WWE Raw opened with a video recap of the Last Time Is Now tournament, highlighting Gunther’s win over LA Knight on SmackDown to secure his spot against John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Gunther opened the show to deliver a focused message to Cena. He called Cena the greatest sports entertainer of all time, but said he was facing the greatest professional wrestler of all time on Saturday. Gunther unveiled a countdown to Cena’s final match and promised not just to beat him, but to break him, drain his spirit, and force him to give up. A strong, concise promo that set the tone for the night.
A recap followed of last week’s chaos involving the Women’s Tag Team Titles.
Iyo Sky vs. Kairi Sane
Rhea Ripley and Asuka were at ringside. Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane traded fast pin attempts early before Sane gained control with a headscissors and apron clothesline. After the break, Sky fired back with a missile dropkick and Bullet Train corner knees for two.
Sane answered with the tree of woe double stomp for a near fall. Sky hit a German suplex on the apron and followed with an Asai moonsault, but Asuka tied Sky up in the ropes behind the referee’s back. Ripley took out Asuka, Sky recovered, and Over The Moonsault secured the win.
Winner: Iyo Sky
Backstage, Logan Paul pushed the Vision to take out Rey Mysterio after last week’s attack. Paul Heyman returned Logan’s brass knuckles and approved of his attitude.
A video on the War Raiders aired.
Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Balor
Logan Paul immediately jumped Mysterio before the bell. The masked man then appeared to Stomp Mysterio, allowing Paul to drop him again. Security chased the masked man away, but LA Knight ran in for the save and challenged Paul for later in the night.
Result: No Match
WWE World Tag Team Championship: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar)
The New Day and Grayson Waller watched from ringside. AJ Styles and Dragon Lee started well until the Raiders cut them off on the floor, launching Lee into Styles as the show went to break.
After the restart, Styles fought out long enough for Lee to tag in. Lee landed a tree of woe double stomp and a Death Valley Driver on Ivar. The Raiders regained control with a powerslam–assist combo on the floor before hitting the Doomsault, but Styles broke the pin.
Styles then caught Ivar with a super hurricanrana into Erik, setting up the Phenomenal Forearm for the retention.
Winners: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee
After the match, New Day confronted the champions, but the Usos arrived through the crowd. After running down their recent issues, the brothers declared they were back in the division and coming for the titles. They attacked New Day before staring down Styles and Lee. A strong segment that immediately injected depth back into the tag division.
Stephanie Vaquer said she speaks through actions and welcomed all challengers. Nikki Bella demanded a rematch, but Raquel Rodriguez rushed in and posted Bella. Rodriguez announced she is coming for the title.
A video aired on Cena’s WrestleMania history.
Judgment Day celebrated backstage, but Liv Morgan argued with Raquel over her title ambitions. Morgan then told Roxanne Perez they could be the next Women’s Tag Champions, which surprised Perez.
Roxanne Perez vs. Lyra Valkyria
Bayley and Liv Morgan were ringside. Lyra Valkyria controlled early with a northern lights suplex, but Perez targeted the arm and repeatedly sent Valkyria into the steps.
After the break, Valkyria fought back with a release German suplex and a high crossbody for two. Perez countered with the cartwheel knee and a Fujiwara armbar on the injured arm. Valkyria escaped and climbed, but Morgan’s distraction allowed Perez to avoid Nightwing and hit Pop Rox for the win.
Winner: Roxanne Perez
Natalya continued pushing Maxxine Dupri, who managed to make her tap to the ankle lock.
A rundown aired for Saturday Night’s Main Event, including AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater.
Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
Paul Heyman accompanied Paul. Knight started hot, hitting a dive and repeatedly sending Paul into the announce table. Paul responded with a zig-zag heading into the break.
Paul stayed in control with an Alley Oop before Knight rallied with his neckbreaker and top rope elbow. The Vision attempted interference, but was ejected, and Knight regained momentum until the masked man ambushed him with a stomp on the announce table. Paul hit a frog splash for the pin.
Winner: Logan Paul
Knight was laid out with a Super Spear and back-to-back Tsunamis.
After the break, Heyman mocked Kansas City and introduced Bron Breakker.
Breakker demanded the “old” Punk return for their 5 January title match. He accused Punk of being a fraud and said Punk now “looks like the biggest crackhead ever”. Breakker said he wanted the feared 2011–13 Punk and warned that the match ends with “spear, 1-2-3”.
Backstage, LA Knight tried to recover, only for Logan Paul and Oba Femi Reed to attack him again. Knight was powerbombed through a table, driven onto a car bonnet, and crushed with another Tsunami as Adam Pearce shouted at officials to stop it.
A dominant closing angle for the Vision as Raw went off the air.
