As WWE builds up to Royal Rumble this weekend, tonight’s episode of WWE Raw on Netflix delivered heavy drama, intense rivalries, and unexpected twists leading to the grand event. Here’s a recap of everything that went down on this pivotal night:
AJ Styles Addresses Gunther Ahead of His Career-Defining Match
The show kicked off with AJ Styles, riding high after his victory over Shinsuke Nakamura at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, addressing the WWE Universe. Styles boldly declared that he wasn’t retiring just yet, despite 2026 being his planned final year. He confidently declared that 2025 was John Cena’s year, but 2026 would be his own.
Styles went on to challenge Gunther, his Royal Rumble opponent, telling him that while Gunther was good, he was not phenomenal. That’s when CM Punk made a surprise appearance.
Punk, who has known Styles for two decades, tried to advise him that the stakes against Gunther were too high for a potential retirement match. Tensions rose between the two as Punk questioned Styles’ decision to put his career on the line.
The crowd erupted in chants of “fight tonight,” and Styles, frustrated, accepted Punk’s challenge, stating that if he beat Punk tonight and Gunther on Saturday, he’d earn a World Title shot. Punk agreed, making it clear that their match would be for the World Championship, turning this into a main event showdown.
The Judgment Day and Six-Person Tag Match
The Judgment Day (Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, and Stephanie Vaquer) took on Roxanne Perez, Liv Morgan, and Raquel Rodriguez in a six-person tag match. The Judgment Day worked cohesively as a unit, with Stephanie Vaquer making a statement with a flying crossbody. Ripley eventually sealed the victory with a Riptide on Roxanne Perez. This match continued the build for the women’s tag division, showing dominance from Ripley and her allies.
Bron Breakker Returns After Suspension
Two weeks ago, Bron Breakker was suspended for attacking Raw GM Adam Pearce. However, Paul Heyman swore that Breakker would behave during their meeting tonight. After a tense exchange with Pearce, Breakker’s suspension was lifted, and he was officially entered into the Royal Rumble match this weekend.
The Vision (Breakker and his allies) also made their presence felt, causing chaos backstage and in the ring after Austin Theory defeated Rey Mysterio with interference from the Vision group.
Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio
In a fast-paced match, Austin Theory defeated Rey Mysterio thanks to interference from The Vision. Theory hit a Stomp to score the victory, but the post-match chaos saw Bron Breakker and the rest of The Vision destroy Penta, Dragon Lee, and Mysterio. The situation escalated further with speculation that Adam Pearce may not be doing enough to punish these actions.
Gunther’s Sit-Down Interview
Gunther, the reigning Intercontinental Champion, sat down for a tense interview with Michael Cole. When asked about his match against AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble, Gunther revealed that he wanted to end the legends’ chase for moments. He dismissed the idea of retiring stars taking his spotlight and made it clear that the moments in WWE belonged to him. Gunther’s response was filled with confidence, showing that he’s ready to crush Styles’ dreams this weekend.
Number One Contender’s Fatal 4-Way Tag Match
In a high-stakes match for a future WWE World Tag Team Championship opportunity, Alpha Academy (Akira Tozawa, Chad Gable) defeated The New Day, American Made, and Los Americanos in a Fatal 4-Way. The match featured chaotic action, with Akira Tozawa stealing the show with a thrilling performance. The victory makes Alpha Academy the official number one contenders for The Usos’ tag team titles.
Becky Lynch vs. Asuka Build
A backstage confrontation between Becky Lynch and The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka, Kairi Sane) took place. Asuka taunted Lynch, stating she wasn’t ready for the Royal Rumble match, but Lynch snapped back, blaming them for the failure at WarGames. This segment heated up the rivalry between Lynch and Asuka, promising a brutal showdown at the Royal Rumble.
CM Punk vs. AJ Styles – World Title Main Event Ends in No Contest
Finally, the main event of the night was set: CM Punk vs. AJ Styles for the World Championship. The match was hard-hitting, with both competitors giving everything they had. Punk nearly secured a victory with a GTS, but AJ Styles responded with a Styles Clash, coming close to winning.
The match, however, was interrupted by Finn Balor, who attacked Punk, leading to a no-contest finish. Balor pummeled Punk with two dropkicks into the ring barrier followed by three Coup de Gras moves. Balor stood tall over Punk as the show went off the air, leaving fans in suspense about his intentions heading into the Royal Rumble.
Other Key Moments:
- Natalya aired a special vignette, calling out Maxxine Dupri and claiming that Nattie decimates when it comes to competition.
- Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer brawled backstage, leading to an upcoming Philadelphia Street Fight next week on Raw for the WWE Women’s World Championship.
- Finn Balor tried to declare himself for the Royal Rumble, but Adam Pearce informed him that the match was already full. This interaction set up further tensions and speculation regarding Balor’s involvement in the Rumble.
