WWE Raw in Ottawa to host World Heavyweight semi-finals; Stephanie Vaquer returns and Usos to confront Jacob Fatu
WWE Raw on August 24 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, will stage the World Heavyweight Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament semi-finals, Stephanie Vaquer’s in-ring return and a contract signing for Sunday Night’s Main Event. The show will begin at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT, two hours earlier than usual to allow WWE to pre-tape an episode of SmackDown at the venue.
General Manager Adam Pearce has announced multiple matches and segments for the evening, including the tournament semi-finals, Vaquer’s bout, the SNME contract signing and appearances from LA Knight and Solo Sikoa. Roman Reigns is not scheduled to appear on this week’s Raw, and the ongoing tournament will determine the challenger for Reigns on the September 14 edition of Raw in Mexico City.
The semi-final pairings are Penta versus La Parka in the first match and Dragon Lee against Rey Fenix in the other. Penta has been described as a heavy favorite to advance, and the card notes Rey Fenix is also expected to move on, which would set up a fan-favorite clash in the tournament final. The winner of the tournament will earn a World title shot against Roman Reigns on the September 14 Raw in Mexico City.
Stephanie Vaquer will make her first in-ring appearance since WrestleMania 42 when she faces Roxanne Perez on Raw. Vaquer’s ongoing feud with Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan is cited as a factor for the match, with the rest of Judgment likely to run interference for Perez. The coverage suggests Becky Lynch may assist Vaquer despite reported friction between Lynch and Vaquer, and the situation points toward a three-way rivalry for the World title.
Oba Femi and Bron Breaker will participate in a contract signing on Raw for their upcoming Sunday Night’s Main Event showdown. The segment precedes their scheduled SNME clash in Atlanta next month and is expected to turn chaotic, with the preview noting security might be unable to keep the competitors apart. Sunday Night’s Main Event is listed for September 6 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and is described as WWE’s first-ever Sunday Night’s Main Event.
Tension between The Usos and Jacob Fatu is also slated for the show after last week’s incident in which Roman Reigns asked Fatu to stop attacking LA Knight and Fatu held back while Solo Sikoa and Knight decimated Reigns and the Usos (Jey & Jimmy Uso). The preview stresses that Fatu has made clear he takes orders only from the OTC, and The Usos are likely to confront him in Ottawa. Appearances by LA Knight and Solo Sikoa are among the segments announced for the night.
Tonight’s semi-final outcomes will produce finalists who will meet to determine the challenger to Roman Reigns on the September 14 edition of Raw in Mexico City. WWE’s published upcoming dates also include Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and Money in the Bank on October 10 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
