Our WWE RAW results for tonight include CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor, Penta teams up with Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio to take on The Vision’s Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Bronson Reed, we’ll hear from “The Ring General” Gunther, Becky Lynch defends the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Maxxine Dupri, and so much more!
This afternoon’s WWE RAW will take place at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
WWE RAW Card
The announced card is as follows:
- World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Balor
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri
- Je’Von Evans vs. El Grande Americano
- Rey Mysterio, Penta, and Dragon Lee vs. Logan Paul, Bronson Reed, and Austin Theory
- “The Ring General” Gunther will kick off the show
WWE RAW Results:
This week’s episode of RAW kicks off with the standard fare of multiple WWE Superstars entering the building who will be competing in matches later this afternoon. Back in the arena, “The Ring General” Gunther makes his way to the ring, fresh off his controversial victory over AJ Styles last week in the main event.
Gunther tells everyone to calm down and says AJ Styles made a mistake last week because he was so focused on making him tap out, he forgot he was in the ring with the greatest wrestler in the company. Gunther puts over his accomplishments, including putting Goldberg to sleep and making John Cena tap out.
The Ring General says his future looks very bright, and it will lead him back to the World Championship, declaring himself for the Royal Rumble later this month. This brings out AJ Styles, who says he knows Gunther wants to move on, but he doesn’t. Styles challenges Gunther to a rematch at the Royal Rumble.
Gunther will face AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble under one condition
Gunther says he’s going to win the Royal Rumble and doesn’t plan on pulling double duty, so his answer is no. Gunther goes to leave, but Styles says it sounds like he’s scared. This stops Gunther in his tracks. Styles says Gunther’s hand was raised, but you didn’t beat me; I beat myself. Styles tells Gunther he tapped out like a little bitch. AJ tells Gunther that if he’s scared, just say so, and they both can move on.
Gunther says last week he proved he was a smarter and better wrestler than him, and there is no incentive to wrestle him again. Gunther says if AJ wants a rematch with him at the Royal Rumble, he has to put his career on the line. He tells Styles to think about it and give him his answer by the end of the night, unless he’s scared.
Maxxine Dupri has backup tonight
Backstage, Maxxine Dupri runs into a returning Natalya, who says she wants to be there to have her back tonight so that what happened in her last match with Becky Lynch doesn’t happen again. Dupri says she’s ready for Lynch tonight. Natalya’s (or is that Nattie?) smile fades as Durpri walks away.
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri (w/ Natalya)
- The finish of the match saw Maxxine Dupri hit a roundhouse kick on Becky Lynch and go for the pinfall, but Natalya placed Lynch’s foot on the ropes. Dupri is in disbelief, and Lynch uses the distraction to hit Dupri with a Mandhandle Slam and score the pinfall victory.
Winner: And still WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion, Becky Lynch
After the match, Natalya attacks Dupri and beats her down before locking in the Sharpshooter. A referee has to pry Natalya off of Dupri.
Grade: B+
I think this was easily the best match Lynch and Dupri have had together. The finish was kind of foreshadowed by Natalya’s body language backstage. But if this heel turn finally gets us the version of Nattie on WWE programming that she’s been wanting to do for quite some time, I’m all for it!
AJ Styles needs to call his wife
We get a recap video package of what went down last week between Adam Pearce and Bron Breakker. After the package, we see Pearce speaking with AJ Styles, reminding him that just because Gunther issued the challenge doesn’t mean he has to accept it. Styles says he needs to call his wife and walks away.
Pearce is confronted by Paul Heyman, who is startled to hear Pearce say he’s had a great week. Pearce tells Heyman that Breakker is still suspended, and he will be at ringside during The Vision’s six-man tag match later tonight, and suggests that the group be on their best behavior.
We get a video package hyping tonight’s World Heavyweight Championship match between CM Punk and Finn Balor.
Is 2026 the year of The Judgment Day?
Backstage in The Judgment Day clubhouse, Raquel Rodriguez reveals that Stephanie Vaquer still isn’t cleared, but she won’t stop until she gets her title shot and becomes the new Women’s World Champion. Liv Morgan says she believes 2026 is the year of The Judgment Day and makes it a point that all of them will soon be holding championship gold.
Morgan calls Roxanne Perez her prodigy and declares they will win the Women’s Tag Titles this weekend. Perez promises she won’t let Morgan down. Morgan asks Finn Balor how he’s feeling. Balor says he’s ready, and he’s not leaving the arena tonight without the title.
Jey Uso comes out and speaks to the WWE Universe from the audience, announcing that he’s declaring for the Royal Rumble and says he’ll go back-to-back. Backstage, The New Day complain to Adam Pearce about Jey Uso declaring for the Royal Rumble and say they want their title shot. Pearce says they can compete in a contender’s match next week, and the winning team will get a title shot. The New Day isn’t happy about this.
Rey Mysterio, Penta, and Dragon Lee vs. Logan Paul, Bronson Reed, and Austin Theory (w/ Paul Heyman)
- The finish of the match saw Logan Paul toss Austin Theory the brass knuckles. Adam Pearce points it out to the referee and stops them from being used. Pearce grabs the knucks from Theory and gets into an argument with Paul Heyman. Rey Mysterio retrieves the knuckles from ringside and hits Theory with them. Penta hits Theory with the Mexican Destroyer to score the pinfall victory for his team.
Winners: Rey Mysterio, Penta, and Dragon Lee
Grade: B+
This was a fun match. It was kind of funny to see The Vision’s tactics used against them. I’m really curious to see where this storyline between Adam Pearce and The Vision goes. It feels like it would end up seeing Pearce fired as GM. I hope that doesn’t happen, but it certainly appears to be a possibility.
CM Punk is in hostile territory tonight
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is backstage with Jackie Redmond. Punk says he’s playing in an away game tonight, and this is the kind of pressure that gets him out of bed in the building and helps him prove that he’s the best in the world. Punk says the same pressure that he thrives on is what will break Finn Balor later tonight.
Paul Heyman threatens Adam Pearce
Backstage, Paul Heyman chases down Adam Pearce backstage. Heyman, in his own unique way, threatens Pearce’s job for his actions over the past couple of weeks. Boy, did I call that one. Pearce’s phone rings, and Heyman tells him he’d better answer that as he walks away with a cocky grin on his face.
Monday Night RHIYO
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY make their way to the ring. Rhea Ripley hypes their title defense this weekend at Saturday Night’s Main Event against The Judgment Day. SKY says that RHIYO is always on top.
Ripley says once they retain their titles this weekend at Saturday Night’s Main Event, they will both be entering this year’s Royal Rumble match. This brings out Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez. Morgan says they are delusional because she is taking back the tag team titles she never lost this weekend. Perez tries to create a wedge between RHIYO over both of them being in the Royal Rumble match.
Morgan tells IYO that Ripley always turns her back on her partner at the end of the day. Perez announces that she, Morgan, and Rodriguez will also be entering the Royal Rumble. Ripley says that all sounds like projection to her. Ripley throws back the fact that they are all in the Royal Rumble back in their faces. Raquel Rodriguez attacks Rhea and IYO from behind, and the three members of The Judgment Day stand tall.
Cody Rhodes opened the floodgates; everyone is declaring for the Royal Rumble now
Backstage, Bayley and Lyra Valkryia are expressing their disappointment with not winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles. They both decide that they have the entire year to turn things around, and both of them will be entering the Royal Rumble as well.
El Grande Americano (w/ Los Americanos) vs. Je’Von Evans
- The match was stopped due to an injury to Je’Von Evans, and the match goes to El Grande Americano.
Winner: El Grande Americano
Grade: N/A
This really sucks. I wasn’t able to pinpoint where the injury took place. This is very unfortunate. Hopefully, it isn’t serious,s and Evans will be okay. I’m certainly not grading this. Let’s move on.
Finn Balor sounds very confident
Finn Balor is backstage with Jackie Redmond. Balor believes CM Punk is underestimating him, and they’ll be competing in his home country tonight. Balor declares he will leave Ireland tonight as the new World Heavyweight Champion.
We get another vignette for former NXT Champion Oba Femi.
Adam Pearce makes some big announcements
The Vision runs into Adam Pearce backstage. Pearce says he wants Paul Heyman to bring Bron Breakker to WWE RAW next week. Heyman questions if he is lifting the suspension, and Pearce says he wants to get them in a room and talk it out. Heyman says he had better be on his best behavior after that phone call.
AJ Styles comes up to Pearce after The Vision leaves. Styles says he talked to his wife, and she told him to kick Gunther’s ass. Against his better judgment, Pearce makes the match official for the Royal Rumble.
Asuka continues to manipulate Kairi Sane
In the Kabuki Warriors’ locker room, Kairi Sane is yelled at by Asuka for losing their tag titles to RHIYO and not earning their rematch. Sane promises she will help Asuka win the Royal Rumble.
World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Balor
- The finish of the match saw CM Punk hit Finn Balor with a GTS to score the pinfall victory.
Winner: And still World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk
Grade: A-
After the match, Punk pulls Balor to his feet, raises his hand, and hugs him as WWE RAW goes off the air.
WWE RAW Review:
The unfortunate injury to Je’Von Evans aside, I thought this was a very enjoyable episode of WWE RAW. We got a lot of movement on who we’ll see in their respective Royal Rumble matches later this month, as well as AJ Styles officially putting his career on the line against Gunther in what is sure to be a heartbreaking affair.
While we didn’t get a ton of in-ring action on today’s show, what we got was pretty good in my opinion. As far as the main event goes, it was probably one of Punk’s better WWE matches in recent memory. Punk and Balor worked really well together, and it ended this afternoon’s episode of RAW on a high note.
Grade: B+
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What did you think of tonight’s episode of WWE RAW? What was your favorite match or segment? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
