Podcast Summary: “John Cena Comes Home to Springfield: Raw Recap, September 15, 2025”

Podcast: Raw Recap with Sam Roberts and Megan Morant
Host: WWE x Fanatics Podcasts
Date: September 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delivers an energetic rundown of the September 15th Monday Night Raw—“the go-home Raw” before Wrestle Palooza. Hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant unpack the dramatic angles around the Usos, John Cena’s homecoming, major plotlines like CM Punk & AJ Lee’s return and Dominik Mysterio’s rise, plus chaotic backstage twists. With a blend of informed wrestling analysis and insider banter, Sam and Megan are joined by Big E to break down “the wildest Raw in ages” and look ahead to Saturday’s big event.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jey Uso vs. L.A. Knight: Fractured Alliances

• Tension within The Usos: After a brief reunion, Jey and Jimmy Uso’s alliance is quickly falling apart. Jimmy refuses to tag with L.A. Knight, which Jey takes as a personal affront.
• Adam Pearce’s Intervention: Adam Pearce threatens to dock Superstars’ pay, leading to accusations of abuse of power.
  • “I’ve never watched an episode of Monday Night Raw where I’m like, oh, the priority for Adam Pearce is keeping his Superstars under control.” (Sam, 03:03)
• Match & Fallout: Jey attempts to help Jimmy during a beatdown. Tension erupts ringside between Jey and L.A. Knight, with Knight teasing a chair shot before embracing Jey—then blindsiding him with a BFT.
  • “L.A. Knight from behind grabs Jey Uso, BFT to the canvas. Jey’s face… And you have to wonder, when Jimmy looks on and realizes what has happened, is he thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, maybe Jey was right. These guys don’t have our backs at all?’” (Sam, 06:10)
• Trust Issues: Megan and Sam debate whether Jey was justified in not trusting anyone outside the family.
  • “Are we show friends or are we show business?” (Megan, 09:20)

[07:10] Jey Uso’s mysterious phone call—possible family, Roman, or Heyman involvement—raises more Bloodline intrigue.

John Cena’s Springfield Return & No-Politics Promo

• Homecoming Moment: Cena gets a hero’s welcome in Springfield, his football roots highlighted with his old number 54 and a custom entrance.
  • “It was packed out. They brought in the small screens…to see John Cena, who had apparently played football just down the road.” (Sam, 15:59)
• Promo Substance: Cena addresses rumors about “politicking,” saying he could have backed out of the Lesnar match but lives for big moments and won’t hide.
  • “He said he doesn’t play politics in the back…He said, yeah, he’s afraid, but he’s not going to back down.” (Sam, 17:17/20:57)
• Cena vs. Lesnar Legacy: Discussion highlights their careers’ intertwined paths and how Lesnar’s unpredictability—and past brutal wins—make outcome at Wrestle Palooza anything but certain.
  • “Brock Lesnar destroyed John Cena. And we’ve seen this in…WrestleMania 34…That’s the story of Brock. So there is this version here where, like, in my mind, I’m going, yeah, John Cena’s got to win this…Oh, wait, it’s Brock.” (Sam, 24:36)

[16:08] Cena’s Springfield tribute and promo

[20:34] Sam and Megan relive Lesnar’s historic victories over Cena

The Bloodline: Trauma, Trust, and Transformation

• “Hurt people hurt people. Is Jey exercising trauma deep down that we saw in his eyes when we were going through the tribal court?” (Sam, 11:27)
• Sam asks whether Jay’s time as world champion addressed or just masked the old “Roman trauma,” and whether distrust/alienation is re-emerging.
• Megan and Sam dissect family accusations, label-slinging (“You sound like Roman!”), and whether old wounds are surfacing.
  • “When Jimmy looks at Jay and he says, ‘I don’t see an oola fala around your neck’…it’s stuff only family could say.” (Sam & Megan, 10:16)

[13:37] Jey's mysterious phone call—speculation: Roman, Heyman, or Solo?

CM Punk & AJ Lee Return: The Mixed Tag “Nobody Saw Coming”

• Hype and Surprise: The mixed tag of Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch is called “the match nobody saw coming.” Punk and AJ present a united, functional couple, contrasted against Seth & Becky’s champion chemistry.
  • “AJ Lee comes back to light it up. And we saw the face to face tonight. Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch dressed like the Elvis 68 comeback special.” (Sam, 27:57)
• Verbal Warfare: The segment’s highlight comes as Seth Rollins cuts deep on CM Punk’s history of walking away and AJ’s long layoff.
  • “CM Punk gets up and leaves when he feels like things have let him down…so you better pray that when [Becky] beats you, he doesn’t leave you, too.” (Seth Rollins, summarized by Sam, 33:18)
• Ring rust, vulnerabilities & emotion: Megan notes Becky’s strategy of reading opponents’ autobiographies and using AJ’s neck injury; concern over Punk’s emotion clouding judgment.
  • “She’s going to read up on her opponent. She’s not one to overlook any opponent, even though she is the greatest female wrestler of all time.” (Megan, 29:18)
• Segment finishes with Seth & Becky outsmarting Punk & AJ, then sharing a show-stealing kiss.
  • “The best part of Monday Night Raw. Becky and Seth just…kissing, macking on each other…Didn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy?” (Megan, 35:18)
  • “It made me feel like my parents were kissing and it was like, what are you guys doing?” (Sam, 35:54)

[27:31] Mixed Tag confrontation

[32:40] Seth cuts deep on Punk

[34:58] Becky unleashes a barrage of slaps, followed by “the smooch”

Dominik Mysterio: Double Champ, Judgment Day Fractures, and Nuggies

• Dominik’s Momentum: Dominik wins the “Mega Intercontinental Championship” and faces jealousy from Finn Balor.
• Hosts grill Big E: Do you respect Dominik now?
  • “For you to paint me as someone who has just continued to deny Dom and his ability, that—that is highly incorrect. Can it not just be your side and my side? God forbid we have conversations with layers.” (Big E, 47:55)
• Nuggetgate: Finn spills champagne on Dom’s chicken nuggets, leading to visible rage, providing comic relief but also showing Judgment Day’s internal cracks.
  • “He was furious when he saw that champagne hit the nugs…Stared right at him. I thought he was going to turn into Cyclops from the X Men.” (Sam, 48:42)

[46:55] Big E on Dominik’s success

[48:33] The nugget-spilling incident

Women’s Division: Bailey’s Return and Multiple Faces

• Bailey’s Split Personality: Bailey returns after weeks of odd vignettes. She swings between classic “hugger” and unpredictable, volatile.
  • “We got to see the hugger, and we got to see the…call everybody idiot version of Bailey.” (Sam, 41:44)
  • “Is this some kind of split personality? Is she playing mind games here?” (Big E, 41:44)
• Locker Room Segments: Bailey gets her own locker room, shouts at “herself,” perplexes Lyra, and acts out unpredictably during and after her segment.
  • “I was a little taken aback to see that she not only has her own room…there was a lot of yelling in there, but it was just Bailey.” (Big E, 44:44)

[41:05] Big E analyzes Bailey’s mindset

[43:20] Lyra & Bailey’s uneasy truce

Women’s World Championship Build: Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane & Stephanie Vacair

• Dissension Inside Damage CTRL: Iyo’s title push causes tension with her former friends Asuka and Kairi. Asuka’s possessiveness grows, mirroring real-life friend groups irked by another’s rising star.
  • “It’s very easy when you have a trio…and now one member is…the one that’s on the posters. Where are we?” (Big E, 52:55)
• Rhea Ripley Loitering: Rhea makes it clear she’s gunning for whomever emerges as champ. Stephanie Vacair’s late arrival to the contract signing fuels speculation.
• Host Banter: Sam and Megan compare Asuka’s controlling ways to Sam yelling at Megan to finish backstage conversations.
  • “Just from down the hall, I’ll go, ‘Megan!’ and Megan will get startled and have to come and walk away.” (Sam, 55:17)

[52:55] Big E on trios and jealousy

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Are we show friends or we show business?” (Megan, 09:20)
• “Hurt people hurt people. Is Jey exercising trauma deep down…?” (Sam, 11:27)
• “Brock Lesnar destroyed John Cena. And we’ve seen this in…That’s the story of Brock.” (Sam, 24:36)
• “CM Punk gets up and leaves when he feels like things have let him down…you better pray that when [Becky] beats you, he doesn’t leave you, too.” (Seth, paraphrased by Sam, 33:18)
• “I love how she doesn’t just deliver one slap. She always does multiple.” (Megan on Becky, 35:02)
• “For you to paint me as someone who has just continued to deny Dom and his ability, that—that is highly incorrect.” (Big E, 47:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:01–13:37] Usos/L.A. Knight/Bloodline fallout, Jey’s phone call
• [15:52–22:13] John Cena homecoming promo & Lesnar rivalry history
• [27:31–36:53] CM Punk & AJ Lee segment, Mixed Tag build, major slaps & kiss
• [41:05–47:55] Big E on Bailey’s return, mental wear and personalities
• [46:55–50:00] Dominik’s ascension & “Nuggetgate”
• [52:55–55:00] Iyo Sky, Asuka/Kairi tension over title shot; team dynamics

Episode Tone & Style

Sam and Megan maintain witty, self-deprecating humor, lean into insider references, and keep their wrestling analysis fan-accessible but thoughtful. Frequent “hot takes” are exchanged amid backstage stories and rapid-fire jokes. Big E brings a performer’s insight, deepening the analysis with empathy and comic honesty.

Final Takeaways

This packed Raw Recap showcases all the seething tension, painful betrayals, and high-caliber nostalgia that set the stage for Wrestle Palooza. From Cena’s heartfelt Springfield return to the fractured Usos and the unexpected mixed tag, Sam and Megan keep the pace electric. The return of Bailey, the rise of Dominik, and the bickering inside Damage CTRL add emotional punch. As the hosts tease the Wrestle Palooza preview, anticipation for WWE’s next chapter is at a fever pitch.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Wrestle Palooza preview episode with Sam, Megan, and Big E!