WWE Monday Night Raw rolled into Ottawa on August 24 with plenty of moving pieces and a clear focus on building toward the next major chapters for both the men’s and women’s divisions. From LA Knight’s confrontation with Roman Reigns to Stephanie Vaquer’s return, a World Heavyweight Championship tournament, and a heated Oba Femi-Bron Breakker contract signing, the episode packed a lot into three hours without losing sight of its bigger stories.

This was a busy, storyline-heavy episode built almost entirely around momentum heading toward Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6. LA Knight opened the show by calling out World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, only for Solo Sikoa to interrupt and thank Knight for backing him up the previous week, before the Usos showed up and set a tag match in motion for later in the night. That opening angle paid off with a hard-hitting brawl, and the show closed with Knight, Sikoa, and both Usos left laid out while returning duo Royce Keys and OTM stood tall over the wreckage.

In the ring, the standout was Stephanie Vaquer‘s return match against Roxanne Perez, which saw Judgment Day interference from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez met by a counter from Becky Lynch. Vaquer sealed the win by dodging a moonsault and connecting with a butterfly backbreaker into a lungblower combo, and the post-match staredown with Lynch added a nice extra layer of tension. It fed directly into the next chapter of her title chase, with Vaquer told backstage that she’ll get her shot at Liv Morgan‘s Women’s World Championship on the September 7 RAW.

The tournament for a World Heavyweight Championship shot also moved forward, with Penta defeating LA Parka and Rey Fenix defeating Dragon Lee to set up a Penta-vs-Fenix final. The Penta/Parka match got a nice reaction, as Parka survived a Penta Driver and answered with a top-rope Spanish Fly before Penta eventually got the win.

The other big story beat was the contract signing for Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker. Breakker accused Femi of taking the spot he used to hold and vowed to make him live in his shadow, while Femi shot back that Breakker could’ve been the future of WWE in a different era, just not while he’s around. The segment boiled over into a physical confrontation, with Breakker jumping Femi before Austin Theory got involved, and Femi eventually powering back to put Theory through a table.

Overall, this felt like a well-paced go-home-style episode even though the pay-per-view is still two weeks out: hot angles up top and at the close, a satisfying tournament advancement, and a women’s division storyline that’s clearly building toward something bigger

Check out our favourite photos of both Monday Night Raw and Smackdown below or head to our Facebook page for the full galleries: Raw – Smackdown

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW

All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport

Drama took over Swangard Stadium on Saturday night as Vancouver Rise FC rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat Halifax Tides FC 2-1, with Jessica De Filippo scoring the winner deep into stoppage time.

Rise nearly opened the scoring inside the first two minutes. De Filippo found herself at the edge of the six-yard box, but her first-time effort sailed over the bar.

Vancouver continued to create chances. Ten minutes later, Anna Bout slipped Anaïs Oularbi through on the left, with Oularbi cutting the ball back for De Filippo. Her sliding attempt just missed the pass.

Halifax had a chance of its own moments later, but Rise goalkeeper Morgan McAslan came up with one of the saves of the night. She stopped Julia Benati’s point-blank effort before quickly smothering the rebound.

The Tides eventually broke through in the 18th minute. Benati sent Rhodes in behind the Vancouver defence, and Rhodes finished past McAslan to give Halifax the lead.

Rise pushed for an equalizer before halftime. Bout tried her luck from distance in the 30th minute, but her shot skipped wide of the far post.

Vancouver‘s pressure picked up as the half progressed, with crosses repeatedly sent into the Halifax box. Just before halftime, Myla Ewasiuk met an Oularbi free kick with a header, but Tides goalkeeper Anika Tóth was ready for it.

Rise came out of the break with renewed pressure, bringing Latifah Abdu into the match to add another attacking option. Her impact was almost immediate.

Camila Reyes found Abdu behind the Halifax defence, sending the forward in alone against Tóth. Abdu slipped as she took her shot, though, leaving Tóth with an easy clearance.

The equalizer finally arrived in the 56th minute. Bout delivered a cross into the box, and De Filippo rose to meet it, powering her header past Tóth to make it 1-1.

Vancouver kept coming in search of the winner.

Josie Longhurst nearly put Rise ahead in the 74th minute when she popped the ball up just outside the box and launched an ambitious volley. She got plenty of power behind it, but the effort went just wide.

Abdu came even closer seven minutes later. After turning two defenders, she unleashed a volley that forced Tóth into a fingertip save.

De Filippo then came within inches of a second goal when her header was deflected onto the post and out.

With the match moving into stoppage time, the pressure from Rise finally paid off.

Abdu found space on the left and floated a cross toward the penalty spot. De Filippo brought the ball under control before firing it into the net, sending Swangard Stadium into a frenzy and completing the comeback.

The win gives Rise another dramatic result at home as the club continues its push through the season.

Vancouver Rise FC will return to action on Saturday, August 22, against Ottawa Rapid FC in Ontario. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. PT. The team then returns to Swangard Stadium on Saturday, August 29, to host Calgary Wild FC at 3 p.m. PT.
Tickets are available through Vancouver Rise FC.

Check out our favourite photos of the match below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

NSL VANCOUVER RISE FC v HALIFAX TIDES FC

All Photo Credit: Jason Martin