Raw Recap with Sam Roberts & Megan Morant

Episode: Rhea Ripley Prepares Her Team for WarGames
Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Raw Recap" dives into the pivotal Monday Night Raw before Survivor Series: WarGames, dissecting the final build to both men’s and women’s WarGames encounters. Sam Roberts and Megan Morant break down star-studded confrontations featuring Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Brock Lesnar, while also analyzing the charged women’s division showdown. The highlight: an in-depth interview with Rhea Ripley, who opens up about captaining her team, her dynamic with Charlotte Flair, and what it takes to win WarGames. The hosts further tackle the ongoing drama surrounding Becky Lynch, the return of fan-favorite AJ Lee, and the escalating John Cena–Dominik Mysterio rivalry, all leading into a blockbuster Survivor Series weekend.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Men’s WarGames Match: Power Plays and Old Rivalries

(01:12–19:35)

• Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes: Revisiting Epic Rivalries

  • Roman Reigns opens and closes Raw, reinforcing his dominance.
  • Cody Rhodes’ arrival triggers nostalgia for their epic pasts at WrestleManias 39 and 40.
  • Quote (Sam Roberts, 03:16):

    "There was something so special about seeing all different pairings of everybody in this match. But seeing Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns in the ring together made you go, oh yeah, that's right. WrestleMania 39, WrestleMania 40. One of the most epic sort of rivalries we've ever seen."

• Team Leadership and Family Ties

  • Tension over team leadership between Cody, Roman, and Punk: is Cody really the captain?
  • Roman positions himself as motivated by family, referencing his “investment” in the Usos.
  • Quote (Sam Roberts, 05:12):

    "...they lead two completely separate lives. And I think when you watch Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns in a WWE ring, they strike me as two people who have two very different philosophies of what the top guy is."

• CM Punk’s Involvement and Tensions

  • CM Punk brings levity but is quickly drawn into the gravitas of the moment.
  • Roman accuses Punk of “ruining [his] life” via the Paul Heyman connection—a personal and meta rivalry angle.
  • Quote (Sam Roberts, 09:30):

    "When Roman Reigns, Punk was like, 'I saved your life.' And Roman Reigns like, 'yeah, and then you ruined my life.'"

• The Battle for Advantage

  • Logistical matters: which team gains WarGames advantage? Heyman’s team clinches it thanks to Logan Paul pinning Jimmy Uso after comedic chaos with Drew McIntyre.
  • Quote (Sam Roberts, 17:11):

    "Logan Paul rolled up Jimmy USO and pinned him. Paul Heyman's team...has the War Games advantage."

• Roman’s Cool Leadership

  • Roman refuses to micromanage; always feels in control, even when physically absent from decisions.
  • Quote (Sam Roberts, 14:39):

    "At what point on Monday night Raw tonight, when Roman reigns was on the screen, was there any moment where you felt like Roman wasn't the one in control?"

2. Rhea Ripley Interview: Captain’s Perspective

Interview Segment: 22:08–37:38

• Preparing for WarGames—Physical and Mental

  • Rhea emphasizes the mental prep required by both her and her team. AJ Lee’s first WarGames presents additional responsibility.
  • Quote (Rhea Ripley, 22:08):

    "It is one of the most brutal matches that you could have here in the wwe. So I just need to mentally prepare and mentally get my team prepared as well."

• Choosing AJ Lee—A Calculated Gamble

  • Rhea details why she recruited AJ Lee: admiration for her scrappiness and fire.
  • Quote (Rhea Ripley, 24:32):

    "I want people to second guess her because of her size and then realize that she is a lot tougher than what...they think she is."

• Team Dynamics: Competitors on the Same Side

  • Acknowledges competitive egos (herself, Charlotte, AJ, Iyo) but notes they are united against a common enemy.
  • Quote (Rhea Ripley, 27:03):

    "Yes, we do all still think that we are the best, but we are also willing to put our egos aside...and that is to win War Games and beat the other team."

• Enemies Turned Allies: The Charlotte Flair Connection

  • Rhea reflects on her storied rivalry with Charlotte, drawing parallels in their ambition and drive.
  • Quote (Rhea Ripley, 30:32):

    "Each time she put me back in my place, I...learned a lot from her...I wanted the name Rhea Ripley to live on within the WWE forever."

• On the Opposing Team and Social Media Wars

  • Rhea downplays Becky Lynch’s “yapping” and social presence, seeing herself as a fighter over a talker.
  • Quote (Rhea Ripley, 33:27):

    "Becky's a talker, she is a yapper, she's a barker. Right where I'm a fighter, that's what I do."

• Personal Highs: Merchandise & Crossover Fame

  • Rhea enthuses about her collaboration with the Terrifier horror movie franchise and the WWE’s mainstream reach.
  • Quote (Rhea Ripley, 35:37):

    "It's so weird because I'm literally living my dream right now. Like, I'm here in the wwe. I'm accomplishing things that I've dreamt of as a kid..."

• Physical Readiness

  • She confirms she’ll wear a mask for nose protection during WarGames, possibly inspiring a new action figure.

3. Women’s WarGames Hype: Team Breakdown & Becky Lynch Drama

(41:28–53:08)

• Becky Lynch’s Role and Media Storm

  • Megan and Sam spar over Becky’s actions on and off TV, including legal protests and social media campaigns.
  • Becky’s push for legal action over AJ Lee’s ringside involvement makes headlines; Sam is even publicly “called out” by her.
  • Quote (Megan Morant, 43:00):

    "Finally, the greatest female wrestler of all time, Becky lynch, called you out on it."

• Building the Teams: Star Power Everywhere

  • Both teams are lauded for depth: Rhea’s side (herself, Charlotte, AJ Lee, Alexa Bliss, Iyo Sky) vs. Becky’s crew (herself, Nia Jax, Asuka, Kairi Sane, Lash Legend).
  • Quote (Sam Roberts, 49:04):

    "The assembling of talent that is in this match is nuts."

• Questions and Concerns

  • Lash Legend's readiness is debated, with Megan expressing confidence in the newcomer. AJ Lee’s ability to thrive in WarGames after years away also discussed.

• Asuka's Threat

  • Sam and Megan remind listeners not to sleep on Asuka’s history and ability to “remind people who she is in an instant.”

4. John Cena vs. Dominik Mysterio: Legacy and Farewell

(54:51–65:54)

• The Build: Cena’s Last Run

  • Sam and Megan reflect on Cena's approaching retirement, with this Saturday marking his last PLE (premium live event) before his final match.
  • Quote (Sam Roberts, 61:50):

    "Have you processed it yet?...do you have any idea the amount of adult wrestling fans that are going to be in tears on the 13th of December?"

• Dominik's Development & Fan Reactions

  • The crowd is back to booing Dom, and his confrontation with “mini John Cena” and “mini Stu” is a comedic highlight.
  • Dominic is positioned as Cena’s new foil, giving gravity to the generational torch-passing.

• Looking Ahead: Dominic’s Potential

  • Both hosts speculate on how this moment will resonate years from now as Dominik’s star continues to rise.
  • Quote (Megan Morant, 64:46):

    "It might be one of those things ten years from now when Dominik Mysterio...we'll look back at this story...and we'll go, wow. It was even more significant than we could have ever even wrapped our brains around in 2025."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Cody and Roman Face-Off:
  "Seeing Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns in the ring together made you go, oh yeah, that's right. WrestleMania 39, WrestleMania 40."
  — Sam Roberts (03:16)

• On Team Leadership:
  "Roman positions himself as more interested in his family, Cody as the team leader, Punk as the wild card. Roman lets everyone else argue about leadership and just asserts his cool authority."
  — Paraphrased throughout (13:03–15:35)

• Rhea Ripley on Mentoring AJ Lee:
  “I want...that fight. I want people to second guess her because of her size and then realize that she is a lot tougher than what they think she is.”
  — Rhea Ripley (24:32)

• On Becky Lynch’s Social Media Offensives:
  “Becky's a talker, she is a yapper, she's a barker. Right where I'm a fighter, that's what I do...But at the end of the day, when you step in the ring, what are they going to do? They're going to talk or they're going to fight? I'm here to fight.”
  — Rhea Ripley (33:27)

• Cena Farewell Reflections:
  "I wish somebody could tell you that you're in the good old days while you're still in them. And those were the days that we were booing John Cena."
  — Sam Roberts (61:50)

• Comedic Moment:

  • The mini John Cena and mini Stu segment led to both laughter and confusion, with production so elaborate even the hosts wondered if it was purely for the crew’s amusement. (57:33–58:45)

Important Timestamps

• (01:12) – Raw Recap Proper Begins: Major star power on Raw leading into WarGames
• (03:16) – Cody Rhodes confronts Roman Reigns; callbacks to past WrestleManias
• (09:30) – CM Punk/Heyman/Roman triangle tension revealed
• (17:11) – Logan Paul secures WarGames advantage for Heyman’s team
• (22:08) – Rhea Ripley Interview (mental prep, AJ Lee's role)
• (24:32) – Rhea explains why she chose AJ Lee
• (27:03) – Ripley talks team chemistry and rivalry with Charlotte
• (33:27) – Ripley addresses social media 'talkers' like Becky
• (35:37) – Ripley celebrates her Terrifier/WWE merch collaboration
• (41:28) – Becky Lynch’s influence and media blitz dissected
• (54:51) – John Cena's emotional farewell arc and Dominik’s rise
• (57:33) – Mini John Cena & Mini Stu comedy spot dissected
• (61:50) – Hosts reflect on Cena's legacy and the “good old days”

Final Thoughts

This episode masterfully captures the tension, nostalgia, and electricity of a loaded go-home Raw before Survivor Series: WarGames, balancing sharp wrestling analysis with backstage color and a touch of irreverent humor. The Rhea Ripley interview is a standout—full of candor, pride, and competitive focus—as she positions both herself and her alliance for historic success. Between high-level drama in the men's and women's main events, the torch-passing of John Cena, and social media intrigue with Becky Lynch, this Raw Recap provides everything a WWE fan could want leading into one of the industry's biggest annual weekends.