Updated

Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 28

Raquel Rodriguez Wins Women's Intercontinental Title on Raw, Ending Sol Ruca's Reign After 2 Defenses

Updated

Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 28

Raquel Rodriguez Wins Women's Intercontinental Title on Raw, Ending Sol Ruca's Reign After 2 Defenses

Q: Will Seth Rollins' brutal chair stomp on Roman Reigns guarantee his doom at SummerSlam, or is the championship finally his?

Rollins standing tall on Raw does not guarantee Roman Reigns beats him at SummerSlam, but it does make a title win for Rollins look less likely under standard WWE booking logic. The final image of the go-home show was clear: Rollins survived Reigns’ Superman Punch, spear and chair threat, then drilled him with a Stomp onto the chair. WWE often uses that kind of closing angle to give one wrestler momentum before a premium live event, only for the other to win the actual match. In that sense, the brutal Stomp may be a warning sign for Rollins rather than proof he is about to become champion. There is also the broader story context. Reigns is entering SummerSlam as World Heavyweight Champion, and this match is being framed as another defining chapter in a 14-year rivalry dating back to The Shield. Several outside previews and predictions tied to the event have leaned toward Reigns retaining, arguing that a fresh Reigns title run would lose value if he dropped the belt in his first major defense. Rollins, by contrast, can absorb a loss without falling out of the main-event picture. That said, Rollins has one credible path: the rivalry’s emotional history. His Raw promo showed he still has a psychological edge over Reigns, and WWE has repeatedly built this feud around Rollins being the man Reigns cannot fully solve. The strongest read is that the chair Stomp does not mean Rollins is doomed, but it more likely signals a Reigns retention than a Rollins coronation.

Q: Can Oba Femi survive the historic horrors of Hell in a Cell against Brock Lesnar after their tense 300-pound weigh-in showdown?

Yes — Oba Femi can realistically survive Brock Lesnar in Hell in a Cell, but the evidence suggests he will have to do it by enduring punishment rather than controlling the match. The Raw weigh-in underscored how little separates them physically: Femi at 302 pounds, Lesnar at 303. That matters because Lesnar usually carries a clear size and strength edge; here, he does not. Femi also projected confidence, warning that Lesnar would be “locked in” with him, and WWE has consistently presented him as a rare powerhouse rather than a conventional underdog. The broader storyline strengthens that case. Femi already beat Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, proving he can defeat him on a major stage. Lesnar answered by beating Femi at Clash in Italy, so SummerSlam is effectively the rubber match. That history suggests Femi is not being booked as someone out of his depth, but as Lesnar’s equal in a violent feud. The real risk is Lesnar’s experience. Paul Heyman’s argument on Raw was credible: Lesnar’s résumé in cage warfare is far deeper, and Hell in a Cell historically rewards veterans who know how to weaponize chaos, pacing and damage. The stipulation has destroyed far more seasoned stars than Femi. So the question is less whether Femi can survive, and more whether he can survive long enough to impose his own power. Based on his prior win over Lesnar, his physical parity and WWE’s framing of him as a rising force, survival is believable. Escaping unharmed is not.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 28

Raquel Rodriguez captured the Women's Intercontinental Championship on WWE Raw, beating Sol Ruca in Los Angeles just days before SummerSlam 2026.
Interference shaped the finish: Iyo Sky neutralized Liv Morgan, but Roxanne Perez pulled Ruca off the ropes, allowing Rodriguez to hit the Tejana Bomb for the title-winning pin.
The match turned chaotic after Ruca appeared to break Rodriguez's nose with a moonsault to the floor, leaving the challenger bloodied before rallying to win her first main-roster singles title.
Raw's final major angle before SummerSlam saw Seth Rollins stand tall over Roman Reigns after a face-to-face segment, while the overall show drew mixed marks as a go-home episode.