Pic credits : Bleacher report
The road to Night of Champions is heating up, and this week’s WWE Raw on June 16 packed a mix of strong in-ring action, developing rivalries, and a few surprise appearances. As the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continued to unfold, new storylines and high drama kept the WWE Universe on edge.
Liv Morgan Calls Out Iyo Sky and Sparks Mayhem
The night opened with Liv Morgan stepping into the spotlight. Backed by Dominik Mysterio, she bragged about taking down Nikki Bella last week. Morgan then demanded a rematch with Iyo Sky for the title.
Her aggressive promo quickly led to chaos as Sky charged in, clearing the ring. While this feud now has clear direction, the segment lacked depth and didn’t elevate the rivalry as much as expected.
Grade: C
Queen of the Ring Quarterfinal Delivers High Impact Showdown
Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, Ivy Nile, and Stephanie Vaquer clashed in a thrilling four-way battle in the Queen of the Ring tournament. Early on, Asuka and Vaquer teamed up, only to turn on each other moments later.
The match saw Vaquer briefly dominate before momentum shifted back and forth. Just as Rodriguez was about to win, Rhea Ripley ambushed her with a Riptide. Asuka capitalized with a hip strike for the pinfall victory.
A hard-hitting match with fast-paced sequences, this bout kept fans invested throughout.
Result: Asuka wins and advances
Grade: B
Gunther vs Goldberg Official for Main Event
Gunther celebrated reclaiming the World Heavyweight Championship from Jey Uso. While acknowledging Uso’s WrestleMania performance, Gunther claimed he remains untouchable every other night.
Then came the moment fans anticipated—Goldberg made his return. He congratulated Gunther, then issued a challenge for Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12.
Though heavily rumored, this faceoff felt significant. The brief segment was effective and didn’t overstay its welcome.
Grade: C+
AJ Styles Defeats JD McDonagh in Solid Singles Match
JD McDonagh looked to redeem himself against AJ Styles, especially after Dom Mysterio ordered Finn Balor to stay out of it. Despite his best efforts, JD couldn’t keep Styles down.
Styles delivered a veteran performance, countering a distraction attempt and finishing the match with a Styles Clash. Balor rushed in afterward to shield Dom from a Phenomenal Forearm. Styles then held the IC title aloft, possibly signaling his next goal.
This match showcased great chemistry and crisp storytelling, though it deserved more time.
Result: AJ Styles defeats JD McDonagh
Grade: B+
Bayley and Becky Lynch Set Up Their Title Clash
Bayley returned to the ring and declared that her purpose lies in performing for fans—not chasing titles. But the crowd knew better, and so did Becky Lynch, who interrupted her.
Lynch took a dig at Bayley’s absence from WrestleMania and challenged her to an IC title match. After a brief scuffle, Bayley stood tall, leaving Lynch on the mat.
This segment built anticipation for their match, though the promo exchange felt routine.
Grade: C+
Final Thoughts: WWE Raw Delivers Action but Lacks Momentum
While WWE Raw on June 16 featured quality matches and progressed several rivalries, it still had pacing issues. Only one match took place in the first hour, and some promos fell flat. However, the Queen of the Ring match and AJ Styles’ bout stood out, proving WWE’s women and mid-card talent can carry the show.
With Goldberg vs. Gunther set and Morgan targeting Iyo Sky, the buildup to Night of Champions looks promising—but Raw needs more consistent fire to truly engage fans each week.
