Monday Night Raw delivered an episode built on steady escalation, intentional pacing, and crowd investment that never let up. From the opening segment through the final bell, the show consistently added weight to its rivalries, advanced multiple storylines, and rewarded viewers who stayed engaged from beginning to end. While not every segment reached the same height, the night succeeded in doing something increasingly rare in modern wrestling television: it built anticipation and then paid it off.
By the time the main event concluded, the crowd reaction alone told the story. Raw did not merely entertain. It convinced. It convinced viewers to care about what happens next, to circle future dates, and in at least one case, to seriously consider buying a ticket to see it unfold live.
Early Announcements Establish Stakes for the Night
Raw opened by clearly defining the night’s direction. Several key matches were announced immediately, setting expectations and signaling that championships and rivalries would be at the center of the episode.
Rey Mysterio was confirmed to face Austin Theory later in the night, a match already made volatile by Logan Paul’s presence. The World Tag Team Championships were set to be defended in the main event, with the Usos taking on AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. The women’s division was placed front and center as well, with Stephanie Vaquer scheduled to defend the Women’s World Championship in a triple threat against Raquel Rodriguez and Hall of Famer Nikki Bella.
The message was clear. This was not a filler episode. This was a show built around consequence.
Paul Heyman’s Vision Meets the Reality of CM Punk
The show truly began when Paul Heyman led his Vision to the ring. At his side were Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and newly inducted Austin Theory. The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Heyman was heavily booed before he could speak, and chants for CM Punk quickly drowned out any attempt at control.
Heyman leaned into the hostility, sighing into the microphone before insulting Punk and delivering his signature introduction. Even that struggled to survive the noise as chants continued to roll through the building. He framed the moment as one fans would scroll back to in five years, claiming that everyone standing beside him would be main eventing by then and positioning the Vision as the inevitable future of the industry.
Austin Theory was then handed the microphone. He spoke emotionally, saying he had waited his entire life and worked his entire career for this moment. He praised the Vision and pointed directly to Bron Breakker, declaring him the next World Heavyweight Champion.
The segment shifted instantly when CM Punk’s music hit.
The crowd reaction was explosive and sustained. Fans sang along, cheered loudly, and made it unmistakably clear that Punk is operating at a level of superstardom that few performers ever reach. This was not nostalgia. This was present tense relevance.
Punk wasted no time on the microphone. He tore into Theory first, then questioned whether anyone in the group had the intelligence to see what was coming, glancing pointedly at Heyman. He referenced his upcoming January 5th match with Breakker and demanded the ring be cleared so the two could speak face to face.
Heyman complied, ordering the rest of the Vision out of the ring.
Breakker spoke confidently. He described the Vision as a group that sees the future clearly, praised the men who had just left, and declared himself the next champion. Then his tone sharpened. Breakker rejected being called the future, insisting he is the now. He listed his accomplishments, said he was willing to die for the championship, and promised to put Punk in the ground.
The crowd answered with deafening Punk chants.
Punk responded calmly and deliberately. He acknowledged that Breakker is ready, even more ready than most, but drew the line clearly. Breakker might be ready to take over, but Punk is not ready to stop being champion. He closed the segment by reminding everyone that they are not the same, because one of them is CM Punk, and promised to see Breakker on January 5th.
Segment Rating: 3.5 stars
This was good and then some. Loud, electric, and purposeful, this was the kind of segment that puts butts in seats. Personally? It made me want to buy a ticket and see this rivalry play out in person, exactly what a top tier promo segment should do.
Raquel Rodriguez Makes Her Intentions Clear
Backstage, Raquel Rodriguez was interviewed ahead of her Women’s World Championship opportunity. She spoke with confidence, assuring everyone that she planned to win the title that night.
Members of the Judgment Day entered to offer encouragement and wish her luck. Rodriguez shut that down immediately. She stated clearly that she did not need help or luck and intended to handle the situation herself.
Short, efficient, and effective.
Women’s World Championship Triple Threat Opens the In Ring Action
The first match of the night saw Stephanie Vaquer defend the Women’s World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez and Nikki Bella. Commentary noted that Vaquer had held the title for 99 days, adding weight to the defense.
Vaquer struck quickly, catching Rodriguez in a roll up for an early two count. The action spilled outside where Bella briefly took control before the fight returned to the ring.
Rodriguez dominated large portions of the match with power, but Vaquer consistently found ways to survive. At one point, Vaquer countered a powerbomb attempt into another roll up for two before Bella broke it up. Bella then applied an STF on Rodriguez, which was reversed into a leg submission targeting Bella’s knee. Vaquer reentered the exchange and landed the Devil’s Kiss on Rodriguez, to the joy and pleasure of the crowd and viewers.
Momentum continued to shift. Rodriguez muscled both opponents around the apron before the break.
After the break, Vaquer trapped Rodriguez in a rope assisted arm submission, but Bella broke it up with a running apron leg drop to Vaquer’s head.
The defining turnbuckle sequence followed. Rodriguez had Vaquer locked in position for a superplex. Bella dropped down and powerbombed Rodriguez while Rodriguez simultaneously superplexed Vaquer. Both Rodriguez and Vaquer crashed to the mat. Bella covered each competitor individually, but neither stayed down.
Rodriguez continued to showcase her strength, but Bella’s momentum was halted when Vaquer landed a sharp finisher. Rodriguez barely saved the match by breaking up the pin at the last second.
The finish came when Rodriguez attempted a double Tejana Bomb. Vaquer escaped, Rodriguez slammed Bella, Vaquer rolled Rodriguez out of the ring, pinned Bella, and retained the championship.
The crowd rose to its feet.
Match Rating: 3.5 stars
This was another bran burner of a match. Strong pacing, creative spots, and a finish that kept the champion looking strong while giving both challengers meaningful moments.
Gunther Accepts R Truth’s Challenge
A brief confrontation followed as Gunther spoke backstage, R-Truth appeared and expressed his anger at Gunther’s recent comments about John Cena, acknowledged R Truth’s confrontation as a challenge, and told him he would see him in the ring. There were no theatrics, no wasted motion, just acceptance.
Kabuki Warriors Spark Chaos in the Women’s Division
The Kabuki Warriors appeared next, taunting Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, and the crowd. Ripley and Sky emerged quickly and took the ring, forcing the Warriors to retreat.
A brawl broke out. Ripley and Sky gained the upper hand until Sky was slammed into the announce table. As Ripley checked on her partner, the Kabuki Warriors attacked and regained control, dragging Ripley back into the ring.
Kairi Sane climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Sky returned and knocked her down. Ripley and Sky regained control, closing the segment with stereo running knee strikes.
Segment Rating: 3.5 stars
To me? This was a great segment and everything I personally like to see; my biggest like was that, when Ripley and Sky took the ring, they didn’t just stay, they rushed out and attacked their adversaries: the way it happens in a real fight. This was fast, physical, and effective at keeping the women’s division volatile and interconnected.
Gunther vs R Truth
Gunther and R Truth finally met in the ring. Truth started fast, catching Gunther off guard, but one brutal chop shifted the match entirely.
Gunther took control, weathered a brief comeback, intercepted a shoulder tackle with a big boot, delivered a powerbomb, lifted Truth’s head before the three count, hammered him with elbows, and locked in a sleeper hold.
Truth tapped.
Match Rating: 3 stars
This was a good match. Short, physical, and dominant, accomplishing exactly what it needed to accomplish and making Gunther look like a force to be reckoned with, a man to be taken seriously, and a monster Heel set to tear through anyone and anything that stands in his way.
Rey Mysterio vs Austin Theory Ends in Chaos
Rey Mysterio faced Austin Theory with Logan Paul at ringside. Theory shut down Rey early, controlling the pace and preventing him from building momentum.
When Rey finally broke through and set up the 619, Theory rolled outside, caught Rey mid air, and drove his head and spine into the ring post. The pattern continued. Rey fought from underneath, Theory shut him down.
The match ended when Logan Paul interfered during another 619 attempt, forcing a disqualification. Theory and Logan brutally attacked Rey until Penta returned, clearing the ring alongside Mysterio and landing a 619 on Logan Paul.
Match and Segment Rating: 3 stars
This was a good match. The interference finish and Penta’s return kept the crowd invested, and kept me on the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen next: very solid work here!
Maxxine Dupri and Becky Lynch Trade Words
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine Dupri addressed the crowd and thanked the WWE Universe for their support. Becky Lynch interrupted, stating she never tapped out and insulting both Dupri and the crowd.
Dupri warned Lynch before she entered the ring, but Lynch said she wasn’t there to fight. Lynch offered condescending praise, accusing Dupri of stealing the championship. Dupri fired back, stating she earned the title and promising to make Lynch accept that next week if necessary.
Lynch closed by minimizing Dupri’s accomplishments, elevating her own, and welcoming Dupri to the big time.
Segment Rating: 2.5 stars
Effective character work that advanced the rivalry without overstaying its welcome. These two did exactly what they needed too and, personally, sparked my interest and made me think ‘I have to try and tune in next week so I can see what happens next.’
Main Event Delivers a Rare, Roof Blowing Moment
The World Tag Team Championship main event saw the Usos take on AJ Styles and Dragon Lee, as the latter set off to defend their Tag Team Championships against the brothers.
From the start, the match built patiently and escalated relentlessly: momentum shifted constantly, near falls stacked, and the crowd grew louder with every exchange.
Later in the match, Styles survived a spear and Uso Splash; later, Jey would survive a Styles Clash: both moments causing pulling me onto the edge of my seat, adrenaline spiking. The chaos peaked when, Styles draped Jey over the ropes, Lee delivered a stomb to the back of Jey’s back from the top turn buckle, and Styles went for a Styles clash, and Jimmy returned to the ring, attacking Dragon Lee and Styles. Styles neutralized the threat from Jimmy and then went for the Phenomenal Forearm on Jey, and ran directly into a double superkick from the brothers.
The finish came when the Usos delivered stereo superkicks and the 1D to Dragon Lee and went for the pin, the brothers regained the Tag Championship Titles, and the roof came completely off the place as the crowd could be seen rising to their feet.
Main Event Rating: 4 stars
This match blew the absolute roof off the place and entertained in a way that I rarely see these days. A true benchmark performance that gave people their money’s worth, made me wish I’d been there to witness it, and made me think ‘yeah, that’s why it’s the Main Event.’
Final Word
Raw delivered a night built on momentum, emotion, and payoff. While not flawless, it succeeded where it mattered most and closed with a match that reminded everyone why professional wrestling, at its best, is unmatched.
I’m reminded that online, by fans and otherwise, I hear a lot of talk, all the time, saying that WWE talent or booking is lacking; I’m not trying to tell anyone what to think, or how to feel, but I don’t see it. This was some of the best entertainment I’ve seen in the squared circle and literally made me stop and go ‘Ok, why did I go so long without watching again?’
My opinion? If you missed it and you’re thinking about watching: definitely worth it!
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