With the Royal Rumble just days away, WWE Raw from Toronto delivered a night defined by high stakes and mounting uncertainty. A surprise World Heavyweight Championship match was booked, Bron Breakker returned from suspension, and a worrying injury scare involving Rey Mysterio raised fresh questions about WWE’s Royal Rumble plans.
Last night’s WWE Raw opened with AJ Styles declaring that 2026 would be the final year of his career. Styles addressed Gunther, admitting that his Royal Rumble match could mark the end of his in-ring run. He said there were still opponents around the world he wanted to face and revealed that his final ambition was to become World Champion one last time.
That statement brought out CM Punk, who questioned Styles’ decision to risk everything against Gunther. Punk reminded him that if he lost at the Rumble, he would never again be able to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship. When Styles insisted he could defeat both Gunther and Punk, Punk proposed a title match that very night, an offer Styles immediately accepted.
Earlier in the evening, six of Raw’s top women collided as Stephanie Vaquer, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky defeated Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez. Ripley sealed the win with Rip Tide after breaking up a late double-team attempt.
Backstage, Finn Balor confronted Punk over missing out on the World Heavyweight Championship. Punk bluntly told Balor to rethink his future and suggested the Royal Rumble was his only remaining path back into title contention.
Paul Heyman later led The Vision to the ring and framed the group as Raw’s future. Adam Pearce admitted fault in his confrontation with Breakker and announced that Breakker had been reinstated and entered into the Royal Rumble. Pearce then added Austin Theory, Bronson Reed, and Logan Paul to the match before booking Theory against Mysterio.
Theory defeated Mysterio following heavy interference from The Vision, striking with a Curb Stomp after chaos erupted at ringside. After the match, Reed flattened Penta with a Tsunami, and Breakker speared him. Mysterio remained on the apron clutching his shoulder as medical staff attended to him, with the referee signalling an “X” before he was helped backstage.
In tag team action, Akira Tozawa and Otis of Alpha Academy won a four-way match over American Made, Los Americanos, and The New Day to become number one contenders for the World Tag Team Titles.
The main event saw Punk defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Styles in a match filled with near-falls and desperation. Styles survived a GTS on the floor and nearly captured the title with the Styles Clash, but Finn Balor stormed in and attacked both men, forcing a disqualification.
Raw closed in disorder, with the World Heavyweight Title picture thrown into chaos, Mysterio’s status in doubt, and Styles’ Royal Rumble future hanging in the balance. With WWE’s most unpredictable night approaching, nothing appears settled on the road to the Royal Rumble.
WWE Raw Results For January 26, 2026
The results for the January 26, 2026, episode of WWE Raw are as follows:
- RHIYO (Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley) & Stephanie Vaquer defeated The Judgment Day (Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez)
- Austin Theory defeated Rey Mysterio
- WWE World Tag Team Title #1 Contendership Four Way Match: Alpha Academy (Akira Tozawa & Otis) defeated American Made (Brutus Creed & Julius Creed), Los Americanos (Bravo Americano & Rayo Americano) and The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
- WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: CM Punk (c) defeated AJ Styles by DQ
