The road to the Royal Rumble in Indianapolis on Saturday rolled through Atlanta on Monday night for WWE Raw on Netflix.

The blockbuster main event featured Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn, the latter of whom has yet to defeat The Scottish Warrior in one-on-one action.

Did he change that trend, or did McIntyre ensure another crushing defeat for The Underdog from the Underground in his relentless quest for a world championship?

Find out with this review of a show that also saw The Judgment Day challenge for the men's tag team titles, plus appearances from Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul.

Match Card

Announced in advance of Monday's show at State Farm Arena in Atlanta were:

• Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre
• Bianca Belair and Naomi vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez
• World Tag Team Championship: The War Raiders (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh
• Appearances by undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul

Seth Rollins Kicks Off Raw, Gunther and Logan Paul Interrupt

Seth Rollins opened Monday's show, hitting the ring and addressing his desire to win the men's Royal Rumble match Saturday in Indianapolis.

The Visionary teased challenging Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship if he wins the Rumble. And when he brought up the possibility of challenging Gunther, The Ring General interrupted.

The world heavyweight champion told Rollins he hoped he would challenge him.

Logan Paul then made his Raw return and vowed to win the Royal Rumble, touting himself as a competitor on the ground floor of his career with an unlimited upward trajectory.

Gunther threatened to wipe the grin off his face, and the segment ended without physicality.

This was an interesting start to the show in that it set up the possibility for Rollins vs. Gunther as the Raw title match at WrestleMania, but it also teased Paul's involvement in the title picture.

A match between The Maverick and The Ring General would create a scenario in which the heel champion was the clear babyface, so that should not be expected.

Whether a three-way dance is possible remains to be seen, but it feels like the most likely option of those presented in this one segment would be Rollins challenging for the title at 'Mania.

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "2025 got off to a real bad start for me," Rollins said.
• "Roman Reigns...I'm especially tossing Roman Reigns out [of the Rumble]." 
• "He's just holding that title until I decide to go after it again," Rollins said of Gunther.
• "Wouldn't it be poetic if I took the same title from Cody Rhodes that I helped him win last year?"
• "Please, challenge me and please square off with me at WrestleMania," Gunther urged Rollins. "You will realize the only name synonymous with the World Heavyweight Championship is mine: Gunther." 
• "You command attention like this because you're great at wrestling. I command attention like this because I'm great at everything," Paul told Rollins and Gunther. 

• Backstage, Sami Zayn took exception to CM Punk's words from last week and told him as much. 

World Tag Team Championship: The War Raiders vs. The Judgment Day

The War Raiders rolled into Atlanta for a defense of the World Tag Team Championship against The Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh.

McDonagh overcame a scary bump early to join Mysterio in working over the champions and nearly defeated them on several occasions.

Carlito interfered on behalf of the heels by spitting an apple in Ivar's face, but the challengers still failed to put the champions down for the count.

Ultimately, Ivar and Erik delivered the War Machine for the pinfall victory and successful title defense.

The issues within The Judgment Day will likely only intensify as Mysterio fails to replace Finn Bálor, continuing the faction's recent trend of frustrating losses.

How the group's de facto leader takes that news when he returns will determine the story's path.

Result

War Raiders defeated Mysterio and McDonagh

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• McDonagh overcame a sickening collision with the announce table to re-enter the match, even earning a smattering of applause from the fans, who appreciated his toughness.

• Michael Cole and Pat McAfee poked fun at Mysterio's (storyline) time in jail and how those prison pushups did his arms no favor.
• Cole and McAfee continued to put over the champions' miraculous return to the squared circle despite serious injuries.
• Is McDonagh the most underrated workhorse on the WWE roster? It's time to have that discussion.

Rey Mysterio vs. Xavier Woods

The recent issues between LWO and The New Day came to the fore Monday when Rey Mysterio faced Atlanta's Xavier Woods in a singles match.

Woods dominated the action, controlling the pace and taunting the crowd. With teammate Kofi Kingston talking trash at ringside, the heel appeared poised for victory.

A distraction caused by the arrival of his family to ringside, coupled with a 619 from the greatest luchador of all time, led to a Mysterio win and another loss for The New Day.

After the match, Cole and McAfee questioned whether this latest bit of karma was enough to get Woods and Kingston to renounce their recent actions.

All signs point to a "no."

Result

Mysterio defeated Woods

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Cole announced on commentary that this would be Zelina Vega's final appearance as a member of LWO as she has moved to SmackDown as part of the transfer portal. Is a reunion with Andrade on the horizon?
• Woods pointed to the empty seats at ringside, where his family was supposed to be watching.
• Rapper Lil Yachty and Woods' family revealed "New Day Sucks" shirts, infuriating Woods and providing just enough of a distraction to cost him the match.

Bianca Belair and Naomi vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez

Jey Uso hit the ring alongside rapper Quavo and cut a quick promo on top of the announce table, revealing his intent to win the men's Rumble match on Saturday.

Back from a commercial break, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez battled women's tag team champions Bianca Belair and Naomi in a non-title matchup, just 24 hours before the latter tandem was slated to defend against Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend on NXT.

A hot start from the babyfaces was negated during the commercial break as the heels seized control of the contest.

Rodriguez and Morgan worked over Naomi. An enzuigiri from The Glow created separation between her and Rodriguez and allowed her to make the hot tag to Belair, who exploded into the match and took the fight to both opponents.

Late on, as Belair delivered the Kiss of Death to Morgan, Dominik Mysterio provided a distraction. The EST of WWE wiped him out at ringside while Naomi delivered a split-legged moonsault. Rodriguez ran interference and dropped Naomi on the apron, and Morgan scored the tainted victory.

The match itself was fine, if not mistimed once or twice, but the outcome was most important. Morgan and Rodriguez now appear poised to challenge for the tag team titles. And with Jade Cargill soon returning to avenge the attack that left her sidelined, WWE could be plotting a switch shortly.

If that is the case, it would be an effective way to keep Morgan and Rodriguez involved in a title program, essentially ensuring their place on the WrestleMania card.

Grade

Morgan and Rodriguez defeated Naomi and Belair

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "I can beat him [Gunther]," Uso told his fans.

• Backstage, Bayley interrupted Rhea Ripley and implied she may win the women's Rumble match and challenge Mami for the Women's World Championship. From there, The Role Model was interrupted by former teammate-turned-rival, Iyo Sky.

• Rodriguez still appears to be a bit off. She needs more consistent in-ring performances to return to the level she was at before her hiatus.

Paul Heyman Reveals WWE 2K25 Cover

Paul Heyman could cut a promo on a can of soup that would engage fans and convince them to invest in him.

The Hall of Famer revealed Roman Reigns will serve as the cover star on this year's WWE 2K25 video game, then turned his attention to Saturday's Royal Rumble.

Heyman put over the 29 other stars as mere roadblocks in The Tribal Chief's path back to the Undisputed WWE Championship.

As Heyman wrapped up, Drew McIntyre confronted the advocate for The OTC.

He documented his link to the creation of The Bloodline and told Heyman he was simply looking for a "thank you."

McIntyre vowed to toss Heyman's "boy" over the top rope but clarified he was not talking about Reigns but rather CM Punk.

This was a great little teaser for the Royal Rumble. It added the element of Heyman's allegiance to both Punk and Reigns and how that may play out, especially with the specter of Punk's favor hanging overhead.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "I am the one behind the one vs. 29," Heyman said, hyping Reigns' appearance at the Royal Rumble. 
• "When Elon Musk colonizes Mars, Roman Reigns will be the biggest star on that planet, too." 
• Heyman claimed 29 others in the men's Rumble match want to be Reigns and even rattled off a few names, though not directly naming Punk in that mix.
• "I'm the daddy of The Bloodline," McIntyre said before reliving how he indirectly led to the faction's formation, beginning with his win over Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36.

Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre

Sami Zayn entered Monday night looking to earn his first victory over Drew McIntyre and continue his path to his first world title.

However, he would have to overcome a potentially shattered nose and the physical punishment of The Scottish Warrior.

Zayn turned in a valiant performance, shaking off the difficulty of simply breathing to remain in the fight late.

He delivered a Blue Thunder Bomb to McIntyre but could only net a two-count. Instead of following up, he scaled the ropes, where his opponent delivered an overhead throw.

Zayn dodged a Claymore, earned a roll-up for two and set up for the Helluva Kick, which McIntyre evaded. The Scot scooped up his opponent and used the ropes for added leverage to score the tainted victory.

After the match, McIntyre attacked Zayn, only for Cody Rhodes to make the save. The hometown hero cleared The Scottish Warrior from the ring but caught a sneak attack from Kevin Owens.

McIntyre attacked, and Zayn attempted a Helluva Kick and accidentally struck Rhodes.

Not only did this keep alive the narrative that Zayn cannot beat McIntyre and the desperate babyface is errantly kicking his fellow fan favorites, but it adds to the idea that Zayn could help Owens win the Undisputed WWE Championship Saturday when The American Nightmare defends in a ladder match.

Monday's contest great, and everything that followed was equally as good and potentially more meaningful from a grander storyline perspective.

Result

McIntyre defeated Zayn

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Backstage, Penta interrupted intercontinental champion Bron Breakker, hinting at a feud between the two in the coming weeks and months.
• Cole revealed Zayn is 0-10 against McIntyre. This is a small detail, but it added gravity to the match's significance and enhanced the rivalry's one-sidedness.
• Zayn bled heavily from his nose, which may have been broken in the battle with The Scottish Warrior.

Cody Rhodes Promo

Still recovering from Zayn's kick, Cody Rhodes touted working more matches than any other WWE Superstar while proving that being champion is more than just about holding the belt.

CM Punk interrupted and went face-to-face with the undisputed WWE champion.

He talked to Rhodes about the grind he has been on and will continue to be on and how it will affect his immediate future as champion before dropping the bombshell: If and when he wins the men's Rumble, he is coming to take the title from The American Nightmare.

The intensity ratcheted up from there, each barb from one to the other a little more cutting and personal before Rhodes ended by claiming he would show Punk who the best in the world really is.

This was a phenomenal promo and one that few would have seen coming. There had been so many other WrestleMania expectations and teases that the concept of Punk vs. Rhodes never really crossed anyone's mind...until Monday.

Thanks to the extraordinary work of both men, both expert storytellers with microphones in their hands, it is no longer a "possibility" but instead a match that many will deem a necessity.

A year ago on the go-home episode of Raw, Rhodes and Punk crossed paths. Five days later, The American Nightmare bested Punk in the men's Rumble.

This year, it will be interesting to see if The Best in the World can win the 30-man battle and cash his ticket to a showdown with Rhodes.

Grade

A+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "I know what that title can do to someone. I was champion for 434 historic days and somewhere around the 300-day mark...I was burned out," Punk said.
• "I don't have a lot of friends but CM Punk...you're my friend. Right?" Rhodes said.
• "Because I'm your one true friend, I'm going to stab you in the front," Punk told the champion.
• "The dynamic has completely changed. Do you know why? Because I'm not chasing you; you're chasing me. And friend, I hope you win the Royal Rumble, I really do, because I want you to catch up," Rhodes said.
• "There's a graveyard full of careers who wanted me to catch them...right up until I did," Punk responded.
• "I want to see the look on your face when you realize The Best in the World isn't the best in the world anymore," Rhodes said to end the promo.

Overall Grade

This was a strong show before Rhodes and Punk encountered each other in the closing promo and it just got better from there.

That exclamation point on the broadcast set the stage for a men's Rumble match that feels as unpredictable as ever, with so many stars, stories and potential WrestleMania main events circling.

The in-ring content was solid this week, but it was the promo segments bookending the show that helped establish it as an effective go-home broadcast, even if the build for the women's Rumble match has been almost nonexistent outside of Charlotte Flair's impending return.

Raw is red-hot right now and should continue that streak on the Road to WrestleMania after the Royal Rumble

Grade: B+