Pull Up a Barstool

Pull up a barstool and pour yourself a double of whatever cheap whiskey is on the bottom shelf. We are sitting here on June 29, 2026, and the pro wrestling industry is running on pure, unadulterated adrenaline. Monday Night RAW is rolling into the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and they are bringing a massive circus with them.

First off, adjust your watches. This is not your standard broadcast schedule. WWE is hitting Netflix tonight with a special start time of 6 PM ET, which means you need to get your beer iced down early. The company is trying to capture every eyeball possible, and the lineup they just dumped on us is absolute madness.

This past Saturday, WWE flew half the roster to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Night of Champions. The fallout from the Kingdom Arena is still settling, and tonight is all about who grabs the steering wheel next. With the return of Roman Reigns and NXT invaders crashing the gate, we are in for a wild ride.

The King and His Crown

Let's talk about Oba Femi. WWE announced that King of the Ring winner Oba Femi will kick off tonight's broadcast. WWE posted the announcement on X:

“TONIGHT on #WWERaw: Your KING of the RING, @Obaofwwe, kicks off the show! What’s next for The Ruler?”

This is a massive promotion for a guy who was destroying NXT midcarders just months ago. On Saturday, Femi just won King of the Ring by dropping Jey Uso in Riyadh. He caught Jey mid-air and executed a devastating pop-up powerbomb at the 11-minute mark to secure the crown.

Femi is a physical anomaly. He moves like a cruiserweight but hits like a Mack truck. His reign as NXT North American Champion showed he has the tools, but throwing him straight into the RAW opening slot is a bold play. WWE wants to establish him as a top-tier threat immediately, and he has the presence to pull it off.

But let's look at the flip side of this booking decision. Jey Uso is currently one of the hottest merchandise sellers in the company, yet he keeps getting used as a high-profile stepping stone. Having him lose to Femi after a relatively short match makes Jey look weak, especially after his singles run has struggled to find consistent wins.

Femi now holds the ultimate golden ticket with a guaranteed title shot at SummerSlam. He has the choice to challenge either Cody Rhodes or the heavyweight champion. The rumor mill is already spinning with fans wondering if he will target the top prize or go after Cody's gold. Whatever he decides, the Ruler is not here to play nice.

Believing in the Hype

If Oba Femi opening the show did not get you talking, the next announcement certainly did. As Ringside News confirmed, Joe Hendry is bringing his act to RAW tonight for a live musical performance. WWE broke the news on X with a post that read:

“Did somebody say his name? We’re getting a LIVE Musical Performance by @joehendry!”

Hendry is the biggest viral sensation in wrestling right now, and his crossover from TNA has been a massive hit. His theme song actually charted on the UK iTunes singles chart, which is absolutely ridiculous for a pro wrestler. Every time he appears on screen, the crowd goes completely bananas singing his name.

But let's be honest for a second. Pro wrestling is still a physical sport. At some point, you have to actually get in the ring and wrestle. Hendry's musical parodies are hilarious, but his actual in-ring work can be incredibly slow and paint-by-numbers.

If WWE just uses him as a comedy act who sings songs and does not wrestle, the gimmick will rot. We saw this with Elias and his guitar segments, which started hot but quickly became bathroom break material. Hendry needs a real feud with a top worker who can carry him to a decent 15-minute match.

Atlantic City is going to sing along tonight, but the booking team needs a long-term plan. If they just keep relying on the viral pop, the novelty is going to wear off before SummerSlam. Let's hope he gets interrupted tonight by someone who actually wants to fight.

The Return of the Chief

While the young guns are trying to steal the spotlight, the biggest shadow in the company returns tonight. Roman Reigns is scheduled to make his first appearance since Night of Champions. He sat out last week's show in London, which left a massive hole in the broadcast that a pre-recorded video package could not fill.

The Bloodline drama is reaching a boiling point, and the Tribal Chief needs to restore order. His absence last week allowed Solo Sikoa and the rest of the crew to run wild without any consequences. That kind of disjointed booking makes the television product feel like it is running in place.

Tonight, Reigns needs to lay down the law in the middle of the ring. With Oba Femi looming as a potential SummerSlam challenger, Roman has threats coming from every direction. The fans in Atlantic City are going to be hostile, and Roman's reaction will set the tone for the entire summer.

The Midcard Masterclass

Away from the main event drama, we are getting a technical showcase that could steal the show. Chad Gable is scheduled to go one-on-one with JD McDonagh in a singles match. Gable has been on the run of his life lately, turning his character into a frustrated, abusive coach who demands perfection.

His ring work remains top-tier, and he can pull a great match out of almost anyone. Expect to see Gable utilize his signature rolling German suplexes and transition into the ankle lock. The story of his heel turn has been the best part of RAW for weeks.

On the other side, JD McDonagh is one of the most underappreciated sellers in the company. He takes bumps that look like he is being thrown out of a moving vehicle. His match against Gable is guaranteed to have some incredible sequences, like a moonsault counter into a snap German suplex.

However, McDonagh is stuck in the role of the Judgment Day's designated punching bag. It is hard to take him seriously as a threat when he loses almost every single week. A win over Gable would do wonders for his career, but we all know he is likely taking the pin after a chaotic finish.

Tonight's RAW is a massive test for WWE's creative direction. With Netflix hosting the show at an early start time, the pressure is on to deliver a memorable broadcast. Grab your drinks, get comfortable, and let's see if they can actually pull it off.

Tonight's Official Lineup

To keep track of all the chaos, here is what WWE has officially advertised for the broadcast tonight:

  • Oba Femi kicks off the show to address his historic King of the Ring victory.
  • Roman Reigns returns to RAW to confront the rising Bloodline tension.
  • Joe Hendry performs a live musical set for the Atlantic City crowd.
  • Chad Gable battles JD McDonagh in a grudge singles match.