Top Moments from WWE Raw, September 8, 2025: 'Therapy' Chant, Jey Uso Teases Heel Turn, AJ Lee Delivers, & More

5. Jey Uso Teases Heel Turn

I don't think Jey turned heel last night, nor do I expect him to soon, but the tease adds a needed layer to his character. "Yeeting" is fun (my two-year-old son and I love it), but Jey needed an edge. With Roman's influence, Jey has realized that he might need to change, and that will keep his character fresh in the last stretch of 2025. What will be interesting is to see who the fans get behind: 'Yeah!' or 'Yeet!'?

4. Asuka is Gold

How good is Asuka these days? Several months ago, I would not have guessed that she'd be getting as much screen time as she is now, but she is proving why she is one of the most decorated women's wrestlers in company history. Her laugh, psychology, in-ring work, and slow burn are all working. I wondered what Nikki's submission loss would mean for her, but her pairing with Rhea Ripley will keep her occupied and position the Kabuki Warriors in a top spot.

3. Penta & Rusev Are Perfect Dance Partners

Penta and Rusev put together a solid match that fans would welcome seeing again. It was a good combination of styles. I was happy to see Rusev get the win. As I mentioned in my Clash in Paris review , WWE needs to get more mileage out of him, and these wins matter. Shout out to The New Day (and Grayson Waller) for continuing to entertain with their grief gimmick. I'm curious what the payoff will be. Will it involve Austin Theory or Big E?

2. Bayley Needs to Make It Right

This is the best work of Bayley's career. When it started to look like things could be winding down for the former world champion, WWE has turned that perceived decline into a compelling presentation of the future Hall of Famer. It remains to be seen how Lyra will be presented once Bayley returns live in front of fans. While Bayley could be the heel, the fans might say otherwise.

1. AJ Lee Connects at the Human Level

We will be talking about AJ's return promo for as long as she was away. AJ demonstrated the best of women's wrestling: no one saw her as a "women's" superstar during that promo, but just a top-level superstar — a relatable character whose words make sense, aura is undeniable, and ethos resonates at the human level. The 'Therapy!' chant was a special moment. Shout out to Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins, who continue to own their roles and generate more heat from the fans (was Becky's heat in Milwaukee louder than Chicago?). This is the match I am most excited about for WrestlePalooza.

Overall Show

This was a good edition of Monday Night Raw that moved us closer to WWE's debut on ESPN, WrestlePalooza. For the first time in a while, WWE star power feels equally spread between both Raw and SmackDown. In the words of 2014 Triple H, that's "best for business."