With the Royal Rumble just days away, WWE Raw delivered a show heavy on stakes, tension, and unanswered questions. A surprise World Heavyweight Championship match was booked, Bron Breakker returned from suspension, and a frightening injury scare involving Rey Mysterio cast doubt over WWE’s carefully laid Rumble plans.
The night opened with one of the most emotional promos in recent Raw memory, as AJ Styles publicly framed 2026 as the final chapter of his career. By the end of the show, Styles was fighting for the World Heavyweight Title, chaos had erupted around the championship picture, and the Rumble field continued to take shape amid backstage drama.
AJ Styles Opens Raw
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett welcomed viewers before AJ Styles made his entrance. Styles officially welcomed fans to Raw before turning his attention to Gunther, declaring that Saturday at the Royal Rumble could mark the end of his career.
Styles acknowledged that 2026 would be the year he retired and credited John Cena with showing him that farewells can take time. He said there were still men across the world he wanted to wrestle and admitted that one final goal remained unfinished business, becoming World Champion one last time.
That declaration brought out CM Punk, who questioned Styles’ decision to put his career on the line against Gunther. Punk reminded him how good it felt to be alive on Monday nights and asked whether Styles truly believed he could survive what was coming.
Styles fired back by asking whether Punk thought Gunther could beat him. Punk sidestepped the question, instead pointing out that if Styles lost on Saturday, he would never again challenge Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Styles insisted he could defeat both Gunther and Punk, prompting Punk to propose something bold: a World Heavyweight Title match between them that very night. Styles accepted without hesitation.
Stephanie Vaquer, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs. Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez
Six of Raw’s top women collided as Royal Rumble momentum continued to build.
Iyo Sky and Roxanne Perez opened with Sky immediately asserting herself, slapping Perez and taking a quick shot at Raquel Rodriguez on the apron. Perez responded by blindsiding Sky and driving her into the mat with repeated strikes.
Liv Morgan tagged in and joined the attack, stomping Sky into the corner before Rodriguez took her turn, overpowering the former champion. Sky weathered the storm until Stephanie Vaquer tagged herself in and shifted the momentum with a dropkick and a follow-up clothesline.
Vaquer went on the offensive with a suplex and leg drop, forcing Morgan to kick out. The Judgment Day regrouped and isolated Vaquer during the break, cutting off her attempts to tag Sky. Rodriguez blindsided Rhea Ripley at ringside and sent her crashing into the steps, keeping control on their side.
The match broke open when Sky re-entered and fired off missile dropkicks and a Bullet Train. She went up top for Over the Moonsault, but Morgan dragged Perez out of harm’s way. Chaos followed as all six competitors flooded the ring.
Ripley re-entered with authority, delivering Fallaway Slams and wiping out Rodriguez with a headbutt. Perez attempted Pop Rox, but Ripley cut her off with a lariat and followed with Rip Tide.
Winners:Stephanie Vaquer, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky
Finn Balor Confronts CM Punk (Backstage)
Backstage, Finn Balor approached Punk and spoke about his frustration over missing out on the World Heavyweight Championship. Punk encouraged Balor to think about his legacy and bluntly advised him to leave Judgment Day behind if he wanted to regain main-event relevance.
Punk told Balor that the Royal Rumble represented his last realistic path back to championship contention.
The Vision and Adam Pearce Confrontation
Paul Heyman led The Vision to the ring, formally introducing Austin Theory, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and a returning Bron Breakker.
Heyman framed the group as Raw’s future and presented footage of escalating tensions between Breakker and Adam Pearce, arguing Pearce was responsible for creating the conflict.
Pearce admitted fault for physically confronting Breakker but announced he had reinstated him and entered him into the Royal Rumble. Heyman extended his hand, but Pearce revealed his counterplay: Theory, Reed, and Logan Paul were also officially added to the Rumble.
Pearce then booked Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio immediately.
Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio
Theory attacked Mysterio before the bell and dominated early with power offence and a backbreaker. Mysterio rallied with aerial attacks, including a senton off the barricade that brought the crowd to life.
Outside interference quickly escalated as Dragon Lee and Penta attempted to neutralise Reed and Logan Paul. Mysterio kicked Paul through the ropes, but Theory capitalised with a Curb Stomp.
Winner:Austin Theory
After the bell, Reed flattened Penta with a Tsunami, and Breakker speared him. Mysterio remained on the apron, clutching his shoulder as medical staff checked him. The referee signalled the “X” before Mysterio was helped backstage.
Natalya Promo
In a backstage video, Natalya accused Maxxine Dupri of failing herself and vowed to prove that she elevates by destroying others.
Finn Balor Denied Royal Rumble Entry
Balor attempted to secure a Royal Rumble slot from Pearce but was informed that all 30 positions were filled.
WWE World Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s Four-Way: Alpha Academy vs. American Made vs. Los Americanos vs. The New Day
Chaos defined this match from the opening bell. Bodies flew across the ring as Brutus Creed wiped out opponents on the outside.
The New Day isolated Akira Tozawa, but Tozawa fought back with high-impact offence. Interference from Grayson Waller nearly cost Alpha Academy the match until Otis wiped him out with a splash, and Jey Uso, who joined the commentary desk before the match started, dropped Waller with a superkick.
Tozawa sealed it with a senton from the top rope.
Winners and new No. 1 contenders:Alpha Academy
WWE World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. AJ Styles
A dream match unfolded as Punk and Styles clashed with their careers and futures looming. Punk targeted Styles’ back while Styles focused on countering the GTS. Both men traded near-falls, with Styles hitting the Styles Clash and Punk escaping the Anaconda Vice.
Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Punk tripped him and delivered a GTS on the outside. Styles beat the count and hit another Styles Clash inside the ring, but Punk kicked out.
As the match reached its peak, Finn Balor stormed in and attacked both men, forcing the referee to call for the bell.
Winner:CM Punk (by disqualification)
Raw closed in chaos, with the World Heavyweight Title picture in shambles and AJ Styles’ Royal Rumble fate hanging in the balance. Bron Breakker’s return strengthened The Vision, Alpha Academy earned a title opportunity, and Rey Mysterio’s injury scare added uncertainty just days before WWE’s most unpredictable event of the year.
With the Royal Rumble approaching, Raw made one thing clear: nothing about Saturday is safe, settled, or predictable.
