Following his historic second Royal Rumble win last Saturday, Roman Reigns made his first Raw appearance since November during the show’s closing segment. Intending to declare which champion he would challenge at WrestleMania, Reigns was interrupted by World Heavyweight Champion C.M. Punk. Punk criticized Reigns for being a part-time competitor, calling him merely a guest on the show. This confrontation quickly intensified, making Reigns’ decision on whom to challenge much clearer. The segment set the stage for what promises to be a major WrestleMania showdown.
In addition to this main event turmoil, the episode featured several intense moments: Bron Breakker disrupting the early show to get Adam Pearce’s attention; a hard-fought singles match between Penta and Bronson Reed; and Stephanie Vaquer defending her Women’s World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez in a violent Philadelphia Street Fight.
Bron Breakker Challenges Adam Pearce After Rough Royal Rumble
Earlier this year on January 12 Raw, Bron Breakker was suspended indefinitely after attacking Adam Pearce. However, Pearce reinstated Breakker last week and confirmed his participation in the Royal Rumble. During the Rumble, Paul Heyman revealed that Breakker had drawn the number two entry spot. Despite this advantage, Breakker was attacked by a masked man in a black hoodie as he made his entrance, receiving a devastating Curb Stomp before being eliminated swiftly by Oba Femi.
This week, Breakker appeared ringside at the start of Raw and caused chaos by flipping over the announce table and threatening commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves. He demanded Pearce come out, leading to a tense face-off. Pearce, flanked by security, accused Breakker of drawing his own number in the Rumble and connected the mysterious attacker to Austin Theory, whom Breakker eyed suspiciously. To placate Breakker, Pearce promised to keep him employed despite his poor Rumble performance. The segment erupted in further violence, with Bronson Reed restraining Breakker as LA Knight attacked Theory and Logan Paul with a chair before retreating.
This explosive opening was a stark contrast to Raw’s usual predictability and served as a perfect setting for Breakker’s character after his disappointing elimination. The segment echoed Brock Lesnar’s infamous rampage following WrestleMania 31, showcasing Breakker’s ferocity. Fans are left wondering about the identity of the hooded assailant; speculation is rampant that Seth Rollins—whom Breakker previously betrayed—might be behind the mask. This potential connection could fuel an intense WrestleMania clash, adding depth to Breakker’s storyline despite his absence from the title picture.
Grade: B+
Gunther Mocks AJ Styles, Battles Dragon Lee After Career-Ending Win
Three weeks ago, Gunther defeated AJ Styles in a match complicated by an unnoticed tap out. Styles challenged Gunther for a rematch at the Royal Rumble, agreeing to put his career on the line after Gunther’s initial rejection. The Rumble match ended with Styles trapped in Gunther’s Sleeper hold until he could no longer continue, forcing his retirement.
This week, Gunther taunted Styles by entering the arena to Styles’ theme song. Before fans could anticipate Styles’ return, Dragon Lee appeared to confront Gunther. The match erupted with Lee delivering a Cross Body and Suicide Dive, but Gunther retaliated with a ring bell strike behind the referee’s back and locked Lee in a Sleeper hold, showcasing his dominance. Even after official intervention, Gunther pulled Lee back to the apron and applied the Sleeper once again, leaving Lee incapacitated.
Gunther’s mocking entrance established him clearly as WWE’s top antagonist. His ruthless attack on Dragon Lee, who recently held the Tag Team Championship alongside AJ Styles, reinforced Gunther’s status as an unstoppable force. The vivid image of Lee caught mid-Sleeper on the top rope underscored Gunther’s brutality. These events practically guarantee a head-to-head match between the two competitors soon.
While Gunther’s retirement of Styles felt inevitable, the early timing of this development leaves his WrestleMania plans uncertain. After retiring three legends in six months, a similar match at Mania might feel redundant. Potential opponents could include Brock Lesnar or Oba Femi, both promising compelling storylines if pursued.
Grade: B
Penta and Bronson Reed Clash Amid Ongoing Rivalries
Previously, on December 8 Raw, Bronson Reed incapacitated LA Knight with a Tsunami on top of a car. On January 5 Raw, Reed, alongside Logan Paul and Austin Theory, interfered in the World Heavyweight Championship match between C.M. Punk and Bron Breakker. Penta, Rey Mysterio, and Dragon Lee came out to counter the interference. The following week, a Tag Team match featuring Penta and Lee against Reed and Theory ended in disqualification after Breakker speared Lee, leading to Reed delivering a Tsunami to Penta.
This week, Penta faced Bronson Reed in a one-on-one match, fending off interference attempts from Theory and Paul even knocking the referee down by accident. Penta took out the interferers with a Cross Body from the top rope but was caught mid-move by Reed, who hit a Death Valley Driver and delivered a Tsunami. As Reed went to retrieve a chair, LA Knight struck him with the BFT chair shot, causing a count-out victory for Penta.
While not a classic, the match served its purpose of reinforcing LA Knight as a menace for The Vision, setting up future encounters. The count-out finish allowed Reed’s strength and dominance to remain credible despite the loss. With Elimination Chamber approaching, this rivalry may continue and possibly culminate at WrestleMania, marking Reed’s first Mania appearance with an established and heated storyline. In the interim, Knight appears poised to target The Vision faction members, building anticipation toward his eventual clash with Reed.
Grade: B-
Stephanie Vaquer Retains Women’s World Title in Brutal Street Fight
After Stephanie Vaquer demanded a match against Raquel Rodriguez last week, Adam Pearce announced a Philadelphia Street Fight between the two for the Women’s World Championship. During the Women’s Royal Rumble, Raquel was eliminated by stablemate Liv Morgan, who won the match. This week, Liv accompanied Raquel to the ring but tensions arose when Raquel questioned Liv about her elimination. Liv explained that eliminating Raquel allowed both to receive title opportunities, which Raquel accepted, telling Liv to remain backstage during the match.
During the fiercely physical contest, Liv defied Raquel’s request and provided a chair for Raquel to use, only for Vaquer to counter and slam Raquel into a chair. Roxanne Perez attempted to interfere but was met with a headbutt from Vaquer, sending her crashing through a table. Raquel almost finished Vaquer with a Tejana Bomb through a table, but Vaquer reversed it into a Hurricanrana and scored the win with her Corkscrew maneuver. After the match, Liv assaulted Vaquer with the ObLIVion move and held up the championship.
Despite some awkward moments, the intensity between Vaquer and Raquel was evident. Liv’s interference, despite being instructed otherwise, foreshadows growing animosity between her and Raquel. Liv’s earlier statement about possibly challenging Jade Cargill on SmackDown contrasts with the clear indication that she aims for Vaquer’s title. This dynamic sets the stage for a potential triple threat involving Vaquer, Liv, and Raquel at WrestleMania or for Raquel to reclaim the title before then. The combination of brutal in-ring action and interpersonal conflict promises a compelling women’s storyline leading into the biggest event of the year.
Grade: B-
C.M. Punk and Roman Reigns Set Up High-Stakes WrestleMania Showdown
The history between C.M. Punk and Roman Reigns runs deep, with their first match in over a decade taking place at WrestleMania 41, where Seth Rollins won a Triple Threat encounter involving them. Punk captured the vacant World Heavyweight Championship on November 1’s Saturday Night’s Main Event by defeating Jey Uso. Reigns confronted Punk and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on Raw in November to declare his intention to challenge for a title. On January 23’s SmackDown, it was announced Reigns would compete in the Royal Rumble, where he won last Saturday by eliminating Gunther last.
This week’s main event segment featured Reigns intending to declare which title to challenge for at WrestleMania but being interrupted by Punk. Punk sent a warning to Finn Balor on camera before shifting focus back to Reigns, criticizing him for imitating Punk’s path over the past decade. Reigns responded by revealing that Punk’s presence was conditional on company approval, recalling Punk’s past remarks on a podcast that complicated Reigns’ career. Reigns chose Punk as his WrestleMania opponent because of hatred, asserting that the event would be the best day of his life once Punk acknowledged him, dropping the mic dramatically as he exited.
This segment effectively erased much of the controversy surrounding Reigns’ Rumble victory by establishing a charged, personal rivalry. The match between Punk and Reigns promises to be a fresh, high-profile main event, eclipsing the anticipated Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes bout in interest. The exchange referencing Punk’s podcast and corporate negotiations added depth to their feud, creating a narrative with significant emotional and historical weight. How Reigns’ part-time schedule impacts the build remains uncertain, but with two months until WrestleMania, the storyline has strong potential to captivate fans.
Grade: A
Je’Von Evans Secures Victory Against El Grande Americano
After their match was stopped due to injury two weeks prior, Je’Von Evans faced El Grande Americano in singles competition. During the bout, Bravo Americano pulled Evans down from the top rope while the referee was distracted, and Rayo Americano handed Bravo a metal plate to conceal in his mask. The original El Grande Americano then appeared, distracting Bravo Americano. The referee spotted Bravo with the metal plate and caught the cheating attempt. Using the opportunity, Evans executed his finishing move, the OG Cutter, for the win.
The return of the Original El Grande Americano delighted fans, adding nostalgic charm to this ongoing feud. Although Ludwig Kaiser has admirably portrayed the role during Chad Gable’s absence, Gable’s portrayal carried a unique charisma. This win gave Evans another solid victory and intensified the storyline between the two Americana characters following the Royal Rumble. The feud is set to culminate in a WrestleMania Mask vs. Mask match, providing a fitting climax for this long-running storyline.
Oba Femi Makes Violent Statement Against The War Raiders
New call-up Oba Femi made a dramatic entrance during The War Raiders’ match, unleashing a brutal assault. He leveled both Eric and Ivar with powerful clotheslines, then lifted and slammed them to the mat. Femi capped off the segment by executing a Popup Powerbomb on Eric before standing tall over the fallen competitors.
Femi’s dominant showing after his Royal Rumble performance establishes him as an imposing new force on Raw, reminiscent of Brock Lesnar’s impactful debut in 2002. Given The War Raiders’ physical prowess, they provided ideal targets to highlight Femi’s strength and menace. Although his early elimination from the Rumble was underwhelming, this segment restored momentum to Femi’s character, signaling a period of aggressive activity leading to his official in-ring debut in the coming weeks.
