Posted on 1/06/126 by Bob Magee
CM Punk successfully retained his world title over Bron
Breakker in an excellent main event, worth checking out if
you missed it. There was a bunch of interference at one
point, but they got everyone out of the way with enough
time.
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky won the Women’s tag titles, while
Becky Lynch regained the Women’s Intercontinental title.
Je’Von Evans signed with Raw during a commercial break.
Chris Jericho was not on the show.
**********
Show Recap —
Michael Cole and Corey Graves (wearing a Hellfire Club t-
shirt) welcomed us to a sold-out Barclays Center for a
Stranger Things-themed edition of Raw. The graphics were all
Stranger Things-related, and the establishing shot of New
York was made to look like the Upside Down. There were also
cars and other show gimmicks around the stage.
Bron Breakker (and The Vision), CM Punk, Liv Morgan and
Judgment Day, Becky Lynch, Lyra Valkyria and Bayley were
shown arriving as the Stranger Things song played.
(It was sort of funny—and fitting—seeing Breakker sternly
march through the back ready for his first-ever world title
while the Stranger Things track played.)
Tonight’s sold-out crowd is 14,728.
Women’s Tag Team Championship: Asuka & Kairi Sane (c) vs.
Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY
After all the Stranger Things stuff, they went to commercial
break 10 minutes into the show and just 39 seconds into the
first scheduled match of the night.
Ripley took control by hitting a cannonball off the apron
ahead of the break, but when they returned, Sane pulled
Asuka to safety on another attempt, and they drove Ripley
into the barricade to take over.
Ripley fought back and tagged in Sky, whose offence included
a slingblade. That prompted Graves to mention Hiroshi
Tanahashi and his retirement, which was nice. The heels got
the advantage of Sky anyway, and Sane hit a leaping
footstomp to Sky’s back while she was draped over the top
rope—leading to another break barely 8 minutes in.
Ripley got the hot tag and hit Sane with a Razor’s Edge, and
Sky tagged back in. Sky followed with a flying dropkick for
a nearfall. Crowd wanted a title change.
Ripley gave Sane a Rip-tide as Sky set up for a moonsault,
but Asuka shoved Ripley into Sky to knock her off the top,
and followed with a Codebreaker on Ripley. Asuka tagged in
and gave Ripley a German suplex (as Ripley yelled, “Oh,
shit!”). Asuka and Sane double-teamed Ripley until Sky made
the save and dumped Sane from the ring. Sky tagged in and
hit Asuka with a running meteroa into the bottom rope.
Ripley tagged in and hit Asuka with a Rip-tide, and Sky
followed with a moonsault. Sky wiped out Sane with a dive,
and Ripley covered Asuka for the pinfall win. New champs.
The fans popped big.
Match result: Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY defeated Asuka & Kairi
Sane to win the Women’s Tag Team Champions (16:27)
A pretty good, exciting match with a happy finish to kick
off the new year.
********
There was a video package for Punk vs. Breakker set to ‘This
Land’ by Des Rocs.
Adam Pearce congratulated the new tag team champs backstage.
After they left, he was confused upon seeing a Demogorgon.
Gunther approached Pearce next. Pearce advised Gunther that
there were a lot of eyes on the show tonight, and a lot of
eyes on Gunther, including from those in the locker room. He
advised Gunther to mix in a little respect in his promo
tonight. Gunther chuckled.
The next segment had a chapter title card like Stranger
Things. It was Chapter Two: He who remains. (I assume they
did this earlier, but I didn’t see it.)
Gunther and AJ Styles segment
Gunther entered. He said he was told by management to show
some respect, but people should be respecting him, the one
man who made John Cena tap out.
AJ Styles interrupted. The fans chanted for Styles as he got
in Gunther’s face. Gunther called himself the greatest
wrestler in this company (the crowd booed that), and that
included Styles, because he was the man who made Cena tap
out like a little bitch. Gunther wondered what “little AJ”
was going to do about it.
Styles smacked Gunther in the face. Gunther got in Styles’
face but didn’t retaliate. Styles wasn’t surprised and said,
“That’s what I thought—nothing.” Styles chucked the
microphone at Gunther and left the ring.
********
There was a video package for the Women’s IC title match.
Ivy Nile told Pearce she didn’t plan on going to the back of
the line and wanted the winner of tonight’s IC title match.
Pearce wasn’t in the mood and told her that we’ll see. Nile
reiterated that she would not go to the back of the line.
(Someone should tell her it’s not a long line.)
Gunther confronted Pearce and wanted Styles. Styles jumped
in and told Gunther they could fight right now and asked if
he would just stand there like a bitch. Gunther ignored
Styles and demanded a match for next week. Pearce made it
official. Styles was glad.
********
The next title card was Chapter Three: It’s Not Just Her
Saying It.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs.
Becky Lynch
Lynch wore gear inspired by her character in the upcoming
Star Trek show.
Lynch tried yanking Dupri off the apron, but Dupri countered
by doing a pointless cartwheel. Dupri hit a boot to take
control, but Lynch took control during a break by yanking
Dupri off the middle rope.
They returned from break, and there was a modest and brief
“Y2J” chant. Dupri fired up and applied an ankle lock, but
Lynch got a rope break. They traded come counters until
Lynch hit a middle rope superplex and transitioned into a
DDT for two. Lynch hit a back suplex, but Dupri came back
with one of her own and a flying crossbody for two.
Lynch set up for a powerbomb out of the corner, but Dupri
slipped out and applied an ankle lock (this did not look
good). Lynch tried flipping out of it, but Dupri held on
while lying on the mat.
Dupri’s back was down, so Lynch leaned backward, grabbed the
bottom rope, and pinned Dupri for the win. Lynch is a two-
time IC champion.
Match result: Becky Lynch defeated Maxxine Dupri to win the
Women’s Intercontinental Championship (11:37)
This was not good at all, but the right person won. Moving
on.
********
Je’Von Evans signs with Monday Night Raw
Pearce entered and showed a video for Je’Von Evans, who
joined Pearce on the stage. Pearce officially signed Evans
to a Raw contract, and the fans applauded.
The good: doing this on the stage made Evans feel special.
The bad: this happened during a commercial break.
After the break, they aired a commercial for season two of
WWE: Unreal.
********
The Usos segment
Jimmy and Jey Uso entered in the crowd and remained there.
Jimmy had them cut Jey’s music, but played it back for the
fans before they cut their promo.
The Usos shouted out Styles and Dragon Lee for their match,
but that was last week and last year. 2026 was the year of
the Usos. This was a warning shot to every tag team in the
game. Standing in front of you was the best tag team in the
game. They’d be waiting right here for anyone who wanted to
run up on them.
********
Stephanie Vaquer walked through the back and passed The
Creed Brothers, who were hanging out in a Scoops Ahoy boat
from Stranger Things.
Chapter Four: To Kiss a Devil
Stephanie Vaquer segment
Vaquer entered in a walking boot for an in-ring interview
with Jackie Redmond. Cole said Vaquer suffered an ankle
injury during last week’s successful title defence.
Vaquer spoke about her special year—winning four titles,
including the world title. She became emotional as she
talked about her accomplishments and thanked everyone for
their support. She spoke in Spanish about her title defence
last week over Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez. She pointed
to her walking boot and said the injury would not stop her.
She posed with the belt, but was attacked from behind by
Rodriguez. Rodriguez repeatedly slammed Vaquer’s injured
foot against the mat before hitting a Tejana Bomb.
Rodriguez grabbed a chair and was about to Pillmanize her
leg, but Pearce and other officials ran out to stop it. The
crowd booed as Rodriguez confidently walked to the back.
Officials helped an upset Vaquer to the back during a break.
After the break, only two medical staff members remained
with Vaquer to help her walk. Rodriguez charged right back
in and attacked Vaquer again. Pearce, who left Vaquer on her
own, ran in and screamed at Rodriguez. He threatened to fine
her until she had nothing left.
********
Backstage, Rey Mysterio gave Dragon Lee words of
encouragement and said he would be champion again. Dragon
Lee appreciated the advice and left to speak with Styles.
Penta approached Rey to say he was happy to come back early
to help him against the Vision (I guess they haven’t talked
since that segment ended). Rey thanked him for having his
back. Rey said Penta understood the tradition, honour, and
respect of lucha libre, everything the Vision wanted to
destroy. Penta told Rey he would always be there for him.
Elle Duncan was ringside.
Lyra Valkyria (w/ Bayley) vs. Liv Morgan (w/ Roxanne Perez)
This went through a break, and the crowd was relatively
quiet until a wild-looking spot about 7 minutes into the
match. Valkyria set up for Nightwing, but Morgan countered
into what was likely supposed to be a Codebreaker. It
basically was, but Valkyria took the move almost like a DDT,
so she landed right on her head. It likely sounded and
looked worse than it was for Valkyria, fortunately.
Morgan distracted the ref, so Perez dropped the rope on
Valkyria. Bayley went after Perez, but the ref stopped her,
so Perez used that distraction to chuck Bayley into the
timekeeper’s area. Bayley “snapped,” grabbed a chair, and
chased Perez through the ring and to the back.
Valkyria was not paying attention to her opponent, so Morgan
flew in and hit Oblivion for the pinfall win.
Match result: Liv Morgan defeated Lyra Valkyria (8:56)
Valkyria has not won a match since October, and she wasn’t
presented like she deserved to win this one.
********
CM Punk interview
Redmond interviewed CM Punk backstage. Redmond said some
thought Breakker could win the title tonight with one spear.
Punk said everyone had an opinion. They would rather talk
about him, because if they talked about themselves, nobody
would pay attention. Breakker could claim spear 1-2-3 if he
wanted. But if Punk was the underdog, you were
underestimating him, and that meant a GTS and a nap. It
could happen to anybody, but tonight, it was Bron.
********
Byron Saxton interviewed Logan Paul and Austin Theory during
a break. It doesn’t really matter what they said. Logan got
a ton of heat, while the monotonous Theory got none.
The only thing announced for Raw in Germany next week (2 pm
ET/11 am PT start time) is Gunther vs. AJ Styles for the
first time ever.
********
Chapter Six: The Best vs. The Badass.
World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Bron
Breakker (w/ Paul Heyman)
Punk wore a Rick Steiner-inspired Varsity Club jacket with
“CM” on the front. This was his first official title defence
since winning the title back on November 1st.
They wrestled back and forth through an early break until
Bron sprinted the ropes and clobbered Punk with a
clothesline. Bron held control until Punk tried a
desperation GTS, but Bron countered into a back suplex. Bron
remained in control until Punk again tried a GTS, but Bron
countered into a gutbuster for two.
Punk spilled out of the ring, and Bron saw his opportunity
to hit a running spear, but Punk cut him off with a
clothesline ahead of a break. Punk followed with a
clothesline off the barricade and a flying crossbody in the
ring for two. Punk hit a running lifting knee strike and
tried another, but Bron drove him into the middle turnbuckle
and hit a standing moonsault for two.
After a break, Bron went for a Frankensteiner, but Punk did
not come down for it, and Bron almost fell on his head. This
was not the planned spot, and they did not show a replay
(instead, they randomly replayed Bron’s standing moonsault).
Punk did know well enough to follow up with a flying elbow
drop for two.
Punk went back to the top, and Bron successfully hit the
Frankensteiner. Bron got him up for a press slam, but Punk
countered into a DDT. Punk hit a lifting knee strike, a
clothesline, and a flying elbow drop.
Punk called for a GTS, so it was time for interference. Paul
Heyman jumped on the apron, so Punk chased him off. Logan
Paul, Austin Theory, and Bronson Reed ran out and leaped on
the apron, but Punk chased them all off, too (all right in
front of the referee).
Bron shoved Punk into the referee, who fell out of the ring,
and Theory took the opportunity to hit Punk with a curb
stomp. Bron made the cover for a nearfall.
Penta, Rey and Dragon Lee all appeared from the crowd (after
Penta’s music played) to attack the Vision and chase them
away through the arena.
That left Bron and Punk alone in the ring. Bron went for a
spear, but Punk dodged it, and Bron went shoulder-first into
the post. Punk followed with a GTS, which for sure felt like
the finish, but Bron kicked out. The crowd was super into
this sequence.
Punk followed with a rare piledriver (“didn’t get all of
it,” Cole said) for a two count. Punk went for another GTS,
but Bron countered into a Fujiwara armbar. Punk slipped into
a cover, but Bron reapplied the hold. Punk reversed that
into an Anaconda Vice. Bron simply sat up to counter the
hold to Punk’s surprise. Bron followed with a gutbuster and
clothesline for a nearfall.
Bron called for a GTS and went for the move, but Punk
countered into an STFU. Bron got a rope break, so Punk went
to reapply the move but became distracted by Heyman on the
apron again. Punk punched Heyman.
Bron tried to spear Punk, but Punk dodged it, and Bron
spilled out of the ring. Punk went for a suicide dive, but
Bron punched him in the face, and Punk splatted on the
outside. Punk gathered himself by the announce desk, so Bron
put him through it with a wild flying clothesline off the
apron.
Bron shoved Punk into the ring, dropped his straps, and went
for a spear, but Punk got his knee up to block it. Punk
followed with a GTS for the pinfall win. The crowd went
nuts.
Punk posed with his title belt as the show ended.
Match result: CM Punk defeated Bron Breakker to retain the
World Heavyweight Championship (26:34)
This was awesome. Both guys needed a match like this. Bron
showed he can have a main event singles match, and Punk
looked like a rightful world champion—and he got his first
big title defence since returning to the company.