With the Royal Rumble now in the books, Roman Reigns and Liv Morgan stood tall as the 2026 Rumble winners, each earning the right to choose their championship paths to WrestleMania 42. Both were advertised to appear on WWE Raw to celebrate their victories, but the night quickly spiralled into chaos.
The show also featured a long-awaited Women’s World Championship defence, as Stephanie Vaquer put her title on the line against Raquel Rodriguez in a brutal Street Fight. Elsewhere, tensions within The Vision and The Judgment Day continued to simmer, while a major confrontation between Reigns and CM Punk closed the show and officially set the WrestleMania direction.
Chaos Opens WWE Raw
The broadcast opened not with fireworks, but destruction.
Bron Breakker stormed to ringside and began tearing apart the announce desk, flipping it over and demanding answers after being eliminated early from the Men’s Royal Rumble. Joined by Logan Paul, Austin Theory, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman, Breakker ranted about being attacked by a masked man and demanded that Adam Pearce come to the ring.
Heyman attempted to shift blame, claiming Pearce sabotaged Breakker by assigning him the number two entry spot. Pearce soon appeared with security, insisting Breakker drew his number randomly and denying any knowledge of the masked attacker.
Breakker charged at Pearce, but LA Knight suddenly ran in and smashed Theory and Paul with a chair. Reed chased Knight off, restoring uneasy order as Raw cut to a Royal Rumble recap package.
Je’Von Evans vs. El Grande Americano
Je’Von Evans entered to face El Grande Americano, flanked by the masked Los Americanos.
Americano opened aggressively, stomping Evans in the corner and sending him into the steel steps. Evans rallied with aerial offence, dumping Americano to the floor and diving onto him outside.
Back inside, Americano slowed the pace with power offence and Hammer-and-Anvil elbows. Evans fought back with a DDT and Tornillo, but interference from Rayo Americano and Bravo Americano kept tilting the scales.
Just as Americano prepared to use a metal weapon, the original El Grande Americano appeared on the stage, distracting him long enough for Evans to strike.
Evans connected with the OG Cutter and scored the pinfall.
Winner: Je’Von Evans
Gunther Attacks Dragon Lee
Gunther made his way to the ring using AJ Styles’ entrance music, drawing heavy boos. He declared that Styles’ career ended the moment he stepped into the ring with him, comparing his dominance to what he had done to Goldberg and John Cena.
Dragon Lee interrupted, blasting Gunther with an enzuigiri and following with a tope suicida and hurricanrana off the announce desk. Lee drove Gunther into the timekeeper’s area, but Gunther turned the tide by throwing the ring bell into Lee’s face.
Gunther locked in a sleeper hold until officials intervened, leaving Lee motionless at ringside while Gunther stood tall.
Backstage Fallout
Pearce informed Heyman that LA Knight had been ejected from the building. He strongly suggested Breakker leave as well, leading to footage of Heyman escorting a furious Breakker out of the arena.
The War Raiders Interrupted
The War Raiders attempted to make their entrance, but Oba Femi cut them off, immediately flattening both men with powerbombs and chokeslams, making a brutal statement without a match even taking place.
The Bella Twins Declare Their Intentions
Nikki Bella and Brie Bella returned to the ring together for the first time in seven years.
Nikki called it a special moment, while Brie said she came back because she wanted to, not because Nikki needed help. Brie declared the Bella Twins the original women’s tag team and said the division is better than ever.
Together, they announced their intention to challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Bronson Reed vs. Penta
Reed and Penta resumed their rivalry, with Reed overpowering Penta early using headbutts and corner stomps. Penta answered with dropkicks and a dive to the floor.
Reed regained control by smashing Penta into the announce desk and delivering a running senton. Penta countered with a Crucifix Bomb and Sling Blade, but Reed kicked out.
Interference followed as Theory, and Paul jumped onto the apron. Penta wiped them out with superkicks and a crossbody, accidentally knocking out the referee in the process.
Reed nailed a Death Valley Driver and Tsunami, but no official was there to count.
Reed grabbed a chair, but LA Knight reappeared, striking Reed with a BFT onto the chair. Theory and Paul chased Knight away as the referee recovered and began a ten-count. Reed failed to beat it.
Winner: Penta (via count-out)
Liv Morgan Celebrates
Dominik Mysterio returned from injury and introduced Liv Morgan.
Morgan announced she would visit SmackDown to decide which champion she would face at WrestleMania. She predicted Raquel Rodriguez would dethrone Stephanie Vaquer later in the night.
Rodriguez confronted Morgan, questioning why she was eliminated at the Rumble. Morgan said Judgment Day wins as a unit, but Rodriguez ordered her to stay backstage for the title match.
WWE Women’s World Championship Philadelphia Street Fight: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Rodriguez immediately battered Vaquer with clotheslines and power offence, introducing tables and chains. Vaquer was powerbombed through a table and had her previously injured ankle wrapped in a steel chain.
Rodriguez crushed Vaquer against the ring steps, barricades, and chairs, dumping weapons into the ring and hitting a Fallaway Slam onto a pile of chairs.
Vaquer rallied with Devil’s Kiss on a chair and again on the steps, whipping Rodriguez into the barricade and kendo stick shots to the spine.
Rodriguez introduced more tables, but Vaquer kept fighting, even after Liv Morgan appeared and handed Rodriguez the championship belt.
Roxanne Perez attempted interference but was thrown through a table by Vaquer.
Rodriguez climbed the ropes, but Vaquer hit a Frankensteiner through a table inside the ring and followed with a Corkscrew Splash to retain.
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer
Roman Reigns Makes His Choice
Roman Reigns entered to close the show, demanding that Philadelphia acknowledge him. He reflected on his history in the city and said he now had a choice: challenge for either world title at WrestleMania.
The crowd chanted for CM Punk.
Punk answered the call and confronted Reigns, telling him Raw was his show and mocking him for avoiding hard choices. Punk suggested Reigns challenge Drew McIntyre instead.
The exchange grew personal. Punk accused Reigns of manipulating his family and holding WWE hostage. Reigns fired back, claiming Punk only returned because of him and referencing Punk’s past comments about Paul Heyman and Colt Cabana.
Punk said Reigns could choose the belt that makes a man, or the man that makes the belt.
Reigns ended the debate by officially declaring he would challenge Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42.
Reigns left as Punk stood in the ring, and Raw went off the air with WrestleMania’s main event direction locked in.
Final Thoughts
Raw balanced fallout from the Royal Rumble with the first clear steps toward WrestleMania 42. Stephanie Vaquer survived a war, Liv Morgan plotted her path, and Roman Reigns set up a long-awaited collision with CM Punk.
