Goldberg Returns, Asuka Advances, Cody vs. Jey Set on Chaotic WWE Raw
WWE Monday Night Raw rolled into the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on June 16, delivering a night packed with major returns, significant tournament advancements, and controversial finishes as the road to upcoming premium live events heated up. Fans were treated to the return of a Hall of Famer, the long-awaited comeback of a fan favorite, and the confirmation of a highly anticipated showdown for next week.
A Shocking Return: Goldberg Confronts World Champion Gunther
One of the night’s most unexpected moments came when wrestling legend Goldberg made his return. Following Gunther‘s celebration of his recent World Heavyweight Championship defense, the iconic superstar interrupted. Goldberg waste no time, referencing a past encounter and issuing a direct challenge to the champion. The match is now set for the upcoming WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12 in Goldberg’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. This swift insertion of the veteran into the world title picture immediately ignited debate among the WWE universe, with some observers questioning the logic of a near-60-year-old challenging for the top title so soon after his return, seeing it as potentially indicative of familiar booking patterns.
The Empress is Back: Asuka Triumphs in Queen of the Ring Opener
After a year-long absence due to injury, Asuka officially made her in-ring return, competing in a crucial Queen of the Ring opening round Fatal 4-Way match. Sporting new ring gear and face paint, “The Empress of Tomorrow” faced tough competition from Raquel Rodriguez, Ivy Nile, and Stephanie Vaquer. The match saw back-and-forth action and notable interference from Rhea Ripley, who attacked Raquel Rodriguez outside the ring as Rodriguez seemed poised for victory. Asuka capitalized on the distraction, hitting her signature hip attack on Rodriguez to secure the pinfall and advance in the prestigious tournament. Despite the controversial finish facilitated by outside interference, Asuka’s successful return was a highlight, and Raquel Rodriguez also received praise for her strong performance in the bout. Asuka declared her sights are now set on becoming the Queen of the Ring.
Chaos Reigns in King of the Ring: Jey Uso Emerges Victorious Amidst Interference
The King of the Ring tournament also saw its final opening-round Fatal 4-Way, featuring Jey Uso (competing with taped ribs), Sheamus, Rusev, and Bronson Reed. Described as a chaotic and hard-hitting affair, the match was heavily marred by excessive interference. Bron Breakker attempted to aid Bronson Reed, only to be countered by Sami Zayn. LA Knight also got involved, preventing Reed from hitting a potential match-ending move. Ultimately, despite the deluge of outside factors, Jey Uso fought through his injury and the bedlam, securing the win after hitting a Spear and two Uso Splashes on Bronson Reed. The sheer volume of interference in the match drew criticism from some analysts, who felt it was overly complicated and potentially nonsensical given match rules.
A Semifinal Dream Match Set: Cody Rhodes vs. Jey Uso
Following Jey Uso’s hard-fought King of the Ring victory, the drama continued. Seth Rollins appeared, seemingly targeting Uso. However, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes then made his presence felt. The confrontation between Rollins, Uso, and Rhodes culminated in a staredown between the former tag team partners, Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. It was officially announced that these two popular stars will face each other in the King of the Ring semifinals on next week’s Raw, setting up a must-see encounter.
Other Notable Segments and Unfortunate Incidents
The show opened with Liv Morgan accompanied by Dominik Mysterio. Morgan, holding her Women’s Tag Team title belt (described by some as being used merely as a prop), demanded a rematch for the Women’s World Championship from Iyo Sky. Sky quickly responded by attacking Morgan and Mysterio.
Later in the night, Liv Morgan faced Kairi Sane in a singles match. Unfortunately, the match was stopped prematurely when Morgan appeared to suffer a legitimate shoulder injury after taking a bump, leading to the referee calling the bout and awarding the victory to Kairi Sane.
AJ Styles defeated JD McDonagh in a singles match. The bout saw attempted interference from The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio, but Styles secured a clean victory with the Styles Clash. Post-match chaos involving Dominik and Finn Balor led to Styles briefly absconding with Balor’s Intercontinental Championship, setting up a future match between Styles and Dominik for the title.
Bayley returned to Raw and called out Becky Lynch, leading to a tense confrontation and physical exchange. It was later announced that Bayley will challenge Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship next week.
Sami Zayn and Karrion Kross had a verbal confrontation backstage, setting the stage for a potential future match between the two after the King of the Ring tournament concludes.
The broadcast also marked the return of Corey Graves to the Raw commentary booth alongside Michael Cole.
Overall, the June 16th episode of Raw delivered significant moments with key returns and tournament progression, though some finishes and booking decisions, particularly the heavy interference in tournament matches and Goldberg’s immediate title challenge, sparked considerable discussion among the fanbase.
