WWE Raw Results October 26, 2026: Becky Lynch Wins by DQ, Sami Zayn Retains and Bayley Goes to War With Lyra Valkyria
By Taeler Hendrix | October 26, 2026
WWE Monday Night Raw arrived at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, with Crown Jewel approaching, championship opportunities hanging in the balance, and several Superstars apparently determined to make life considerably more complicated for themselves.
And judging by Monday's developments, WWE had no intention of making anyone's evening particularly easy.
We had a last-minute championship match, a WWE Champion developing an increasingly impressive ego, a No Disqualification Match that practically required its own furniture inventory, and not one, but two Money in the Bank situations that left their respective championship pictures considerably more complicated.
Somewhere backstage, Adam Pearce probably contemplated whether becoming a professional wrestling General Manager was really the career move he thought it was.
But beneath the chaos, there were several interesting developments worth examining.
Because Monday's Raw wasn't simply about who won and who lost.
It was about ambition, respect, championship responsibility, and the increasingly complicated relationships developing ahead of Crown Jewel.
## Stephanie Vaquer Ruled Out as Becky Lynch Receives an Unexpected Championship Opportunity
Raw opened with General Manager Adam Pearce announcing that Stephanie Vaquer had not been medically cleared to compete.
The announcement forced WWE to abandon the previously advertised No. 1 Contender's Match between Vaquer and Becky Lynch.
Rather than postpone the championship picture entirely, Pearce announced that Lynch would challenge Liv Morgan for the Women's World Championship later that evening.
And just like that, a match originally designed to determine the next challenger became an immediate championship opportunity.
From a storytelling perspective, that's an interesting adjustment.
Injuries and medical restrictions are unfortunate realities of professional wrestling, but how a company responds to those circumstances can create opportunities for other performers.
And Lynch certainly wasn't about to complain about receiving a championship match without having to win the originally scheduled qualifier.
I mean, would you?
Sami Zayn Defeats Je'Von Evans to Retain the WWE Championship
**Winner: Sami Zayn, via pinfall**
If Sami Zayn's intention was to convince everyone that he's becoming increasingly insufferable, congratulations. Mission accomplished.
The Undisputed WWE Champion interrupted Pearce and launched into an extended argument about respect, recognition, and his place among WWE's greatest performers.
Zayn also took aim at Roman Reigns, suggesting that his former Bloodline associate receives preferential treatment while other performers are left fighting for recognition.
There was even a suggestion that Fresno wasn't exactly at the top of anyone's preferred travel itinerary.
A bold strategy when you're standing in front of the people who paid to see you.
Je'Von Evans eventually interrupted, challenging Zayn's attitude and making it clear that he wasn't particularly interested in listening to another lecture about the champion's accomplishments.
Pearce responded by making an impromptu WWE Championship match official.
And to Evans' credit, he made the most of the opportunity.
His athleticism and explosive offense presented legitimate problems for Zayn, whose experience ultimately proved decisive.
But there was another complication.
Penta, who holds the men's Money in the Bank contract, appeared to be preparing to cash in during the championship encounter. Bron Breakker intervened, preventing Penta from capitalizing on the situation.
Zayn ultimately connected with the Helluva Kick on Evans to retain his championship.
But the story didn't end with the pinfall.
Following the match, Bron Breakker attacked Evans, prompting Penta to intervene.
Bronson Reed joined the confrontation, and The Vision overwhelmed both men. Breakker delivered another punishing attack before Reed followed with a Tsunami, leaving Evans and Penta laid out.
**My Take:**
I find Zayn's character development particularly interesting because there's something almost painfully believable about a performer becoming consumed by the recognition he believes he's owed.
And professional wrestling is certainly an industry where that happens.
There's a difference between understanding your value and becoming so preoccupied with proving that value that you begin undermining the very qualities that made audiences appreciate you in the first place.
Zayn has spent years portraying someone fighting for acceptance.
Now he's champion, and suddenly acceptance doesn't appear to be enough.
So here's the question: Is Sami finally becoming the person he always believed he deserved to be, or is he becoming the kind of person he once resented?
That's a considerably more interesting story than simply giving a champion a larger ego.
As for Evans, his performance reinforced why WWE continues positioning him as someone worth watching.
Athleticism can get an audience's attention. But learning when to use it, how to build anticipation, and how to make those moments matter is what transforms an exciting performer into a dependable main-event talent.
Evans has the physical tools.
The next challenge is continuing to develop everything surrounding them.
And Penta's involvement introduces another question entirely.
How long can a champion remain comfortable knowing that someone nearby has a contractual opportunity to challenge for his championship at an unpredictable moment?
Because that's the real beauty of Money in the Bank.
The threat doesn't necessarily need to become a successful cash-in to change the way a champion behaves.
Sometimes simply knowing that opportunity exists is enough.
Bayley Defeats Lyra Valkyria in a Brutal No Disqualification Match
**Winner: Bayley, via submission**
If anyone was hoping Bayley and Lyra Valkyria might settle their differences through a respectful conversation, I regret to inform you that several steel chairs, kendo sticks, a broom, and at least one table had other plans.
Their No Disqualification Match quickly became one of the evening's most physically demanding encounters.
Both women used the stipulation aggressively, incorporating weapons and the surrounding environment into a match that became increasingly punishing as it progressed.
The action included a dive through a table, followed later by Bayley delivering a diving elbow drop that sent her opponent crashing through another table at ringside.
Valkyria also delivered several impressive counters, demonstrating that she was more than willing to match Bayley's aggression.
But ultimately, Bayley secured the victory by applying a crossface with assistance from a kendo stick, forcing Valkyria to submit.
And I have to give both women credit.
This was the kind of stipulation match where the physicality actually contributed to the story.
There's an important distinction.
Anyone can introduce weapons into a match. That doesn't automatically make the match compelling.
The real challenge is ensuring that every escalation feels purposeful.
As a wrestler, I've always appreciated performers who understand that brutality isn't simply about how hard you can hit someone or how many objects you can introduce into the equation.
It's about making the audience understand why the characters have reached that level of aggression.
And equally important, knowing when to allow a moment to register before immediately moving on to the next one.
Bayley's experience was evident, while Valkyria demonstrated that she could hold her own in an environment requiring a different kind of intensity.
Was every weapon necessary? That's always debatable.
But did the match communicate the animosity between these women?
Absolutely.
And that's what matters.
IYO SKY Defeats Raquel Rodriguez, but Judgment Day Gets the Last Word
**Winner: IYO SKY, via pinfall**
IYO SKY scored an important non-title victory over Women's Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez, securing the pinfall with a victory roll.
But any celebration was short-lived.
Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez attacked SKY following the match, ensuring that Judgment Day remained a central presence in the increasingly crowded women's championship picture.
And I think there's something worth discussing here.
A champion losing a non-title match can create a legitimate opportunity for a challenger.
But that opportunity needs to lead somewhere meaningful.
Otherwise, victories over champions risk becoming just another weekly occurrence rather than accomplishments that genuinely elevate the winner.
SKY is an exceptional performer whose athleticism, timing, and ability to communicate through movement make her consistently entertaining.
But what makes her particularly effective is that her offense rarely feels tentative.
She commits.
And that commitment matters.
Professional wrestling requires performers to convince audiences that what they're doing is important, even when the audience knows they're watching a carefully constructed performance.
SKY understands that.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, has the physical presence to be an intimidating champion, but WWE needs to ensure that her character remains more than simply another obstacle placed in front of whichever woman Judgment Day happens to be targeting.
There's potential for a compelling championship rivalry here.
Let's hope the follow-through matches it.
Big Cass and Ethan Page Defeat Chad Gable and Dragon Lee
**Winners: Big Cass and Ethan Page, via pinfall**
Big Cass and Ethan Page continued building momentum with a victory over Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable and Dragon Lee.
The match brought together contrasting styles, with Gable and Lee relying on technical ability and athleticism against the size and physicality of Cass and the opportunistic instincts of Page.
Ultimately, Page and Cass secured the victory with the Ego-Plex.
And this is where tag-team psychology becomes particularly important.
When you have performers with noticeably different strengths, the objective shouldn't be to make everyone wrestle the same match.
It's to use those differences.
A smaller, faster wrestler shouldn't necessarily approach a larger opponent as though the size disadvantage doesn't exist.
And a powerhouse shouldn't abandon what makes that physical advantage believable simply because everyone else is moving at a faster pace.
The most effective matches understand those distinctions and build around them.
Gable and Lee are capable of producing outstanding technical sequences, while Cass and Page offer a contrasting combination that can create interesting situations.
The question now is whether this victory translates into a meaningful direction for the winning team.
Because collecting victories is one thing.
Turning those victories into momentum that audiences actually recognize is another.
The Vision, Penta and Je'Von Evans Head Toward Crown Jewel
Following the earlier confrontation involving Zayn, Evans, Penta, and The Vision, Adam Pearce made another significant announcement.
Penta and Je'Von Evans will challenge The Vision for the World Tag Team Championships at Crown Jewel.
The Vision subsequently accepted the challenge.
And there's something appealing about the pairing of Evans and Penta.
Both possess explosive offensive abilities and the potential to create some spectacular sequences together.
But there's also an important distinction between two exciting singles wrestlers sharing a corner and an actual tag team.
Chemistry isn't automatic.
It has to be developed.
Knowing where your partner is, anticipating their movements, understanding when to take control and when to allow them to shine — those are skills that matter just as much as individual athleticism.
And against opponents who have already established their collective identity, that difference can become particularly important.
Can Evans and Penta translate their individual talents into a coordinated championship performance?
That's what I'll be watching.
Solo Sikoa Accepts Royce Keys' Challenge as John Cena's Return Is Announced
Elsewhere on Raw, Solo Sikoa accepted Royce Keys' challenge, setting up another confrontation involving The Bloodline.
The developing rivalry continues to give Keys an opportunity to establish himself against a recognizable WWE name.
And that's an opportunity that needs to be used wisely.
A major opponent can provide visibility, but visibility alone doesn't establish a character.
What matters is what the audience learns about that performer through the rivalry.
WWE also announced that John Cena will return to Raw next week in Brooklyn, with the November 2 broadcast scheduled for a special 6 p.m. Eastern start time.
Cena's presence naturally brings additional attention, but the more interesting question is how WWE uses that attention to benefit its current stories and performers.
A returning star can generate excitement.
A well-utilized returning star can help create excitement for someone else, too.
Becky Lynch Defeats Liv Morgan by Disqualification as Tiffany Stratton Nearly Cashes In
**Winner: Becky Lynch, via disqualification — Liv Morgan retains the Women's World Championship**
Monday's main event saw Becky Lynch challenge Liv Morgan for the Women's World Championship following Stephanie Vaquer's removal from the originally advertised contender's match.
The two women delivered a competitive encounter, with Lynch repeatedly threatening to end Morgan's championship reign.
But as the match progressed, Judgment Day became increasingly involved.
Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez interfered on Morgan's behalf, eventually interrupting a pinfall attempt and causing the referee to call for the disqualification.
Lynch won the match.
Morgan kept the championship.
And somewhere in the complicated world of professional wrestling logic, everyone involved probably found a reason to be unhappy.
The situation deteriorated further after the bell.
Judgment Day attempted to continue its assault on Lynch, prompting Chelsea Green and IYO SKY to intervene.
SKY delivered a moonsault to Rodriguez on the outside, while Green struck Morgan with the Un-Pretty-Her. Lynch also fought back against Perez.
Then came Tiffany Stratton.
Armed with her Money in the Bank briefcase, Stratton rushed to the ring and connected with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Morgan.
For a moment, it appeared that the Women's World Championship was about to change hands.
Stratton attempted to initiate her cash-in, but Dominik Mysterio pulled Morgan out of the ring before the championship match could officially begin.
No new champion.
No successful cash-in.
And another week of Tiffany Stratton being approximately one decision away from changing the entire women's championship landscape.
**My Take:**
I understand the purpose of protecting a champion through a disqualification.
It's a useful storytelling tool.
But like most tools in professional wrestling, its effectiveness depends on how frequently it's used and whether the eventual payoff justifies the frustration.
A controversial finish can make audiences desperate to see a rematch.
Too many controversial finishes can make them question whether investing in the next match is worth their time.
And there's a significant difference between creating anticipation and creating exhaustion.
The same applies to Money in the Bank.
The briefcase is supposed to represent opportunity, unpredictability, and the constant possibility that a championship reign could end at any moment.
But there's only so long you can repeatedly approach the edge of that possibility without eventually delivering something meaningful.
Tiffany Stratton doesn't necessarily need to cash in immediately.
However, each failed or interrupted attempt should ideally change something about her character, her strategy, or the circumstances surrounding the champion.
Otherwise, the briefcase risks becoming less of a threat and more of a recurring prop.
And that's a shame, because there's enormous storytelling potential in the concept.
To Stratton's credit, she didn't waste time once she entered the ring. She attacked, hit her signature offense, and attempted to capitalize on an opportunity.
Dominik's intervention was the difference.
And that's precisely the kind of detail that can make an unsuccessful cash-in attempt feel less like a wrestler making an inexplicably poor decision and more like a believable obstacle within the story.
As for Morgan, her championship reign is becoming increasingly intertwined with Judgment Day's involvement.
That can work, provided the audience still believes the champion herself is dangerous.
A heel champion doesn't have to win cleanly every week.
But she does need to retain enough credibility that her eventual defeat feels like an accomplishment.
That's the balance WWE needs to maintain...
Final Thoughts: Strong Wrestling, Complicated Characters and the Importance of the Payoff
Overall, Monday's Raw delivered several compelling developments as WWE continues building toward Crown Jewel.
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria deserve particular praise for their physically demanding No Disqualification Match.
Je'Von Evans made the most of his opportunity against Sami Zayn, while Zayn's increasingly self-important attitude added another intriguing layer to his championship reign.
IYO SKY's victory over Raquel Rodriguez created another potential opening in the women's division, and the announcement of Penta and Evans challenging The Vision gives Crown Jewel an additional championship storyline.
Meanwhile, two separate Money in the Bank situations reminded audiences just how quickly a championship picture can change.
Or almost change.
But the main event also highlighted something I believe professional wrestling companies need to remain mindful of.
An audience's emotional investment is something you earn. And something you can lose. It's not enough to introduce conflict, promise consequences, and continually suggest that something important is about to happen. Eventually, something important actually needs to happen. And when it does, the audience should feel rewarded for having invested their time, attention, and emotions in getting there.
As someone who has spent time inside a wrestling ring, I appreciate the amount of work that goes into constructing these stories. The performers have to execute them physically. The creative team has to build them logically. And everyone involved has to understand what the audience is supposed to feel. When those elements work together, professional wrestling can be extraordinary.
When they don't, even talented performers can find themselves fighting an uphill battle against the presentation.
Monday's Raw had plenty of talent. It had several strong matches. And it had enough developing rivalries to make the coming weeks interesting. Now comes the responsibility of delivering on those stories. Because the most important question isn't simply whether WWE can make us tune in next week.
It's whether the company can make us feel that tuning in was worth it.
And that, ultimately, is the difference between filling television time and creating professional wrestling that people remember.
Wrestling Written By A Wrestler | Only on Taelerhendrix.com