This week’s WWE Raw, serving as the final stop before the Royal Rumble, focused heavily on AJ Styles, who put his career on the line against Gunther at the upcoming pay-per-view. Styles opened the show with a heartfelt promo about wanting one last title run before retirement, only to be challenged on the spot by World Heavyweight Champion C.M. Punk, who offered to defend his title against Styles that very night. This main event showdown was a highlight of the evening, setting a key narrative going into the Rumble.
Aside from the Styles-Punk faceoff, the episode also featured a Six-Person Tag Team match showcasing women’s division rivalries, a confrontational exchange between Bron Breakker and Adam Pearce, and an in-depth sit-down interview with Gunther that intensified the stakes of his impending career-threatening match with Styles.
Ongoing Rivalries Among Women’s Tag Teams and Judgment Day
The latest chapter in the women’s division continued its intense momentum as Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, and Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer teamed up to face Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, and Raquel Rodriguez. Their feud has escalated since Raquel’s vicious attack on Vaquer’s injured ankle on the January 5 Raw, which set the tone for ensuing violent encounters.
In a recent Saturday Night’s Main Event title defense, Rhea and Iyo were close to victory when Raquel interfered, knocking Rhea awkwardly onto the referee and disrupting the count. Raquel then launched a brutal assault on both Rhea and Iyo, inviting a returning Stephanie Vaquer to retaliate by chasing Raquel through the audience. The match ended with Rhea hitting the Riptide on Liv Morgan, successfully retaining the Women’s Tag Team Titles.
This week, all six women clashed again in a triple threat tag match. Early interference by Liv led to Raquel throwing Rhea into the steel steps, escalating the violence. However, Rhea eventually received the hot tag and demonstrated dominance by taking on all opponents. Highlights included Vaquer delivering a Cross Body from the top rope to Raquel and Iyo finishing off Liv with a dropkick. Rhea sealed the win with another Riptide on Roxanne Perez.
The dynamic among the Judgment Day members Liv, Roxanne, and Raquel is becoming increasingly strained. Consecutive losses have caused cracks in their unity, especially as Liv, the de facto leader, grows frustrated with recent setbacks. Adding fuel to the fire, a No Disqualification Women’s World Title match between Vaquer and Raquel was announced for next week. Given their recent aggressive exchanges, this match promises to be brutal, likely emphasizing Raquel’s ruthless streak while hinting she may still fall short.
This growing dissension within Judgment Day is shaping up to become one of the season’s most compelling storylines, injecting fresh tension into the women’s division as WrestleMania season approaches.
Bron Breakker’s Suspension Lifted After Confrontation with Adam Pearce
Bron Breakker’s recent trajectory has been marked by friction with authority figure Adam Pearce. After his January 5 Raw loss to C.M. Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship, Bron’s frustration boiled over during a Vision stable match when he speared Dragon Lee in the aisleway, causing a disqualification. The rampage continued until Pearce intervened, resulting in Breakker throwing Pearce around the ring post. This outburst led to Pearce suspending Breakker indefinitely.
This week, Pearce and Breakker’s tense meeting in the ring revealed an unexpected resolution. Pearce admitted fault for initiating physicality first and apologized, lifting Breakker’s suspension. He also confirmed that Breakker, alongside Vision stablemates Bronson Reed, Austin Theory, and Logan Paul, would be entered into the Royal Rumble match.
While the segment provided clarity on Breakker’s status, the sudden reversal of Pearce’s hardline stance and absence of lingering suspicion felt unexpected after their earlier conflicts. A phone call Pearce received beforehand hinted that external influences might have prompted this conciliatory turn. Although the segment itself lacked depth, it reinstates Breakker’s momentum and places him firmly in the Rumble lineup, which aligns with the energy he carries moving forward.
Looking forward, the mystery surrounding Pearce’s phone call could play a pivotal role in reigniting friction or revealing new layers to this storyline. Despite no explicit seeds of distrust being planted here, tensions within the Vision stable might still manifest during the chaotic Rumble match.
Rey Mysterio and Austin Theory Renew Hostilities in an Impromptu Clash
The simmering conflict between Rey Mysterio and Austin Theory took another turn during this week’s Raw with an unexpected singles match. The backstory stems from a December 15 match where Rey prepared to strike Logan Paul with brass knuckles, only to be incapacitated by a black-hooded assailant revealed as Theory. Since then, under the umbrella of The Vision faction, Theory has been embroiled in a series of encounters escalating hostility toward Rey.
During this week’s impromptu bout, Rey had near success with a 619 maneuver but took several punishing moves, including a Hurricanrana to the ring apron, then drop kicks and a Curb Stomp finish from Theory. The ringside chaos, involving stablemates from both sides, culminated in Theory securing a critical win over the veteran.
This victory was essential to establishing Theory’s credibility within The Vision despite his usual role as the group’s less dominant competitor. The crowd’s engagement and Tozawa’s (his tag partner) earlier efforts to disrupt opponents added energy to the match.
However, Rey’s post-match condition raised concerns. Referee signals indicated a legitimate injury following Theory’s attack, marking a worrisome development given Rey’s age and recent return from a lengthy absence. The severity of this injury remains uncertain, though parallels were drawn to Je’Von Evans’ recent similar situation, hoping for a speedy recovery.
Gunther’s Interview Raises Stakes Ahead of Career Threatening Match with AJ Styles
Gunther’s intense sit-down session with Michael Cole further escalated the narrative leading into his high-stakes Royal Rumble bout with AJ Styles. Their prior match ended controversially, with Gunther illegally securing victory via a low blow, despite Styles tapping out to a Calf Crusher in plain sight. Styles later accepted Gunther’s condition to put his career on the line in their rematch.
During the interview, Gunther made it clear that simply defeating Styles again wouldn’t satisfy him – ending Styles’ career would. He expressed disdain for aging wrestlers chasing one last moment, referencing legends like Goldberg and John Cena, whom he claims he “retired.” Addressing Cole with pointed ridicule, Gunther sought to provoke by suggesting he could end Cole’s career just as easily but refrained only because he wants Cole to announce Styles’ career-ending match.
This encounter effectively sold Gunther’s ruthless heel persona, highlighting why many view him as the company’s top villain. Targeting Cole personally added another layer of psychological warfare that could spill into the match itself, intensifying fan anticipation. Given the otherwise tepid buildup to the Royal Rumble, this storyline stands out as especially compelling.
The timing of this match, so close after previous contests, initially seemed rushed but now appears justified given Styles’ recent performances and Gunther’s momentum following his victory over Cena. A Gunther win would consolidate his dominant status, while Styles’ likely retirement at the event, marking ten years since his WWE debut, promises a poignant moment for fans.
World Heavyweight Championship Contest Ends in Chaos After Finn Balor’s Involvement
After successfully defending the World Heavyweight Championship last week, C.M. Punk faced AJ Styles in a highly anticipated title match on Raw’s main event. The two clashed fiercely for the first time within WWE rings, with Punk delivering a devastating GTS outside the ring. Styles rebounded with a Pele Kick and exchanged strikes, but just as Punk went for another GTS, Finn Balor intervened, drop-kicking Punk into the turnbuckle and causing a disqualification finish.
Following the breach, Balor unleashed a series of punishing moves on Punk, including multiple Coup De Grace attacks, leaving the champion battered and the match unresolved. The backstage interaction between Punk and Balor earlier revealed Punk’s dismissive stance towards Balor due to his association with Dominik Mysterio, while Liv Morgan hinted at the Judgment Day’s interests in Balor’s success.
Though fans finally witnessed the Styles-Punk showdown, the unsatisfactory ending tempered excitement. The match lacked the dynamism seen in their previous encounters and felt hastily arranged as a farewell to Styles. Meanwhile, Balor’s assault sets the stage for a probable title feud, positioning him for a potential babyface turn as the storyline evolves toward WrestleMania season. This angle provides a fresh narrative following Punk’s brutalization and Balor’s rebuff into the spotlight.
Tag Team Turmoil: Otis & Akira Tozawa Secure Number One Contender Spot
The evening’s action also included a Fatal 4-Way match to determine the World Tag Team Championship challengers, featuring Otis & Akira Tozawa, New Day, Los Americanos, and American Made. Tozawa showcased an impressive offense by simultaneously hitting key opponents Kofi Kingston and Brutus Creed with a DDT, followed by suicide dives that kept all opposing team members off balance.
When Grayson Waller attempted to tilt the match in New Day’s favor, Jey Uso swiftly neutralized the interference with a superkick, demonstrating ongoing tensions in the tag team landscape. Otis then delivered a powerful slam to Julius Creed, transitioning to Tozawa, who ended the contest with a Senton for the victory.
This frenetic and chaotic match gave Tozawa a breakout moment, with the crowd responding enthusiastically to his dominant performance. Although the win bestows a future title opportunity on Otis & Tozawa, current tag team champions, the Usos, remain popular and are not expected to drop their titles imminently. These developments amplify anticipation for upcoming championship bouts while spotlighting emerging contenders.
