pulls Off Upset Of the Year On Raw

If you turned off the TV before the main event of Raw, you missed the moment a star was born. On paper, this triple threat qualifier on Raw for the Elimination Chamber seemed like Gunther’s match to lose. “The Ring General” has been a force of nature. Then you had Mysterio, the ultimate opportunist. And then there was Je’Von Evans, the “Young OG,” whose athleticism is off the charts but who felt like the underdog in this fight.

Gunther was his usual brutal self, chopping chests until they looked like raw hamburger meat. But the storytelling here was immaculate. With Gunther distracted by a run-in from Dragon Lee (who spiked him with a ring bell—ouch), the field was leveled.

Evans hitting the OG Cutter on Mysterio for the 1-2-3 was a moment of pure electricity. The Raw crowd erupted. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Evans isn’t just the future; he’s the right now. Watching him celebrate in the turnbuckles, you got the sense that we’ll look back on this match in five years as the turning point for his career.

All in all, Raw delivered. We’ve got fresh faces in the title picture, legitimate heat in the main event scene, and a WrestleMania card that feels like it’s being built with care. Chicago, get ready. The Chamber is going to be a war zone.